View Full Version : Alignment Issues!
So the car has been lowered for about year now and I've never had any issues other than a little bit of camber wear. I installed some camber links about 3 - 4 months ago and got the car aligned at my local Mazda Dealership (Kieswetter in Kitchener).
At this point the car doesn't drive straight. It pulls to the left. I didn't notice it before, but its really bothering me now. I'm wondering if they didn't tighten everything up tight enough.
Should I take it back? I want to!
:flaming
sauga_kid
01-30-2009, 10:16 AM
Did the dealership provide a print out for the alignment showing the work was done within spec? If not, I say take it back, make them do it again and request a print out.
I got a print out, and generally everything was in spec other than the toe in the front I believe. I've gotta pull it out.
Even if they put it in spec.....its not driving straight.
Gizzmo_jr
01-30-2009, 10:34 AM
Take the steering wheel off and turn it by one spline? j/k
Thrizzl3
01-30-2009, 10:49 AM
i'd say take it back to the dealership just as a precaution
KenYork
01-30-2009, 10:49 AM
It's been 3-4months since everything was done. With the weather we've been having, anything could have set your alignment off. The dealership won't own up to it now that it's been so long anyhow.
Fuman
01-30-2009, 11:00 AM
post your alignment,
we can tell you if its your alignment or it could be something else
bubba1983
01-30-2009, 11:04 AM
check your tire pressure frst and foremost by.....
Will do when I get home and find the sheet.
What bothers me is when I orignally went for the 4 wheel alignment they quoted me 80 or 90 and then called me back and decided to charge me 180. It really pissed me off but the car was in the air. I shouldn't have agreed to it.
In the end they had to take the wheels off, adjust by feel and eye and check it on the machine again.
For $180 it should have been perfect, and I haven't given any reason for it to be out of alignment. Not after only 3 months.
Call them and tell them about it...they might do something about it...It never hurts to try.
As for getting quoted one price then another i would have not paid $180 for an alliment when they quoted you less. Plus getting a 4 wheel alliment costs around $80
S.F.W.
01-30-2009, 01:48 PM
My guess is they charged more, because they had to set your camber links. It's not just a simple alignment.
bubba1983
01-30-2009, 03:28 PM
hahah you got hosed by, beverly tire cost me 90 even with camber adjustments hahahhha
froggy
02-03-2009, 09:20 PM
If things work out that your alignment is alright some other things you might want to check are your tire pressure, the shock on the side it's pulling to, and the actual tire itself, sometimes when the tire is getting bald it'll act like it's an alignment issue, or you could have a shifted belt. I had the same thing happen to me on my old VW, changed the tires and it tracked straight and true.
5P01L3D
02-04-2009, 02:59 PM
tires?? hoped to my moms carmy before, changed the tires. fine now
5P01L3D
02-04-2009, 02:59 PM
happened***
I'm gonna wait it out until I get the rims back on for the summer. I'm worried the new alignment will rub in the back so I'll get an alignment then.
I had a problem like this.... I took it back for alignment 4 times(to Markham mazda, each time they said alignment was fine or off just by a bit. I even said it's could be the steering wheel, which they dismissed. I even went for a test drive with one of the techies, he said it was fine or the ground is uneven. I stopped going there, because of their crappy service, and threatening to charge me for a problem i kept going back for, even if it was covered under their first year warrenty.
Finally took a test drive with a technie at gyro mazda. We went on a abandoned road, and he drove straight, without any adjustments the car eventually ends up in the left lane. Turns out the steering wheel wasn't adjusted right as I thought. Now it drives straight and I don't think I'm crazy....now for that damn random rattling to be fixed... and I also notice My engine is louder..ie a belt or something..lol
I'm gonna wait it out until I get the rims back on for the summer. I'm worried the new alignment will rub in the back so I'll get an alignment then.
DOOD! What are you doing aligning your car with your winters on... I know they say do it everytime but its just too expensive. Have it set for your summers and stick with it through out. Not to mention you dont want to have to deal with them again if they seize...which they will...
The reason they charged so much is because those adjustable camberlinks are a pain in the A$$! They literally have to unbolt it to adjust and re-bolt it back up, check and repeat if not correct...
I'm waiting to put the summers on and then we'll see what comes out. I'm not going back to the dealer, I'll go to where bubba had his done.
I should have just put up with the camber wear!
kevcol74
02-12-2009, 02:59 PM
DOOD! What are you doing aligning your car with your winters on... I know they say do it everytime but its just too expensive. Have it set for your summers and stick with it through out. Not to mention you dont want to have to deal with them again if they seize...which they will...
The reason they charged so much is because those adjustable camberlinks are a pain in the A$$! They literally have to unbolt it to adjust and re-bolt it back up, check and repeat if not correct...
Doesn't matter what wheels you have one, and alignment is an alignment, its setting everything behind the wheels to run them straight. I was worried about it once too, but my firend, thats an alignemnt specialist, told me it doesn't matter what rims are on.
Well my summer setup is more important....the rims have a different width and offset meaning they have a different geometry.
kevcol74
02-12-2009, 03:05 PM
I still don't see how that will make a difference... The rims needs to sit straight, be it a +40 or +50 offset. Your toe and camber should be set the same for any rim I would think... just trying to bend my head around that idea, and I can't seem to. If you were running adjustable coilovers maybe, but not for a set suspension. (Sorry, I have an anlytical mind...:whoa)
Well with the offset pushing the rim out more towards the outer edge of the car it would mean more camber wear on the inner part of the tire. Its like extending the rod. The angle is more crucial because it is extended out.
kevcol74
02-15-2009, 12:01 AM
Reason I'm now curious and want to understand is I have those 16" FD RX7 rims on my Escape for the winter, and wondering if that might be a bad thing... (16x8 instead of factory 16x7) All the more reason to pull them and sell them! lol
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