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  • #1

    One of these days.....

    I have to get myself some alignment equipment and a tire changing machine. Those are two things that leave me at the mercy of a repair shop. I took my WS6 in for an alignment after replacing the tie rod ends. I got them close, but if figured that the car hadn't had an alignment since before the adjustable panhard rod as well as the tie rod ends and it was due. I requested that they center the rear end and then do the alignment. The car handled reasonable, but I felt something wasn't right. So after washing it this morning and cleaning the wheels I notice the entire rear axle is shifted to the passenger side almost 2 inches. This has the tire sticking out on the passenger side, and recessed on the driver's side. I call the shop manager and told him and he wants it back to do it over. No kidding? I can't image what part of centering the rear end they can't figure out. Is was off so bad that to be clearly visible to the naked eye is laughable.
    I had it closer than that eyeballing it. I should have done that part myself and not let them touch it. If I only had my own equipment for alignment and tire swaps. I can't stand having to take the car somewhere and put up with this garbage.
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  • #2
    I dont think the typical alignment machine has the capability to determine a center point for the rear. You may want to ask them that specifically. I know ours at the school cant. It will give you rear caster, camber and toe, but that remains uneffected if the whole axle housing is shifted one way or the other. I would just take measurements from each side and align it that way. Most guys that do the alignments are paid about 7 bucks an hour. Do you really want them wrenching on your car?


    Oh....and if you want to drive up to Rochester, you can use mine
    96 WS6 Formula: Ram Air, 383 Stroker, Ported LT4 Heads and Manifold, 1.6 Crane Rollers, 58MM T.B., AS&M Headers, Borla Exhaust, Meziere Elec. H2O Pump, Canton Deep Sump Oil Pan, 100 HP OF TNT N2O!! , T56 Conversion w/ Pro 5.0 shifter, SPEC Stage 3 Clutch, Hotchkiss Subframe Conn., Lakewood Adj. Panhard Bar, Spohn Adj. LCA's, BMR Adj. T.A., Custom 12 bolt w/ 3:73's, Moser Axles, Eaton Posi, Moser Girdle
    11.6 @ 123mph (1.6 60' - getting there )

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    • #3
      Originally posted by N20LT4Bird
      I dont think the typical alignment machine has the capability to determine a center point for the rear. You may want to ask them that specifically. I know ours at the school cant. It will give you rear caster, camber and toe, but that remains uneffected if the whole axle housing is shifted one way or the other. I would just take measurements from each side and align it that way. Most guys that do the alignments are paid about 7 bucks an hour. Do you really want them wrenching on your car?


      Oh....and if you want to drive up to Rochester, you can use mine
      Oh, I realize all that. Centering the rear was so simple I figured anyone with a tape measure could center it. I am going to personally be there to show them how it is done. I already told the shop manager that I will show his guy how to do it so that there won't be any problems with future customers. He could almost be considered a friend, a little more than just an aquaintance so he's cool with it. He also doesn't mind the fact that the shop guys are going to learn something.

      Do I really want someone working on my car? Hell no...... but since I don't have an alignment rack or a tire machine, I am indeed at the mercy of common crappy mechanics. You would figure here in Sebring with the races and all, someone would know what the heck they are doing. Never mind that I even said that.

      Rochester eh? Will most likely be up there this summer.

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      • #4
        Joe

        You are just too picky. What's an inch here or there??

        And like you got nothing better to do then bring the car back in and have it done again and with their assurance that they will do it right this time.

        I hate stupid and inefficient people. If I worked liek that on my job, I wouldn't have one.
        97 Trans Am A4 more or less stock (Mods: WS6 Ram Air with Fernco & K&N, 12 disc CD changer, power antenna, SLP Fan Switch, LS1 Aluminum DS, Borla Cat back, McCord power plate, Spohn tower brace, Sirius, HID fog lights)


        1and1 Web Hosting

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Joe 1320

          Rochester eh? Will most likely be up there this summer.
          Feel free to drop me a line.
          96 WS6 Formula: Ram Air, 383 Stroker, Ported LT4 Heads and Manifold, 1.6 Crane Rollers, 58MM T.B., AS&M Headers, Borla Exhaust, Meziere Elec. H2O Pump, Canton Deep Sump Oil Pan, 100 HP OF TNT N2O!! , T56 Conversion w/ Pro 5.0 shifter, SPEC Stage 3 Clutch, Hotchkiss Subframe Conn., Lakewood Adj. Panhard Bar, Spohn Adj. LCA's, BMR Adj. T.A., Custom 12 bolt w/ 3:73's, Moser Axles, Eaton Posi, Moser Girdle
          11.6 @ 123mph (1.6 60' - getting there )

          Comment

          • #6
            Joe, if you've never done a front end aligment on one of these machines you should. It took me 2 hours for my first (and last) alignment on my old 85 Mustang GT. It was a lot of fun. I put the suspension from an SVO in my GT and the machine didn't have the SVO in it. N20LT4Bird look and see if ya'll has an 84-86 SVO in it. I bet it doesn't. I had to set it by the numbers. Learning to deal with the slop in the suspension drove me nuts. You have to learn how to deal with it.
            2002 Electron Blue Vette, 1SC, FE3/Z51, G92 3.15 gears, 308.9 RWHP 321.7 RWTQ (before any mods), SLP headers, Z06 exhaust, MSD Ignition Wires, AC Delco Iridium Spark Plugs, 160 t-stat, lots of ECM tuning

            1995 Z28, many mods, SOLD

            A proud member of the "F-Body Dirty Dozen"

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            • #7
              The computer is currently out of commission, but you can never find any specialty cars in the data base (or book). Like my shelby dodge's - theyre not in there. ANything that doesnt HAVE to be on the money, I align it by eye. Alignment machines are very finicky. I worked at a shop while I was in college and I would align a car on the machine and it was visually out after you were all done. Youd have to go back and do it all over again. Some times they are real POS's.
              96 WS6 Formula: Ram Air, 383 Stroker, Ported LT4 Heads and Manifold, 1.6 Crane Rollers, 58MM T.B., AS&M Headers, Borla Exhaust, Meziere Elec. H2O Pump, Canton Deep Sump Oil Pan, 100 HP OF TNT N2O!! , T56 Conversion w/ Pro 5.0 shifter, SPEC Stage 3 Clutch, Hotchkiss Subframe Conn., Lakewood Adj. Panhard Bar, Spohn Adj. LCA's, BMR Adj. T.A., Custom 12 bolt w/ 3:73's, Moser Axles, Eaton Posi, Moser Girdle
              11.6 @ 123mph (1.6 60' - getting there )

              Comment

              • #8
                Crap. Not enough time today to get the car back on the rack. Since I already showed him that the rear was out, I think I'm going to recenter the rear tonight by myself, then take it to the shop in the morning and have the front aligned with the rear. At the same time the rag joint eliminator is going in tonight as well. At least all this is getting ironed out during the last 2/32 of tread on the tires and not on the new SZ50EPs still sitting in the garage.

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