I took the camaro to Firestone today for an alignment. I gave them a printout of the specs from David Pozzi's website that I wanted it set to. Guy says OK, I come back an hour later to pick it up and he says "we had to set it to factory specs for liability". WTF? Why didn't you tell me that when I dropped it off. Anyway, we "agreed" they wouldn't get paid for the alignment.

Anybody else had this problem with getting an alignment? Now I need to go find a shop that will do it for me.

Yes and some shops will not use customer supplied parts ,only there parts supplied through there parts house ,Happy Motoring

Yes, the machine is programmed to factory specs. At least that's what I was told.

The machine has an over ride. The tech could use one!

That liability thing is a bunch of BS. These cars should NOT be aligned to factory spec. with radial tires. There is an article in HRM regarding this. I've done alignments for people who want there cars set up for as much neg. camber as possible and also set the rear toe-in to reduce understeer for autocross. I simply explain that tire wear will be an issue.

Dan E.
69 SS396 4spd. 4.11 posi. x66 coupe

You need to find somone that aligns race cars. Ask around at the chassis shops in your area and see who they use.

I just had mine done by a local shop where I know the owner. He was able to get a little over 3 deg on the caster using the alignment machine. Ask a lot of questions and see if any "old timers" work there. I'm uncomfortable with anyone working on my Camaro, much less a guy 20 years younger than my car doing the alignment at a corporate chain.

Dave, I had a similar experience last week when I went to have the alignment checked. The "alignment guys" at Firestone would not touch it. I guess they did not have experience with older cars...or that they are too much work, who knows. They recommended another shop and I went there...also with a printout of specs and info. The alignment guy there was excellent. He actually talked with me about the car's handling, what I was experiencing, and we actually discussed the information I brought with me. He worked off the provided specs and was as nice as could be.

I have never had an issue asking for an alignment set "for best tire wear" from my shops. That is a chain store for you.

Man, i guess i got lucky. I also took mine to firestone. Its kind of funny because all the guys working there had Camaros. When i drove in, they all ran to look at the car. The guy I talked to over the phone told me he was not expecting to see this.
Anyways, i pulled out Pozzis specs and told him what i wanted, and the guy got it done.
$130 for lifetime. Not bad.

In this "sue happy" world we live in, this is not too common. Plus, them using only their parts is another way for them to make money off you. There is an old famous say

"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."

Today especially that is true. So hard to find good help.

As far as repair shops not wanting to use customer parts lets stop and think this out for a moment. You order a part(s) from Summit Racing, Year One, Classic Industries etc. The part(s) come(s) in. Lets say you order tie rod ends, front shocks, & disc brake conversion kit. You bring the car to have the parts installed. The repair facility takes your tie rods & shocks off and goes to install your parts...Same for the brake pads & calipers...Oops you received the wrong parts.... Now what?

Hmm lets think the repair facility just spend 1.5 - 2.5 hours removing your old rusted out parts & they were damaged upon removal which is the case with old junk to be thrown out....Now your car sits on the lift for the weekend since today is Friday. You can't get parts until Tuesday since the parts will be shipped Monday.....The car sits and ties up their lift since it's inoperable. And it's not like they can re-install your old junk. And what about the labor they already have into it??

This is exactly why when I worked for the likes of Goodyear, Firestone, Chrysler, GM & other facilities during the 1990's we would NOT install customers parts unless they were close personal friends we knew or family. When a shop puts their parts on they can warranty their parts if said parts are defective. They can not warranty your parts. This is also taught to students at some of the top automotive schools in the country. Not to mention there are extra liabilities that come with installing a customer's parts that a repair facility would wish to avoid.

Two places I worked at had serious car enthusiasts including myself and the alignment techs were awesome. They would align full blown race cars and cars competing in SCCA which required much more positive caster than the average car.

I agree with the others that said find some facilities in your area which the owner, service manager or journeyman technician races and/or services race cars. They will do the job right.

Now as far as installing your parts when you don't know the person in the facility---Ask yourselves this question? Do you bring your own food to be cooked when you go to a restaurant? You might to a family members house or good friend's house and they will cook your food. Try bringing your own steak or pasta to a restaurant where you don't know the owner or chef and see what they say... :eek::eek: :noway::noway:

Just my 2.78 cents...South Side style! :beers:

SSG&H

Go to a toyota dealership and find the alignment tech and he can set it up for you!! Or call me (828-808-1476)and ill call the dealership and speak to the tech for you! We are always doing muscle cars and drag car set-ups!!

Yes, Firestone is pain.... I paid for the lifetime alignment. I wasn't happy with the way that they aligned the car so ai went back a couple weeks later to have them make adjustments. When they told me that they wouldn't do anything but factory specs, I complained and they refunded my money.

Why do people keep taking their classic cars to Firestone and the like for repairs?

Why do people keep taking their classic cars to Firestone and the like for repairs?

My guesses...

- Do not know how to or feel comfortable doing the repair themselves.
- Do not have the tools.
- Do not have the space.
- Do not have a way of getting the car up off the ground.
- Do not have or cannot find the time.
- Were under the engine and a wrench accidentally hit the starter and scared
the living crap out of them.

And, there are probably many more reasons as well.

My guesses...

- Do not know how to or feel comfortable doing the repair themselves.
- Do not have the tools.
- Do not have the space.
- Do not have a way of getting the car up off the ground.
- Do not have or cannot find the time.
- Were under the engine and a wrench accidentally hit the starter and scared
the living crap out of them.

And, there are probably many more reasons as well.
What I meant was why do they take them to the chain places that are the complete wrong places to take anything but a modern crap car.
I completely understand not being able to do it yourself, but find a good independent mechanic, or shop that knows old cars.

I take mine to the same guys that aligned my 68 firebird back in the early 80's, they are a bit slower now but know what they are doing.

If you have a performance tire/wheel place around where you live give them a call. Not a Firestone or Goodyear but rather a speed shop that does all brands of wheels, tires and suspension work. They will either do the alignment themselves or recommend a shop they use. This is how I found my alignment shop that blew my socks off. Read the last post on the thread below to see how I was treated and if you can find anything close to that then you be set!

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=151675

Why do people keep taking their classic cars to Firestone and the like for repairs?

I do 90% of my camaro work myself. I put the suspension in, I did the disc brake conversion, body bushings, etc. I don't have the tools to do an alignment properly, so I figured Firestone is a tire shop and that they must deal with dozens of alignments a month. I really didn't think, with the right tools, an alignment was something that they could screw up. I don't take my cars there for things I think take skill. No offense to anyone on TC that works at Firestone. I'm sure they have some very capable employees.

This is funny b/c years ago when took the wife's '89 Astro Van in for Safety Inspection, I used to get this, "Next time you will need to replace the idler arm" and finally I was showed how they tested it and that it indeed was worn.

I asked Midas what it would cost and got this $350 to $400 charge so I said I have what 20 days to get it fixed before I have to pay another inspection fee, right??

Yes.

So I went to O/R's and bought shocks, inner/outer t/r ends and an idler arm and came back the next Sat morning and passed the safety inspection.

The guy asked where I got it fixed at and I told him it took me 3.5 hours last night out on my driveway in the dark!

You shoulda seen the look on his face!

Priceless!

pdq67