- Dec 14, 2000
- 10,473
- 81
- 101
I needed to get an alignment on my Jetta after putting new tie rod ends, ball joints, struts, strut mounts, lowering springs, lower control arm bushings, etc on the front of my car. I also needed 2 new tires.
The local shop had a deal going on. Buy two tires, get a free alignment. I went in, got the two tires put on, and they called me later. Said they couldn't do the alignment because my car had been in some sort of horrible accident at some point and I had severe toe in of 2 degrees on the drivers front. They said it was adjusted out fully and still couldnt make it right. They gave me the name of a frame shop a few miles away and I picked up the car and paid for the tires.
I made an appointment back in Lawrence for this morning instead and took it to a closer shop to my house. They found nothing wrong with the frame (surprise surprise, I didn't see anything either), and were able to center my steering wheel, do the alignment, (I watched them), and provided before and after alignment specs. Was told there was plenty of threads on the tie rods to do an alignment and that the front end hadn't been touched. I was pissed.
What to do next? I don't really have much to gain by going back to the first shop and bitching at them. I also don't think they did a good job balancing my tires as the wheel has vibrations consistent with a bad balance at 60 mph and above. The alignment was free, but they couldnt perform it and it caused me to have to pay for one. They lied about the toe in issue and possibly being in a wreck.. So mad, not sure what to do though. I could go back to the shop, ask them to rebalance the tires (should have no problem doing so), and show them the results from the good alignment I had done today, but really, what am I going to gain?
My alignment today cost me $65.25 after tax.
The local shop had a deal going on. Buy two tires, get a free alignment. I went in, got the two tires put on, and they called me later. Said they couldn't do the alignment because my car had been in some sort of horrible accident at some point and I had severe toe in of 2 degrees on the drivers front. They said it was adjusted out fully and still couldnt make it right. They gave me the name of a frame shop a few miles away and I picked up the car and paid for the tires.
I made an appointment back in Lawrence for this morning instead and took it to a closer shop to my house. They found nothing wrong with the frame (surprise surprise, I didn't see anything either), and were able to center my steering wheel, do the alignment, (I watched them), and provided before and after alignment specs. Was told there was plenty of threads on the tie rods to do an alignment and that the front end hadn't been touched. I was pissed.
What to do next? I don't really have much to gain by going back to the first shop and bitching at them. I also don't think they did a good job balancing my tires as the wheel has vibrations consistent with a bad balance at 60 mph and above. The alignment was free, but they couldnt perform it and it caused me to have to pay for one. They lied about the toe in issue and possibly being in a wreck.. So mad, not sure what to do though. I could go back to the shop, ask them to rebalance the tires (should have no problem doing so), and show them the results from the good alignment I had done today, but really, what am I going to gain?
My alignment today cost me $65.25 after tax.
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