Find another shop. Either they are crooks or that machine is off.

There is no way that a car running fine was nearly a full degree off on each side in front toe.

It sounds like you have a serious alignment issue.

At the very least, get a second opinion.

 

Thanks, let me get the alignment checked at another shop then.


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I wouldn't let Meineke work on my wheelbarrow. Same with Firestone and any of the chain stores. They have a high personnel turnover ,and even if they have good equipment, the help doesn't know how to use it.

 

this is 1000% true.

i had worked at a Firestone store (big mistake) and they had a Hunter machine. the heads were always falling off, so how accurate can they be.??

i actually saw the ""shop foreman" use a small screw driver to pry the head slightly to get the readings he wanted.

i then got a job in a good old fashion service station. the Hunter machine was OLDER then the Firestone one and in PERFECT operational condition.

Why..??

Hunter was at the shop monthly to update the software and check calibrations.

oh yeah, i was in a more professional shop that time.

to the o/p, never go to Midas, Mieneke, Sears. seek out an independent repair shop.

 

I would take it back to that Meineke and ask them if they have another alignment machine to check their findings. Insist the car did not have this problem before they did the alignment. Tell them the alignment was only preventative maintenance. If they say they don't have another machine, ask for your money back and take it to another place for an alignment check, as recommended above. If Meineke refuses to put it on another machine for a check and/or refuses to refund your money, I would give Meineke corporate a call and discuss the matter with them.

Mike

 

Alignment

I'd rather have the dealer do alignments on my 2008 Rav4 @ $70.Plus, spin balance all wheels was $40. Other shops were charging me $72 just for spin balancing.

 

No effort

Number 1 , No one wants to actually work these days. If it takes any real effort they will sluff over the job they are on at the time. Number 2 Most of the young guys these days never had a live in father to teach them a work ethic or how to do guy stuff day to day like " fix things " . Their mother was to busy sleeping with some fake long haired Rock Star instead of their father in the 80s and 90s so they got a divorce . I can do my own alignment with string ,measuring and a detailed oriented eye. And its a trustworthy alignment. Takes some effort but beats spending $75 - 150 for the guys I'm talking about above to "F" up my car for me and aggravate the heck out of me. BTW, If you learn how to do this make sure you have the same tires all around. otherwise it can get tricky. If it wears tires weird or shakes after that something is worn out. And you can fix that in your own driveway too with a jack and a pry bar to diagnose which parts are worn.

 

From past experience, I wouldn't trust any of those chain shops. They are on commission and are under pressure to sell stuff. No sell, no profit, no job. Go to an independent shop you trust and have them check it. You'll be glad you did.

 

I had a Firestone shop road-force balance my tires and they now ride as they should, much more smoothly...just to give props to a franchise shop.

 

Thanks for all your support. Today I got chance to take my car to another shop for wheel alignment. They checked my suspension and told me rack and pinion is good. But needs both outer tie rod ends and all 4 struts. Without that my alignment won't stay long.

So I came back and checked the tie rod ends myself and they look bad. One of the tie rod was shaking a bit too. Here are the pics.

Looking at this pics, I was wondering did the first shop Mineke did not notice this, during my alignment check?
Also does my lower ball joint look bad? This shop did not mention anything about it.

I'm planning to do the tie rod ends myself and take it back for alignment check. Do I have to buy OEM parts or any brand like ACDelco from rock auto?




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Here is the pic of front struts.

What do you think? Is it leaking enough for a replacement? Can I get some more miles from it. Currently my car has 73K miles


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Looks won't tell you much, need to bounce the suspension and shake the wheels and pry the control arms down to feel for play in parts.

 

Yup. If you need to replace it is not too bad. Monroe Quickstuts and control arms can be had at Rock Auto. Monroe normally have a rebates like buy 4 get 1 free if you do all 4( none currently showing). Parts would run maybe $600, give or take (rebate deals get it down another 130 if you can wait). Plenty of how to's here and youtube. If you don't go the Quickstut way then it is a bit time more of a PIA and additional tools but do same save some coin.

 

Your outer tie rods don't look too good. At lease they are leaking something.

Any kind of free play is bad. It should be near tight or tight. Any kind of play where you can make it go 'clank' *metal on metal noise* is not good.

74K is about that time when the struts need replacement. That one doesn't look half bad. You can really go as long as you desire on bad shocks. You'll start to notice handling issues and tires wearing out faster though.

 

What about lower ball joint. It seems to be leaking too. Is that an indication for replacement?


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