Had work done on my car, alignment screwed up afterwards

[DrumminBoy]

I had a new muffler and driver's side CV joint replaced on my car Monday and as soon as I drove away from the shop I noticed the alignment was way off. If I let go of the wheel for literally a second or hold the wheel straight I immediately veer to the right. This clearly isn't safe and I didn't have the problem before so I went back to the shop and told them about it. I spoke to the shop owner and he basically blew me off, telling me that they didn't have the machine to fix it and that I'd have to go somewhere else to have it done. I left without really saying anything and I'm not sure what my next move is. I could go to BBB, or threaten to do so, but the guy doesn't seem like the type that would care. Any advice?

Cliffs:
Had car fixed
Alignment way off afterwards
Shop owner won't fix, says they don't have the equipment to do so
What's my next move?

 

[Christobevii3]

You usually have to pay for an allignment separately when having axle work done.

 

[Lithium381]

true. after any axle work you should preform an alightment.....at least that's what i've heard....it's normally billed seperatly as chris said

 

[Sphexi]

Normally you'd have to pay extra for a full alignment, but at the same time it shouldn't be that bad. Normally they can get it pretty close without the actual machine, at least to the point where when holding the wheel straight you aren't shooting off to the side. Sounds like they just did the job as quick as they could, and since there's no more money to be had for them, they don't care.

Get it done somewhere else, and don't go back to that place again, lesson learned.

 

[DrumminBoy]

Hm, good to know then I guess. It still seems like the alignment should be associated with installing the CV joint correctly but I guess that's not the case.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
Hm, good to know then I guess. It still seems like the alignment should be associated with installing the CV joint correctly but I guess that's not the case.

It is, just that they normally charge extra for it. Only costs like $10-$20 depending on where you go though. Personally I won't have any kind of wheel/axle work done at a place that can't do alignments.

 

[Evadman]

Sounds like they did not mark the location of the adjusters before they removed them. The shop should not replace or do any type of work that would screw up an alignment if they don't have an alignment machine, and an alignment should be included int he cost of the repair. It's not like they have to go all out with the machine that uses lasers bounced off of mirrors, there are other alignment machines. Sounds like you have toe-out on the pasenger front. What kind of car is this? what year?

 

[DrumminBoy]

'92 civic, rice-free

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
Hm, good to know then I guess. It still seems like the alignment should be associated with installing the CV joint correctly but I guess that's not the case.

It's an important piece of the repair, but if they couldn't do it, they should have told you that up front...You definitely need to get this done ASAP, or you will fvck up your front tires. I think I'd also have whoever does the alignment check the workmanship of the CV repair while they have the car...if the first shop is that disreputable, no telling how good of a job they did on the other part...

NO, I'm NOT saying they're disreputable because they didn't do the alignment, but because they didn't TELL him they didn't/couldn't do it...