alignment shop ripping me off?? you tell me (POLL)

[old_blue]

went there the other day and get my car aligned. I finally got my C/C plates in after converting to 5 lug. well iget there and they said there is an additional hour charge ($65 more) for the C/C plates as they take longer. I wasn't really ok with that but I need the alignment. After waiting almost an hour after my sked apptment they finally get my car up on the lift and tell me the left inner tie rod needs to be replaced (given the rack has less than 3k miles on it) and the hubs need to be replaced. So I know I can replace the hubs but not too sure on the inner tie rod. I ask them to give me a price and it was $450+ for everything,(told them I can do the hubs so...) then $265 for the tie rod + $108 for the alignment.... I about crapped myself. $265 for the tie rod.... the whole rack was less than $100 brand new I believe.


Maybe it be lowered wore out the inner tie rod quickly I don't know. I can do both hubs myself for about $100 in parts. I don't have the tool for the inner tie plus I would just buy a new rack anyways. But I still highly doubt it is bad. I need to get a second opinion I guess.

what do you guys think... ripped off???

 

[Strype]

In a word... yes.

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2006/0503/9152183.200k.asx

 

[old_blue]

dirty bastiges. I am def getting a second opinion. If it is bad then mud on my face. But that rack is less than 3k miles old.

 

[tunedin302]

Wow, very pricey!!

 

[Flavadave4]

I hope you told them to go pound sand, and took your car home with you!

 

[1991vert]

i put everything on myself, including the C/C plates, and lined it up by eye. i drove it to the alignment place and he charged me $40 for a front wheel alignment. you sir, are getting RAPED

 

[Flavadave4]

yeah i had my CC plates installed and front end alligned for 75$

 

[90]

after watching strype's clip... that makes me think of everything ive done and paid for all the cars i ever took anywhere... kinda sicking if you ask me!!! im really pist now for no reason at all... i dont know if that ever happend to me or NOT... im about to go open a can at the oil shop i goto just for watching that clip!

 

[Jaswir]

you can do your inner tie rods in 30mins! dont let a shop do them! u dont need a specail tool to do it with. also no shop should charge more to adjust camber! that goes with the alignment process! i got mine done for 45bucks!

 

[old_blue]

jaswir, can you send me a pm or in this thread with how to replace them just inase they are bad???

I am definitely going somewhere else. I am thinking they ran into the next appt time and decided to make it worth their wild to get more money out of me.

 

[El_CUCUY]

Yeah thats way to much

I paid 160.00 but that was for life time if i ever change anything all i have to do is take it back and they will do it for free..Good investment.
I took it cause my front drivers side was rubbing in the inner fender and they took the rivets off the original CC plates to make some adjustments.

 

[DigitalGhost]

I'm never taking my car to jiffy lube for anything after seeing that. I've got a mechanic I go to for stuff I cant do myself, and he's a friend of mine and has always been honest with me. He's even given me advice on stuff I can do myself so I don't have to take my stang in and pay him to do it.

It's hard to find people like that.

 

[1985 5.0]

Wow. I got quoted for alignment, new inner and outer tie rods on both sides, and labor for about $180. This guy has a good reputation and my car has 235k, so I can see it needing new tie rods.

 

[Nasty_Notch]

Those people caught on tape from Rape Lube should be shot on the spot!!!!

 

[85ragtop]

I'm never taking my car to jiffy lube for anything after seeing that. I've got a mechanic I go to for stuff I cant do myself, and he's a friend of mine and has always been honest with me.

I have never taken my car to a place like that. And +1 for the mechanic friend.

 

[stang8urimport]

you can do your inner tie rods in 30mins! dont let a shop do them! u dont need a specail tool to do it with. also no shop should charge more to adjust camber! that goes with the alignment process! i got mine done for 45bucks!

hhahahahahahahaahah Camber is not included in MOST of your alignments. When was the last time you worked in a shop and did an alignment?

