my91legend

Ran into a little situation last week when getting my brakes & rotors installed.

Background:

Bought my 91 ls sedan last October 2001. Took it to a shop the next day and got a 4 wheel alignment done. 2 days later got 4 brand new tires installed at same place.

In February 2002 took it back to same place and got rotate and balance.

In May 2002 took it back to same place and got rotate and balance and thrust alignment.

Now all along my tires have been wearing considerably fast but I just figured they were crappy tires.

We're in October of 2002 and I go to a different place and get my new pads and rotors installed. Well I need 2 new tires because metal is showing on the inside of my tires (lucky I made it that far w/o blowing). Ok no problem because they were pretty worn. So they tell me I need a 4 wheel alignment because my rear wheels are way out of wack. Ok no problem.

Well there is a problem, the shop can't get the rear 2 camber bolts off of the control arms because they are soooo rusted. In his opinion, they had not been taken off in over 5 years. I saw him pound the heck out of it with a metal mallet and it would not budge.

No way to do a 4 wheel alignment if you can't get the rear bolts out. He could not even get the nut back on one of the bolts so I've been driving without it (even drove from atl to N.C. w/o it)

My argument:

If the original shop charged me for and said they performed a 4 wheel alignment when they had not and I've been getting my tires rotated and balanced on a regular basis w/o back tires being aligned correctly, this would cause rapid wear on all tires, should the original shop buy me 4 new tires and get the dam* bolts off and align it correctly.

Sorry for the long story

 

NickD

Sears auto garages are being hit by the US Gov't for this and other things. They were charging people for 4 wheel alignments on cars that can't have 4 wheel alignments done or if they could they wouldn't do the work.

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1989 Legend L 5speed (totaled)
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Darkstar

Well, I honestly doubt they would replace the tires AND do the work (correctly I might add), so probably the most you could get out of them is a partial refund (if not a FULL refund), especially since its been over a year since you had the original "work" done . If they say stuff like "thats not our fault" or some crap like that, ask to talk to the manager and threaten to complain to the BBB about them. If they wont do anything for ya then go to the BBB... shops like that ruin everything. If they do offer to repair their goof (and replace the tires AND do a 4 wheel allign) I'd demand a full refund instead and take the car to another shop.

Where are you getting the Sears from?


-Brandon

raky

i think that if you have all the receipts to prove everything and can get a statement from the person that did the four wheel alignment (make sure it is notorized) then you should take them to court. make sure you take pictures too.

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Kiwi

I had a similar situation. I was wearing out left rear tires - that makes two tires since I was rotating front to rear. Discount Tire told me it was an alignment problem. I took it to a well respected alignment shop. They said the rear camber was off, but there is no easy camber adjustment so they have to adjust the struts. It cost $125 and took four days because one of the strut bolts broke, wouldn't take tapping and needed new nut welded in place. $65 was for the 4 wheel alignment and $60 for the rear camber adjustment. I have four new tires now and I feel confident about the wear issue. I'm no mechanic - I'm just passing on my experience.

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ChrisK

Well, if your camber is off and you don't have a camber kit, it is not the alignment shops fault. Honda/Acura cars have no adjustment for camber. Chain stores like Sears generally wont touch lowered cars, it they will not install camber kits for you. Only specialty shops will touch cars with camber kits or install camber kits.

The only adjustment the Legend has in the rear is toe and caster I believe. The front is the same.

You also have to note that all an alignment needs to be is within OEM spec. The rear alignment spec for the Legend is something like -0.5 to -1.3. Having a negetive of 1.3 camber can still cause faster tire wear, but the alignment is good because it is within Acura specs.

Would you be able to post what the alignment specs actually were on your car?

If the rear two camber bolts that I think you are talking about is the two bolts that are about horizantal with each other and attach to the cars subframe, then that is NOT an alignment point According to Acura. It is not an adjustable part as per the Acura alignment procedure. That IS a point, however, where aftermarket camber kits will be attached to and the kit is used to align the camber. And like I said, unless it is a specialty alignment shops, most general shops will NOT deviate from OEM alignment procedure.

The new shop you took the Legend to wanted to take those bolts off and use shims to bring your camber within spec. However, that is just that particular shop. Acura themselves wouldn't touch those bolts in their 4 wheel alignment, and if your rear camber is out of spec they will just tell you so.

my91legend

Here are the spec the new shop gave me for the rear:

Rear Left
Camber = -.31(green)
Toe = .36 (red)

Rear Right
Camber = .59 (green)
Toe = .25 (red)

Total Rear
Total Toe = .61 (red)
Thrust Angle = .06