Rant - trying to finish my car dealing with shops

[Quick86]

What is the big fucking deal about what I want to do that makes shops want to question me and tell me how to do something?

I replaced the ENTIRE suspension on the Mustang. Every nut, bolt, washer and part. (Well, inner tie rods excluded)...... The alignment is WAY off. There are new tires on it. I don't live very close to any of the shops that I'd like to use.

I am tired of calling shops and asking them about getting it in for an alignment. I explain I have specs I'd like it set too and ask if its something they can handle. They say for sure not a problem. I then ask what works best for them and if they would take an appointment because I want to throw it on a trailer/flat bed and bring it out for it. They then begin to question me and say "Why don't you just drive it?" --- motherfucker, I don't want to drive it, the tires are pretty soft compound, I want to set everything before I start going 45mph.

I explain why I don't want to drive it and reiterate that EVERYTHING is new and it is WAY out of spec. I do not want to drive it until it is aligned. Period, it's my car, I don't want to drive it until the specs are set. I can tell it's WAY off alone just by the way the tires are sitting and how it feels backing in and out of the garage!

I tell them all I'd like to schedule it for next week and they all seem to be blowing me off.

The shop I managed, we would have scheduled it and had a parking space open for a customer. I guess the norm is to question what the customer wants to pay for now. Bah!

 

[ReiKo]

That's horseshit... If you don't mind driving to my side I have a shop that will hook you up...

 

[Quick86]

I even called belle tire and explained. I also asked him when whom he felt would be the best for the job was working next week so I could try to schedule around that. He said he thinks Tuesday but he wasnt sure.

He even said hed recommend their master tech do it since I have my own specs I want on it.

He didnt want to schedule it tho and said just bring it out. Well I dont want to show up and leave it for hours. Or have it sit overnight. Thats why o want to schedule it.


Im about to see if my old instructors are still out at the community college and use their alignment rack and do it myself...

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[mdhmi]

Most shops don't do appointments.
Pick a shop. Show up before they open and be ready.

 

[Beigg]

I have a recommendation near me that I can refer you too. If interested, PM me.

 

[BigWheelinBubba]

You scared them. Most places set the toe and send you on your way. They're probably like "Oh shit! This guy really needs a complete alignment!??"

 

[81z28]

Mr Front End in burton takes appointments and really knows their stuff. Not sure how far your willing to drive.

 

[chunkybs]

i thought you were taking it to Jason?

 

[Scooter70]

Just throw it on a trailer and bring it over here to Kenny's.

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[WhiteHawk]

I used a place called AC tire in White Lake once. Only problem was they quoted me 59.99 or something then tried to charge me double. They said "Well your car was really out!" I think most place that do alignments don't want to do any actual aligning. That AC tire place tried giving it back to me and one of the points was out of spec too. He said it was pretty close. Idiots.

-Geoff

 

[chacho44]

That's some bullshit.

 

[sofa king]

Harold's on Grand River and Novi rd. Call, make appt, leave it and your specifications. They call you when it's done.

 

[mustangmike6996]

I think your best bet would be a performance or hotrod shop that does that kind of work.

I used to see it all the time, a customer would start pricing things out then once the car came it, it needed nothing they were asking about so the service writers are prone to inquire "why" it needs X/Y/Z or "who" diagnosed it. Granted your situation is a bit different, some people dont get it. (thats why I recommend taking it to a specialty shop)

 

[SuperStang90]

I used Kovachs in Brighton, I made an appointment and ending up having to cancel because of other issues with the car. I called them a couple weeks later and they got me in with no appointment, same day. They specialize in doing alignments like that, in my case a drag race setup.

I replaced everything like you said, the entire front suspension. I did the old tape measure and eyeball alignment and got it very close myself before taking it into the shop, which will help alleviate some cost if they dont have to spend extra time dialing it in. Drop the car on the ground with the wheels setting on 2 pieces of steel or aluminum with grease in between the plate. Center the steering wheel adjust the caster camber plates so they are symmetrical or in the middle of their adjustments. then eyeball one wheel straight toe wise. Adjust the other wheel to get the front and rear measurements within an 1/8in. should be driveable at that point. I would never take my shit to a belle tire or similiar shop to do any sort of specialty alignment. Unless you know someone that knows what they are doing.

 

[chunkybs]

quit wasting time calling shops and just take it to Jason. he's 10 min from your house and can set it up any way you want it done, not to mention probably 1/3 the price of the places your trying to get it in.

 

[twotwoturbo]

slims hotrod right off gratoit and 10 mile

 

[grr456]

Dicks Auto Repair in Owosso can do anything you'd like for alignment and even check your bump steer. He has a computerized 4 wheel alignment rack. I raced with him and I'd take my car to him once a year to assure we had everything lined up correctly at the beginning of the season. This would just be a double check for my work. He can also give you some additional tips while you are there...You get a print out after he is finished...

He is about 35 minutes from you in downtown Owosso

He is real easy to work with and will even stay open late for you...

Gary

 

[4 cam tbird]

You scared them. Most places set the toe and send you on your way. They're probably like "Oh shit! This guy really needs a complete alignment!??"

My old Tbird killed a bushing on the strut link for the lower control arm. I got a new bushing and had some washers made to keep it from happening again. I take it to a place to get it aligned and that was all the did. I looked under the car and the way I threw the strut rod together was the way it still sat. I was pissed. I called them and they admitted to not doing anything with that even!?!?! FUCK! Seriously, this is why I own a camber/caster gauge now and just did the Torino myself.

 

[MarkVIII93]

My old Tbird killed a bushing on the strut link for the lower control arm. I got a new bushing and had some washers made to keep it from happening again. I take it to a place to get it aligned and that was all the did. I looked under the car and the way I threw the strut rod together was the way it still sat. I was pissed. I called them and they admitted to not doing anything with that even!?!?! FUCK! Seriously, this is why I own a camber/caster gauge now and just did the Torino myself.

Lol. This. Luckily I have personal access to hunter alignment machines...


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[Quick86]

Dicks Auto Repair in Owosso can do anything you'd like for alignment and even check your bump steer. He has a computerized 4 wheel alignment rack. I raced with him and I'd take my car to him once a year to assure we had everything lined up correctly at the beginning of the season. This would just be a double check for my work. He can also give you some additional tips while you are there...You get a print out after he is finished...

He is about 35 minutes from you in downtown Owosso

He is real easy to work with and will even stay open late for you...

Gary

Awesome to know! I may have to go see him to get my bumpsteer set. I found a shop around the corner from me that gets awesome reviews online. Called them up - explained the situation and that I need someone who can schedule it. Told them everything I want - the specs, weight to simulate driver, etc etc... They said "Not a problem! We might charge a little bit more than a typical alignment but it will be no problem to do."

--- I am FINE paying more than a standard alignment fee since I am being a picky fucker, and the fact they aren't scared of it is good.

They said I can drop it off tonight before they close and they will lock it inside on the rack to start first thing tomorrow morning.



Chunky -- I was going to have Jason do it but any time he gets free to do it I have had shit come up. Funerals, nobody to watch the kid, etc etc..