For you guys saying he's getting ripped off... You have to think of it this way... Most shops charge 75 per hour labor. That inner probably called for .8. The part probably cost them 30 bucks (depending on manufacturer), but they mark it up. Now if you people knew how a shop was run, you would know that the tech is probably getting 15-20% on the part, then the manager is getting 5-8%, then you have overhead. If you think they are screwing you, it's because YOU think they are because YOU can do your OWN work. Don't think you're gunna go to a shop to get an alignment done and expect them NOT to shake down your front end to make sure it is tight.

The extra hour is right on, I think. For one, to adjust the caster/camber, you have to sweep the caster, jack the vehicle up, center the wheel, make your adjustment, lower the vehicle, sweep the caster, jack it back up, center the wheel, make your adjustments...................... Do you ****in' work for free? I sure the hell don't. Next time I come into your work and demand something for free, don't be surprised cause that's what most of you are telling these mechanics and shops to do... Not charge you to where they come out on top and everyone makes money. It's a BUSINESS. If it's too expensive, go BUY YOURSELF SOME EXPERIANCE, TOOLS, AND A $60,000 ALIGNMENT MACHINE

 

[90mustangGT]

Camber/Caster adjustment is only included when it is a standard adjustment, such as when you only have to loosen a bolt and move it with another. Any time something has to be removed, drilled, added, riveted, punched out, or any advance setup, they will and should charge. I don't understand why people belive mechanics should have to work for free, like we do this as a public service or some bull**** like that? That is why I recently left the buisness, having to do free inspections and other free services.

They said the hubs need replacment, is this a upgraded spindle assembly? What exactly did they saw was wrong with them. I would get a second opinion.

 

[Busted07]

Its not that much more work to do the camber. We do it all the time for the body shop we are a part of. And actually, I require our techs to do the toe, caster and camber on every car to ensure the frame was fixed correctly. I understand that in other situations thats not all required. I personally think that if youre going to do an alignment, you should be doing all 3, or its not a complete alignment. Thats just how i run this place , As far as the inner tie rod replacement cost being high, if you havent priced an inner tie rod end tool, you might want to take that into account. no, you dont absolutely have to have the tool, but it makes life so much easier if you have one.

The Hunter we just bought with the wireless heads was only about 42 grand.. and that included the lift, the computer, the heads, and a wireless remote for it, what brand you guys get poop? please tell me it wasnt a Hofmann. If it is, ill send you all the extra parts i have from ours. I purposely broke 2 of the heads on it so we could get a decent machine in here. That thing isnt worth its weight in....well... poop

 

[bubba-dough]

$265 is outrageous for just 1 inner tie rod no matter how you look at it. Hell the Ford dealer only charges $70/hr. add on another $50 for the part. That is $125 parts and labor. I would just swap out the rack myself and have it aligned. Your only out an additional $50 (over the cost of 1 new tie rod) plus your getting 2 new tie rods and a reman rack.

Our local shop who does all my alignments charges $35 for a rear wheel drive car. Now when I had the 96 and it was lowered with cc plates they charged me $10 more. I had no complaints.

Ps...when you are in doubt and second guessing somones diagnosis get a second opinion.

 

[stang8urimport]

Its not that much more work to do the camber. We do it all the time for the body shop we are a part of. And actually, I require our techs to do the toe, caster and camber on every car to ensure the frame was fixed correctly. I understand that in other situations thats not all required. I personally think that if youre going to do an alignment, you should be doing all 3, or its not a complete alignment. Thats just how i run this place , As far as the inner tie rod replacement cost being high, if you havent priced an inner tie rod end tool, you might want to take that into account. no, you dont absolutely have to have the tool, but it makes life so much easier if you have one.

The Hunter we just bought with the wireless heads was only about 42 grand.. and that included the lift, the computer, the heads, and a wireless remote for it, what brand you guys get poop? please tell me it wasnt a Hofmann. If it is, ill send you all the extra parts i have from ours. I purposely broke 2 of the heads on it so we could get a decent machine in here. That thing isnt worth its weight in....well... poop

We have a brand new John Bean. It seriously is 100 times better then any Hunter I've ever used.