September '25 Chat - Tom's retirement

[malibu795]

Really weighing the options of buying used alignment rack... Had an appointment at 8am with NTB, their tech called off, Midas say yeah got an opening at 11am show up at 1050.. 12:45 now and its still not done with new cam bolt and tie rods installed prior to showing up?

 

[1FastBrick]

Really weighing the options of buying used alignment rack... Had an appointment at 8am with NTB, their tech called off, Midas say yeah got an opening at 11am show up at 1050.. 12:45 now and its still not done with new cam bolt and tie rods installed prior to showing up?

MFr's...
No one wants to work any more....

 

[SoCalMike]

Finding a good alignment shop is tough. I avoid the big name shops. I try and find small shops that specialize in alignments.

 

[malibu795]

It drivers worse after I dropped it off.. what they are supposed to look like and what they did

Found one of these on FBMP

74030017 OE Dodge Ram / GM AAM 11.5" Aluminum Finned Differential Cover Kit

74030017 OE Dodge Ram GM AAM 11.5" Aluminum Finned Differential Cover Kit<br />This cover came standard on Max Tow packages. Will fit any Dodge Ram 2003 & newer, Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra 2001 & newer with an AAM 11.5" rear axle. This will also fit the new RAM AAM 11.8" rear axle. The...

www.drivetrainamerica.com

 

[TheBac]

I just bought the Firestone lifetime alignment. The guy who does them at our local store is pretty good.

 

[TheBac]

Got a phone call today from a 30yr coworker, asking me for info on my route. He's like me, just quieter. Talked to him for over an hour. In the end he said he would probably bid my route. That makes me very happy. My customers would be taken care of.

 

[malibu795]

Finding a good alignment shop is tough. I avoid the big name shops. I try and find small shops that specialize in alignments.

The good shops are min 2-3 weeks out M-F 8-4?

 

[malibu795]

I just bought the Firestone lifetime alignment. The guy who does them at our local store is pretty good.

They bent new hardware...
I'm not weak, and I'm not Clark Kent either.. I could move these bolts with minimal effort

 

[SoCalMike]

I just bought the Firestone lifetime alignment. The guy who does them at our local store is pretty good.

Back in the day I bought that too. The guys were not good at multiple locations and I ended up wasting more time going back for corrections. Im glad you have a good guy there. Its a good deal for sure.

The good shops are min 2-3 weeks out M-F 8-4?

That sucks.

 

[PureHybrid]

Found one of these on FBMP

74030017 OE Dodge Ram / GM AAM 11.5" Aluminum Finned Differential Cover Kit

74030017 OE Dodge Ram GM AAM 11.5" Aluminum Finned Differential Cover Kit<br />This cover came standard on Max Tow packages. Will fit any Dodge Ram 2003 & newer, Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra 2001 & newer with an AAM 11.5" rear axle. This will also fit the new RAM AAM 11.8" rear axle. The...

www.drivetrainamerica.com

I put one of those on mine when you could get a NIB on Easybay for $90

 

[Chevy1925]

This is the reason i told the owner of our shop “we need an alignment rack”. Could not find a shop worth a shit to sublet too.

We are all still learning (no one at the shop has alot of experience with it) but so far we are miles above what other shops have done. Going to start doing utv’s as well

 

[PureHybrid]

Oddly enough, I had the Ford dealer do an alignment on mine

 

[TheBac]

This is the reason i told the owner of our shop “we need an alignment rack”. Could not find a shop worth a shit to sublet too.

We are all still learning (no one at the shop has alot of experience with it) but so far we are miles above what other shops have done. Going to start doing utv’s as well

If you guys get good at it, word of mouth will spread and you'll be booked solid forever.

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

I take mine to a heavy truck shop, they can align anything, I don’t mess with the car alignment shops anymore.

 

[malibu795]

Probably should have stepped back yesterday, the pulling is most likely due to the shit tires I have on it right now.

Still doesn't excuse the 30 minute job taking 2 hours and then damaging parts

 

[gmduramax]

I just bought the Firestone lifetime alignment. The guy who does them at our local store is pretty good.

I did the same for my LMM unfortunately I will no longer take my truck there, after them trying to do the alignment for 6 hours and then telling me they couldn’t align it because of my tie rod sleeves. I forced my way to the back and grabbed the tools and did it myself ?

 

[shakenfake]

I take mine to a heavy truck shop, they can align anything, I don’t mess with the car alignment shops anymore.

This is the way.


Would rather align it myself than take it to Firestone.

 

[TheBac]

I did the same for my LMM unfortunately I will no longer take my truck there, after them trying to do the alignment for 6 hours and then telling me they couldn’t align it because of my tie rod sleeves. I forced my way to the back and grabbed the tools and did it myself ?

They actually used that excuse? Wow.

As for Firestone, it's like any shop. You have both good and bad techs. In my case, i have a good one. Your results may vary.

 

[malibu795]

Just finished changing fluid in the front diff, double check the cam bolts and tie rods.
They almost complete broke off the alignment pins, glad I didn't put my aftermarket ones on..
Both tie rod jam nuts and sleeve were loose on one side and they ran the jam but tight against the sleeve vs outer rod??‍
They bent everything and cause the back side of the pins to catch the bushings... ??‍

 

[gmduramax]

They actually used that excuse? Wow.

As for Firestone, it's like any shop. You have both good and bad techs. In my case, i have a good one. Your results may vary.

Oh yeah, the truck was toed all the way in and didn’t have any room left to go in farther. But the truck needed to be toed out. You should have seen their faces when I started turning the wrench the other way and the value on the screen getting closer to 0