Shop couldn't do alignment, eccentrics missing?

[Ivan_D]

I've had a small pull coupled with off-center steering wheel. I took the LS to my local tire shop for rotation+alignment. Their tech was okay with me hanging around and chatting while he worked (the alignment bay is removed from the rest of the shop)

The reading was -1.2 right side camber, cant remember the rest. His computer displayed instructions for turning eccentrics on the front crossmember/LCA joint. He says my '06 is missing the adjustable spacer which should be in between the crossmember and the nut?? Sorry if I'm not using the right terminology here. Hopefully most of you service gurus are used to that.

He looked through the catalog and quoted me $140 to order a kit from a company called "specialty". I notice eibach and other kits sell for <$50.

Just to be clear, I'm posting a link to the parts he pointed out.
Part #3B236 & HN
http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/CatalogResults.aspx?y=2006&m=Lincoln&mo=LS#Search

I had a front-end alignment done at my Ford Dealership just after purchasing the car 18 months ago..no mention of any problems but then again I only spoke with the Service Advisor and I still had the off-center steering wheel afterwards.

 

[SteveSC]

dealer

I would say take it back to the dealer for an alingment. If the wheel is still of centre return to them and say it is. Insist that is why you wanted the alignement. If they then tell you that the eccentric is missing I would believe them. It is possible that the other shop does not know how to align this car. there aren't that many rear wheel drive cars with a multilink suspension out there any more.

 

[manoli]

+1 take it back to the dealer and at least try to get a free diag. from the dealer at least they can tell you what it is.

 

[joegr]

I've had a small pull coupled with off-center steering wheel. I took the LS to my local tire shop for rotation+alignment. Their tech was okay with me hanging around and chatting while he worked (the alignment bay is removed from the rest of the shop)

The reading was -1.2 right side camber, cant remember the rest. His computer displayed instructions for turning eccentrics on the front crossmember/LCA joint. He says my '06 is missing the adjustable spacer which should be in between the crossmember and the nut?? Sorry if I'm not using the right terminology here. Hopefully most of you service gurus are used to that.

He looked through the catalog and quoted me $140 to order a kit from a company called "specialty". I notice eibach and other kits sell for <$50.

Just to be clear, I'm posting a link to the parts he pointed out.
Part #3B236 & HN
http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/CatalogResults.aspx?y=2006&m=Lincoln&mo=LS#Search

I had a front-end alignment done at my Ford Dealership just after purchasing the car 18 months ago..no mention of any problems but then again I only spoke with the Service Advisor and I still had the off-center steering wheel afterwards.

Most, if not all, did not ship with those parts. There is an OEM kit to add them. I'm not sure what it costs, but it must not be too much. The dealer I use just threw one in when it was needed for alignment at the normal alignment charge.

 

[Ivan_D]

Would these oem kits allow enough adjustment in the future when car is lowered and I put 19" (10lb heavier)wheels on? The Eibach and others I looked up today could change +/-1.5

 

[jmtiseo]

Are you guys talking about the offset bolts and washers? Or is this a completely different ball game? Only reason I ask is that I've had mine aligned twice and I don't recall them mentioning this.

 

[Kumba]

I would say take it back to the dealer for an alingment. If the wheel is still of centre return to them and say it is. Insist that is why you wanted the alignement. If they then tell you that the eccentric is missing I would believe them. It is possible that the other shop does not know how to align this car. there aren't that many rear wheel drive cars with a multilink suspension out there any more.

Or the tech doesn't look to see if the car take a 4-wheel alignment and ends up aligning everything to a screwed up rear wheel. Had this before at a dumbarse Lincoln dealer of all things. Maybe it was the first LS they ever aligned. Didn't stop them from selling it to me. *shrugs*

A good suspension shop is:
1) Getting more rare every day
2) Worth every penny they cost
3) Shouldn't give you back a screwed up car without an explanation
4) Isn't always your dealer

I would say that you messed up getting the alignment done at the dealer and accepting it with the steering wheel not centered and it still pulling. If it wasn't too long ago (weeks not months), or you got a warranty, then I would take it back and demand they fix it or refund you. Since the dealer *already* gave you back your car with the alignment jacked up, I wouldn't trust them to fix it a second time. I would just go elsewhere.

Since this new place seems to be telling you that it is jacked up, I would guess they are a better choice. As far as if your car needs the part, I haven't a clue. The suspension/alignment place I use was able to dial mine in with stock suspension and 18" wheels just fine.

BTW, if you want to find a good suspension/alignment shop, just go down to the local drag track during test and tune and ask around. Other then a few zealots, you will probably find the same 2-3 names keep coming up. It's what I used to do back in HS when I wanted to find a good shop. Just make sure you let them know you are trying to find a place that can do a 4-wheel alignment. There aren't a ton of cars that have much in the way of an adjustable rear, so you need to make sure they know what they are doing.

If you are REALLY bored, have a WHOLE day to waste, and like to feel like MacGyver, you can do a 4-wheel alignment yourself with some jack stands and string.

http://www.elantragtclub.com/id554.html