Alignent shop wants $600 frozen hardware

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals


A bump is faking the printout?


yes. Seen that many times throughout the past 2decades or so.

Q.

 

[brelandt]

You bet it is. I know lots of ways to trick a customer if I so choose too but I don't cause I'm better than that.

 

[Dakota1820]

im not going to argue about it but my friends parents camry was recalled for the alignment not being correct. and it wouldn't get correct. im not 1200% if its an 06 but its around there. they always owned hondas but tried toyota and they said never again their hondas were much better vehicles.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Quest
In the world of automobiles, wheel alignments and wear are the least understood and can be extremely intimidating to avg motoring joes.

That's where most dishonest alignment shops can easily pull off with a quick lie or excuse, sometimes not to do certain works (due to liability concerns), or a king's ransom for small jobs, etc.

good/honest alignment shops can do an amazing job in correcting alignment-related issues that otherwise almost impossible (like wrecked alignments and chassis, collision-related distortions, etc.)

Q.

I agree.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
im not going to argue about it but my friends parents camry was recalled for the alignment not being correct. and it wouldn't get correct. im not 1200% if its an 06 but its around there. they always owned hondas but tried toyota and they said never again their hondas were much better vehicles.


If you are going to repeat your friends' questionable stories, you better have some published info to back them up.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: Quest
So long as these vehicles aren't structurally compromised before (collisions, etc.), the alignment should easily fall within factory specs easily.


Thats what I can't understand. The new shop didnt say there was anything wrong with the parts, just frozen alignment hardware. Was out some, not too bad based on their printout. Both sides frozen at the inner tie rod end adjustment. Last year it aligned (at Tire Warehouse) just fine.


Geez, that's all? Stuck hardware is common in this area...a ten minute job to fix. Heat it with a propane torch, quench it with penetrating oil & 9 times out of 10, it will pop loose. When done, coat it with Never-Seize.

 

[Dakota1820]

his parents has the paper work believe me they were ver4y angry about it because toyota issued a recall but it was somewhat silent and they had to fight with toyota to fix it. i can see if they would be willing to dig it up. but its really doesnt matter this isnt the op issue. its just a flaw in toyota design. funny how evevryone wants to argue about the camry having a "questionable" recall not my words. toyota has plenty recalls and you have trouble believing there was one more? please ! own one its an older camry that doesnt have the issue but having worked on its some now i can tell you their engineering imo sucks. my saturn is way better designed. just my opinion some people like yotas and thats fine

 

[Rand]

link please? Warranty work isnt a recall.

A recall would be posted somewhere so I can see why other people
are skeptical of your friends "story"

 

[mechtech2]

Leaky -
You saw them bust their tails off working with a torch for an hour, they did not charge you, and you are complaining!?!?
A hour's hard work for free?!?!
They are the shop that I would trust, after all that!

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Leaky -
You saw them bust their tails off working with a torch for an hour, they did not charge you, and you are complaining!?!?
A hour's hard work for free?!?!
They are the shop that I would trust, after all that!


No, not at all. It made me suspicious of my other yearly alignments. Both sides have frozen alignment hardware in a year when the winter was one of the mildest on record, hardly any snow, sand or salt. Maybe its time to replace the suspension parts. Its been taking a beating in downtown Boston for the past 5 years and everything is original at 212k including the struts so I cant complain about durability. There's not that many pieces on this car, see a few kits online. I am tempted to try one more shop though.

 

[Whimsey]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Leaky -
You saw them bust their tails off working with a torch for an hour, they did not charge you, and you are complaining!?!?
A hour's hard work for free?!?!
They are the shop that I would trust, after all that!


+1, My local indie mechanic advised me that the tie rods were rusted too much in my 2002 F-150 in salt infested NJ and were too rusted to adjust. I believe them because the rest of the under carriage is in a constant state of rust fight due to NJ's use of salt and Ford's use of metals on their p/u's. My wifes 2005 Exploder in the same stone driveway shows no signs of rust of under the carriage. Go figure.
Whimsey

 

[antonmnster]

I had an alignment on my BMW about 14 months ago. I just changed the control arm bushings and needed another one. Guess what they told me?! Seized tie rod.

After spending the last few days working on it myself, you know what? They're right. I cannot get the tie-rod loose to save my life. If I had an ox-acetylene torch, a couple of pipe wrenches, and a priest.... maybe.

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
his parents has the paper work believe me they were ver4y angry about it because toyota issued a recall but it was somewhat silent and they had to fight with toyota to fix it. i can see if they would be willing to dig it up. but its really doesnt matter this isnt the op issue. its just a flaw in toyota design. funny how evevryone wants to argue about the camry having a "questionable" recall not my words. toyota has plenty recalls and you have trouble believing there was one more? please ! own one its an older camry that doesnt have the issue but having worked on its some now i can tell you their engineering imo sucks. my saturn is way better designed. just my opinion some people like yotas and thats fine


If it was an actual recall, I can't see any owners having trouble with a dealer taking care of them.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: antonmnster
I had an alignment on my BMW about 14 months ago. I just changed the control arm bushings and needed another one. Guess what they told me?! Seized tie rod.

After spending the last few days working on it myself, you know what? They're right. I cannot get the tie-rod loose to save my life. If I had an ox-acetylene torch, a couple of pipe wrenches, and a priest.... maybe.


There is a way...hit Wal-Mart for a plumbers' (propane) torch. Heat the adjuster with the torch, quench it with penetrating oil. Many times, that will free it. If not, repeat as needed.

 

[Quest]

Prejudice runs abound on internet bulletin boards and dittoheads would echo them like religious preachings (w/o really doing any research or homework beforehand).

One has to learn with due-dilligence to be objective, observant, and be able to seek and differentiate between truth and hearsays, and then go from there.

Q.