TrustConquest Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 So when I bought my Conquest, the steering wheel was turned slightly to the right whenever I was driving straight. Took my car into Pep Boys ( Regret), to get 4 new tires and an alignment done. After the alignment, the steering wheel was now slightly to the left whenever I was driving straight. So I took my car back to them to do a re-alignment. After 2 hours them trying to re-align the car, and me waiting around, they concluded that they wouldn't be able to align my steering wheel with the re-alignment, due to the OE tie rod setup. After realizing that they had put the wheels on backwards (Front to Rear, vice versa), I now question their competence on the matter and want to seek out a second opinion. Shouldn't an alignment fix this issue? Or do I need to physically move the steering wheel a notch over? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyWadd Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) Idiots. They can do it two ways.1) Re - stab the sterring wheel after alignment (unbolt it and try to go one tooth either way to fix)2) Disconnect the tie rod that must be disconnected to be adjusted to set the toe without actually moving the steering wheel. The problem they face is that one tie rod has two lock nuts and can be adjusted easily by just loosening the lock nuts. So they set toe by making adjustments just on that side. The other side needs to have a ball joint (tie rod end) taken out, then adjust the lenght, then reinstall, then check measurement on aligment machine. They dont wanna spend that time. They are gonna say it is not adjustable one one side (o.e. tie rod setup) And then you tell them sure it is, do you guys have a 17mm wrench and a tool to pull out the split pin? And maybe a impact hammer to get the tie rod out of its tapered seat. Ask them if it not adjustable how come there are threads on it? Edited June 12, 2012 by JohnnyWadd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu_Crash Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 I ran into the same problem at Firestone. After 2 hours they finally came and got me. "umm ... we can align it but we can't get the wheel at 12 O'clock" I laughed and said, don't worry about it, the wheel is on splines I'll put it back at 12. With a sigh of relief they said Phew .. good enough. Then tried to tell me that some parts were wrong since all the adjustment is on one side. I politely told them that they were wrong and went on my way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott87star Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 Yeah, alignment guys hate our car, they want to loosen both fronts then jack them into position and crank it all down. But, hey, what the H E double hockey sticks? Doesn't work? Doh! And don't even allow them to look at the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidjc Posted June 12, 2012 Report Share Posted June 12, 2012 Just had it done (alignment) after replacing wheel & tire, a control arm, strut rod & bracket. (bringing back my original Quest to DD, from a "wrong turn") Same issue, but a seasoned alignment person knows how to take care of it, just requires (as noted above) a little more effort & time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrustConquest Posted June 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2012 Hey, but if I paid for the service, aren't they obliged to do it whatever way it is supposed to be done to get it correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyWadd Posted June 13, 2012 Report Share Posted June 13, 2012 Hey, but if I paid for the service, aren't they obliged to do it whatever way it is supposed to be done to get it correct? Yes. If they have the right books or program on there alignment machine it even tells them how to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Every1zgot1 Posted June 14, 2012 Report Share Posted June 14, 2012 I was told the same thing at Les Schwab...so now i have an alignment with my steering wheel pointing at 11 o'clock position....grrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeintheconquest Posted June 14, 2012 Report Share Posted June 14, 2012 When I first got my SQ, The alighnment was way off because some dumb mechanic didn't do it correctly at all. When I had my trusted shop do it, they got it pretty close, but also told me that due to the dead strut mounts, it was as good as it would be. I just got my SQ out the shop this morning after I had them put on the four new strut mounts, helpers, dust boots, and sway bar link kits, and they did a four wheel aligment. All is well and they got the alignment to spec. Very happy. It does really pay to have a shop that knows what they are doing. And damn, what a difference these new parts made!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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