Alignment close call

AXLE · 07-31-2012, 07:21 PM

Monro did an alignment saturday and the rear bolt that adjusts the toe on the left came loose on the way home today, shook the shit out of the car. Happened to anyone else? I'm thinking of throwing a tackweld on each washer as soon as I get it back just to hold it in place, I can cut it loose in the future.

Also after the alignment, but before it fell apart, the car turns alot harder now. IDK how to explain it, but less steering input is needed for a lane change. I switched lanes this morning (dead deer) and could have lost control of the car, would have if it was wet out. There's normal steering to a point, but anything beyond gentle turns really has a large effect, with alot of body roll. This has variable power assist, could that have anything to do with it, and what would an alignment have done to it?

xXManwhoreXx · 07-31-2012, 07:30 PM

Take it back

jawa · 07-31-2012, 09:28 PM

i would take it back and bitch ...... bitch alot

a.graham52 · 07-31-2012, 09:31 PM

agree with both of them! inexcusable.

AleroB888 · 07-31-2012, 09:55 PM

I had a similar situation with a Ford service van. They did an alignment and said it was factory specs. Turned on a dime in the parking lot, but when I got it on the highway and did a lane change, it almost rolled! I could swear it was toed-in too much. I took it back and they messed with it for about an hour. On the highway, it was still screwed-up and dangerous. Slightest turn of the wheel, and you were in the other lane or off the road. Went back and made the manager drive it, he said, well, it's up to specs, but your tires are too worn for the alignment to be correct (sounded like B.S.) So they put the rear tires on the front, and it was a little better, but not much. I went out and proceeded to wear out the tires, since the service policy would not replace them without enough wear. Then I got my supervisor to upgrade the tires for severe weather use and got a complete new set, it got rid of most of the problem, but it never handled as good as it should have.

a.graham52 · 07-31-2012, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AleroB888

I had a similar situation with a Ford service van. They did an alignment and said it was factory specs. Turned on a dime in the parking lot, but when I got it on the highway and did a lane change, it almost rolled! I could swear it was toed-in too much. I took it back and they messed with it for about an hour. On the highway, it was still screwed-up and dangerous. Slightest turn of the wheel, and you were in the other lane or off the road. Went back and made the manager drive it, he said, well, it's up to specs, but your tires are too worn for the alignment to be correct (sounded like B.S.) So they put the rear tires on the front, and it was a little better, but not much. I went out and proceeded to wear out the tires, since the service policy would not replace them without enough wear. Then I got my supervisor to upgrade the tires for severe weather use and got a complete new set, it got rid of most of the problem, but it never handled as good as it should have.

tire wear can effect handling of a vehicle. like if your tires are worn due to bad camber they could create a pull even if specs are good. just an example. christ we see half worn tires on silverados that cause the customers to complain of high steer effort in parking lots... just half worn tires...

rustyballs_69 · 08-01-2012, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXLE

Monro did an alignment saturday and the rear bolt that adjusts the toe on the left came loose on the way home today, shook the shit out of the car. Happened to anyone else? I'm thinking of throwing a tackweld on each washer as soon as I get it back just to hold it in place, I can cut it loose in the future.

Also after the alignment, but before it fell apart, the car turns alot harder now. IDK how to explain it, but less steering input is needed for a lane change. I switched lanes this morning (dead deer) and could have lost control of the car, would have if it was wet out. There's normal steering to a point, but anything beyond gentle turns really has a large effect, with alot of body roll. This has variable power assist, could that have anything to do with it, and what would an alignment have done to it?

There is no need to weld anything. They didn't do it right. They didn't tighten the nut or something but stuff like that doesn't just happen out of nowhere. Any good shop will give you a print out of the alignment, before and after. Take it back and have them do it again. I would also ask for a refund. Techs these days don't take pride in there work, they only worry about how many hours they can flag in the week.

Redog · 08-01-2012, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXManwhoreXx

Take it back

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawa

i would take it back and bitch ...... bitch alot

Quote:

Originally Posted by a.graham52

agree with both of them! inexcusable.

