This is REDICULOUS!

preface: I got my alignment done at Firestone in Illinois after I installed my DJM drop. They did a good job but the caster was almost a full degree different from the left and right. I drove my truck 800+ miles back to Florida and went to Firestone where the Idiots did work.

the story: I went to the Firestone to have the caster redone on my truck because I wasn't happy with the full degree difference. They agreed to do the work and said it wouldn't be a problem. The guy that was going to be doing the work was asking people left and right on how he was supposed to adjust a truck without cam bolts. (This should have been my first clue.) As I'm watching him do the alignment I notice that the specs on the screen turn from all green to all red. (This is where I started to worry). He goes on and finishes the truck and hands me the result sheet and says thats the best he could do. I looked it over and compared it to the sheet that was done on the first alignment. The passenger side was close to the same as when I brought it in. (happy with that). But the drivers side is where it all began. Here is what the specs looked like:

left Right
Actual/before Actual/Before
camber:0.2/-0.3 -0.3/-0.2
caster:5.36/4.58 5.33/5.32
Toe: -.01/.02 .02/.03

He changed the caster a full degree in the opposite direction on the drivers side going from negative caster to positive caster. I brought this up and he said it didn't make a difference. The drivers side caster was 3 tenths of a degree over the Ford recommended specification and the toe changed to negative. I told him that I was fine with the passenger side, but on the drivers side I wanted the caster brought back within spec, the camber brought closer to 0.00 or on the negative side to match the passenger side, and the toe fixed. He then proceeded to tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about and none of it made a difference.. blah blah blah.... "I have been doing this for 20 year" blah blah blah. I guarantee that its fine. I told him to put that in writing and he wouldnt do it. I told them that I would come back some other day to have it fixed. They agreed and let me go. I drove 5 miles, came to a stop light, hit the brakes, and the truck popped to the left. WTF was that???? I get out and check it out. The LCA pivot bolt(the one holding the lower control arm to the frame) was loose on the drivers side. THE IDIOT NEVER TIGHTENED IT! I called them up and told them what happened and they asked me if I could leave it over night because they are closing.. I told them that I had class and I needed my truck. So either come up with a rental car, or fix my truck. They agree to fix the truck. I get there and the guy tightens the bolt and tells me its all fixed...... HE DIDNT EVEN CHECK THE ALIGNMENT!!!!!! I then notice that the reflectors that they used to do the alignment had scratched the rims. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 4000 MILES ON IT!!!! Now I'm getting pissed. I tell him I want to speak to the general manager...... "He's not picking up his phone" So now I have to go back tomorrow to get this all straightened out. This is REDICULOUS!!! I think this is what I am going to go for when I talk to him.

1. Money reimbursed for alignment......
2. Them to pay for an alignment at a specialty shop that does drops and lifts.
3. Replacement or repair through ford on the rims.

What do you guys think?

 

Man that sucks! I doubt they will pay another shop for the problem. I would tell them to take it to a ford dealer to make sure everything checks out since the jolt was pretty severe and something else might be damaged. They are certainly responsible for the problem but I'm no internet lawyer.

 

Just try to get your money back and take it to the dealer or another shop. I would not let them touch it. They already showed they do not know what they are doing.

 

I had my own phiasco with Goodyear (gemini) alignment shops. Read my thread about my experience.

I didnt trust them to redo it, so i did my own alignment.

I just wanted them to buy two new tires since they completely wrecked them by not doing my alignment correctly and they wouldnt do it. I even called the 1800 customer service number.
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=255892

 

what kind of rims are these?

I want to see the scratches too.

Just because it is not within "spec" doesn't mean it wont be fine.. trust me in certified

nah but for real man i'd love to help you but i'm too far away

 

I will be getting my money back. I doubt they will pay someone else to align it as well. But I'm going to see. The rims are my factory FX2 rims. They have 4 scratches on every rim from the reflector. The reflector is supposed to be installed on the outer edge of the rim so it cant do harm. But the idiots installed it on the inside lip. Freaking retards i'm tellin you.

 

nah dude

I only install it on the outside if it's a custom rim or something that i think needs it

95% of cars i put it on the inside lip.. there should only be 4 lil 3 cm scratches if that.. if they drag scratches around your rim they probaly spun the wheel trying to put it on by accident.

 

Now that's comforting.

 

if i were you id sleep in my truck outside that place b/c by tommorrow they could be packed up and be gone....


that sucks...18s or 20s

 

there are 4 points on the inside lip. that are through the clear coat and into the aluminum. this jeopardizes my clear coat on my rims. i would put them on the outside lip on every car. one day your going to run into a guy like me and its going to cost.

 

the FX2 18's. nothing too special, but i paid extra for a package on this truck for a reason. and the rims were part of it.

 

hahaha dude read the instructions for the lca's you have to either use cam bolts or tac weld the bolts to the frame to keep them from coming loose

 

not within 5 miles. i installed them myself and they lasted 800 miles to florida. the instructions didnt say anything about tacking or anything. i threw on some red lock tight for good measure. but it didnt say anything about it. i dont know if its because its a new kit or what but the instructions said i had to drill the holes for the zirks fittings but they were already drilled and tapped. the stock LCA's dont require tack welding or cam bolts. the kit cam with lock washers. i dont know if the older kits did.

edit: sorry if i sound brash, still kinda irked.

 

don't worry.. I would use the outside hooks for your 22s.. I would probaly ask you to bring your stock rims though

and OP i figured you had those cheap pos 17" wheels i have

I agree.. shoulda did them on the outside but stuff happpens you know?

 

i agree... stuff happens... but when stuff happens.... your fix the stuff. The claims department seems like a pretty reasonable place. i talked to them today and they seem like they are willing to fix it all. which is good. whether or not they follow through is a different story. right now i have pretty good leverage with the documentation in my possesion. i also have written confirmation from the manager of the store stating that they were the ones that damaged the wheels. i think they are going to be reimbursing me the cost of another alignment shop to align the truck properly. i am taking the truck into gainesville ford tomorrow to have them look at the front end and make sure nothing else was damaged when that bolt came loose while i was driving it. the claims department agreed that i should have that done. so far its going pretty well.