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Alignment shop says the rear is too low, wtf?
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Author:  killnine [ Wed May 14, 2014 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Alignment shop says the rear is too low, wtf?

Left my car at the alignment shop that said they could do it. A day later and he calls and says the rear springs are shot so the rear is too low to put whatever he has to put on the wheel on the wheel. Last I looked at it the fender lip was above the tire so I really didn't consider it to be sitting that low. What kind of machine would require so much space? This sounds like a bunch of crap and a waste of 2 days. Does this make sense to anyone?

Author:  Reed [ Wed May 14, 2014 12:16 pm ]
Post subject: 

I think the bigger question is why does the height of the rear end matter when doing a front end alignment? If the issue is some kind of tool that fits over the front wheel, the front end can be raised and set at the proper height using the torsion bars. I think you should find a different shop.

Author:  Doc [ Wed May 14, 2014 12:22 pm ]
Post subject: 

Many of the new alignment racks are designed to do "4 wheel alignments" and that means that the mechanic needs to install "reflectors" on all 4 wheels...
The low rear fender on some older vehicles can prevent this installation onto the rear wheels and that prevents the machine from doing the process.
Basically... you need to find a shop that has an older "2 wheel" alignment rack.
DD

Author:  killnine [ Wed May 14, 2014 12:27 pm ]
Post subject: 

Yeah I guess that shop is going to be me in the driveway with an angle finder and my home made tool. I tried with it already buy I got frustrated because I couldn't get it right and taking the tire on and off and everything was getting to be a big pain in the butt.

Author:  mattelderca [ Wed May 14, 2014 3:02 pm ]
Post subject: 

If you are willing to pay some one but want to do it yourself to be sure.
How about one of these kits.
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/q ... /overview/

Author:  Pierre [ Wed May 14, 2014 3:37 pm ]
Post subject: 

I'd like to see what they are trying to attach to the wheel.... If the fender is above the tire, that should leave a sizeable gap to the wheel (unless your running super short tires) for any needed clearance on a duster. On a dart I could understand it as the fender skirts over part of the tire but on a duster? Hmm... this wreaks of "I don't want to bother with this so I'll make an excuse" type reasoning.

Author:  72polara [ Wed May 14, 2014 10:16 pm ]
Post subject: 

I ran into this on my '73 dart at a shop trying to do a 4 wheel alignment. They had the sensors that clamped on around the rims, like this: Image

The junior tech said it couldn't be done, no room on the rears, the fenders were in the way. The senior tech came out, looked annoyed, had him clamp the sensors on 90 degrees so they would fit, and zeroed the sensors in their new orientation.

30 minutes later I had a perfect four wheel alignment.

:)

Author:  Reed [ Wed May 14, 2014 10:53 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hooray for the senior techs!

I must be getting old. Now I never want to talk to the young people at the repair shoip. I always look for the old guy (who actually knows what he is doing).

Author:  VG-265 [ Thu May 15, 2014 5:34 am ]
Post subject: 

Yep, it's the oldest tech at my shop that does the best alignments..... and he is definitely a greybeard :)

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Tue May 20, 2014 3:00 pm ]
Post subject:  old guys are the best...

When I first got my '67 Dart it had some serious issues that needed immediate attention. I took it to a couple places, each time asking, "do you have anyone who knows the old cars?" I didn't let anybody touch it until I found someone who was old and whose eye's lit up when he saw the old dart pulling into his bay... :D

Author:  sandy in BC [ Tue May 20, 2014 4:35 pm ]
Post subject: 

72 Polara has the answer....

Author:  Pierre [ Tue May 20, 2014 5:02 pm ]
Post subject: 

The pic 72polara showed - that gizmo still doesn't go past the tire. OP said fender lip is above the tire.

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