I agree. The first problem is you took it to a place like Morno. I thought they only did exhaust. In the future you want to find a small place, not a national chain, do do stuff like this. Nothing but problems when I took my Cougar to Just Tires back in the day. Worst thing and biggest waste of money ever. I got my RWL tires on the car and I was sooooooo happy, then I took it back for my 6000 mile tire rotation and they said I needed an alignment, so I let them do it. $65 later, for a free tire rotation and my car felt worse. Not as bad as you're issues, but still pretty bad.

My mech toed in my front wheels too much when I got my shocks done, but I took it for an alignment anyway because your supposed to with new shocks. Car felt just like you said, but no broken bolts

AXLE · 08-01-2012, 04:33 AM

Thanks for the replies. I did get it towed back to monro immediatly, and of course he was defensive but agreed to fix it. I took it to them because I was tired of being boned by Town Fair Tire and Sears Automotive. Sears were the last ones to align it, and the rear tires were worn to cord on the inside and weren't even round anymore lol. Monro did an awesome job on my daughter's little car so I figured I'd go back to them. I was tired of Town Fair because of the bizarre sales tactics. I could write pages on those guys lol.

I'll get it back this afternoon. So what about the way it handled before the bolt came loose? Is the toe setting just mis-adjusted? AFAIK you can only set the toe on this car, no caster/camber.

a.graham52 · 08-01-2012, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXLE

I'll get it back this afternoon. So what about the way it handled before the bolt came loose? Is the toe setting just mis-adjusted? AFAIK you can only set the toe on this car, no caster/camber.

you have minor camber adjusments (loosen the strut bolts down at the nuckle, push in and out on it and then tightned botls back up) but its only a minor adjustment. and to do caster you would either have to buy struts that yo ucan do that with (racing struts if yo ucan find them) or you have to elongate your strut top holes in the body so you can move the strut around.

however... toe being off, ESPECIALY the rear can cause weird things. get it aligned right and re-evaluate.

zzyzzx · 08-01-2012, 09:31 AM

When you get it back scan in the printout and post it here.

I have had alignments go out in the parking lot right after getting it. I had struts installed (this was the last time I paid someone to do it) and I drove right back and said that it was off. Their excuse was that the new struts must has settled, and they did the alignment again and after that it was fine. This was decades ago and now that I have done struts a few times, I know that this is BS.

AXLE · 08-01-2012, 01:26 PM

I just called them, they broke the bolt that adjusts the toe and are looking for a nw one at dealerships. I might get the car back tomorrow, I dont have much expectations for today. I bet I will have to pay for the bolt too.

jawa · 08-01-2012, 04:58 PM

eff that. they break it they pay for it

Papa Rad17 · 08-01-2012, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawa

eff that. they break it they pay for it

agreed. the trouble you are having with them is crazy. there shouldnt have been any questions asked about having them redo it after you had it toed back. for them screwing up thus you being without a car for a while along with having to have it toed back should be a complete refund and some coupons for next time.

jawa · 08-01-2012, 07:13 PM

there would be no next time in my opinion

a.graham52 · 08-01-2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawa

eff that. they break it they pay for it

true and not true...

after all this, yes they should pay for it...

otherwise.... its a car... the bolts probably seized... it happens and is not always the mechs fault.

AXLE · 08-02-2012, 04:28 AM

Got it back last night. No charge at all, but no apology either, I guess an apology would imply guilt. Got a different story from the mananger, he said they used loc-tite on the original bolt, but one of the techs had said they broke it, so....

I'm taking it to work today to see how it feels.

a.graham52 · 08-02-2012, 07:04 AM

well.... you gotta remove the nut in order to put loctite on... who the eff removes the nut durring an alignment??

AXLE · 08-14-2012, 04:26 AM

And the story continues.......

Didn't notice when I picked up the car because of the monsoon rain, the steering wheel isn't straight, like I'm taking a perpetual right turn. The steering feels a little darty too. I'll tell him to fix it, what else can I do besides cut my losses and go somewhere else?

a.graham52 · 08-14-2012, 07:03 AM

not a thing. howver the darty feeling may be because your not use to a properly aligned car. (not implying its aligned right but jsut remeber it could feel differnt if the alignments been off for a while). have to get it realigned for the steering wheel off center which is a bummer. try some place new and see what happens.