Suntire pissing me off

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93mkviii

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I got my alignment done about a month ago after getting new tires but after the alignment, it pulled to the right (just a little). I was going to lower the car anyways so I decide to lower it first and then take it back to suntire to have it aligned again. Now the second time I took it back to them and they ask if I lowered the car. When I said yes, they said we can't align the car or do anything because it has been lowered. They did check it though and said the alignment was fine. Now when I got back in the car, it would go straight but my steering wheel was tilted to the left when the car is going straight. (I don't know how this happened when they didn't do anything to the car except put it on the machine and checked it). The car now does not pull to one side but the steering wheel is tilted when its going straight.

Today I took it to a different suntire but they said the same thing "since it was lowered, they can't do anything about it". (apparently they called the original suntire where i had it done originally for this info). I called the original suntire and ask why lowering the car has anything to do with my CAR'S STEERING WHEEL BEING TILTED. His answer to everything was "toe angle". He also said I had my car lowered the first time i came in, which I DID NOT. Now to my knowledge, even though I have not searched, toe angle is the tire being tilted inwards or outward. WHY can't they keep the steering wheel straight as they straighten the tires? They use a arm like thing to hold the steering wheel straight, so I am guessing they messed up on that part when they "checked it" the second time I took it in.

Has lowering the car given you guys this much trouble? And can someone explain all this alignment stuff so I know when I talk to them. From what I understand, they just need to keep the tires straight and keep the steering straight, RIGHT?
 
There should not be a problem.

The rear tires will align within the outer limits of the alignment. I had this issue back this summer with a local shop. I had them talk to Eddie at American Air Suspension (where I got my lowered kit from).

After talking to Eddie they had no problems doing the alignment.

Oh and this was on the rears as there should be no problems on the fronts.
 
..........they are idiots............what do i win!!!
lowering the car changes everything alignment wise, but that doesnt mean they cant align it by any means. lots of members have had problems with incompetent alignment shops, and having to get them redone many times, dunno i did mine just fine :D
 
mespock said:
There should not be a problem.

The rear tires will align within the outer limits of the alignment. I had this issue back this summer with a local shop. I had them talk to Eddie at American Air Suspension (where I got my lowered kit from).

After talking to Eddie they had no problems doing the alignment.

Oh and this was on the rears as there should be no problems on the fronts.
Click to expand...

Too bad I didn't happen to get the lowering kit. I just lowered the car using the factory sensors. They told me the back didn't have a toe angle, true? They said they won't even adjust my alignment better yet try to fix it.
 
Damn those guys are Autozone reject bad enough Autozone guys (except MediumD) are Wal-Mart rejects.

Just senor lowered .. $hit that's not lowered at all compared to a lowered kit.

Run Away .... from them.
 
I remounted my height sensors on my 95 and dropped it far lower than just moving the sensors themselves will allow.
I had NO problem getting it aligned at a REAL alignment shop that actually has QUALIFIED alignment technicians.

At first my steering wheel wasn't straight as well, and they fixed it.. they didn't even squirm or bat and eye when I brought it back 10 minute later.

You need to get a refund for the shoddy work they performed and then go to a "REAL" alignment shop that doesnt have AUTOZONE REJECTS working for them.

PRINT THIS THREAD and take it to SUNTIRE.
 
*Cliff Notes*

mespock said:
There should not be a problem.
Click to expand...

chicken said:
..........they are idiots.
Click to expand...

mespock said:
Just senor lowered ..
Run Away .... from them.
Click to expand...

Savagecat27 said:
lowereing the car affects camber not toe
Click to expand...

XLRVIII said:
You need to get a refund for the shoddy work they performed and then go to a "REAL" alignment shop that doesnt have AUTOZONE REJECTS working for them.

PRINT THIS THREAD and take it to SUNTIRE.
Click to expand...
 
A real shop will give you a print out of before and after specs.
They will be able to tell you and show you what was off and how far, and were it is now.

Suntire would piss me off also.
I would never go back.
I would make sure the manager of suntire fully understood this buy the time I was leaving.
Then I would go here and file a complaint.
 
Thats BS most likely the company has a policy not to work on modified cars. Now that you lowered the car it would no longer be a fix from the first job. At most they should charge for the second alinment. I've had mine done and no one ever said jack about the car being lowered. I did notice one time it scraped going onto the lift because its so low but the job was done right. And yes I got a print out of the before and after specs. Any good tech will get the specs better than (within spec). Go else where.
 
Think about returning the car to stock height ! Have Suntire correct any problems , and then lower the car again !

Good Luck,
Sonny
 
All,

The car is designed to lower itself ! Therefore it is designed to maintain an acceptable alignment through a wide rang of height adjustments ! I have lowered my cars to the max without moving the front brackets , and I have no tire wear problems !

I am not suggesting anyone lower there cars without having the car realigned ! I am just relaying my experience !

Good Luck,
Sonny
 
Sonny Day Out said:
All,

The car is designed to lower itself ! Therefore it is designed to maintain an acceptable alignment through a wide rang of height adjustments ! I have lowered my cars to the max without moving the front brackets , and I have no tire wear problems !

I am not suggesting anyone lower there cars without having the car realigned ! I am just relaying my experience !

Good Luck,
Sonny
Click to expand...


You must not have lowered it much... My tires weren't that lucky
 
But the my problem is the adjustment that you can do on a Mark VIII without any modification of the stock adjustments shouldn't be considered a modification.

The hight sensors can be adjusted about one inch maybe a bit more. This shouldn't effect the car ... this is the allowable height adjustment.

Now if you changed like Tommy did or purchased a lowered kit then it would be beyond the allowed adjustment of the stock car.

Just phuck the place and get it done by someone who knows what they are doing.
 
Sonny Day Out said:
All,

The car is designed to lower itself ! Therefore it is designed to maintain an acceptable alignment through a wide rang of height adjustments ! I have lowered my cars to the max without moving the front brackets , and I have no tire wear problems !

I am not suggesting anyone lower there cars without having the car realigned ! I am just relaying my experience !

Good Luck,
Sonny
Click to expand...


Look at Sonny go lol. Becoming very informative lately. I too have lowered mine and really don't like it on the HWY when it hits the bouncy bridges at 70 to 80 mph. Just about brings me up off the seat but I haven't had any irregular tire wear from lowering it. Almost lost it one day taking an off ramp from I-565 onto HWY 65 going about 70 and the roads were wet. The last few bounces it done almost made the rear come out from under me. I think the only thing that saved me was the additional 200 lbs of system in the trunk holding it down.
 
Savagecat27 said:
lowereing the car affects camber not toe
Click to expand...

When the camber changes, so does the toe. It can be adjusted at a lower height though.

It shouldn't cause your wheel to be off to one side though.

I agree, those alignment monkeys are idiots. That's why I bought my own alignment tool.:)
 
All,

On a car that I lowered more by lowering the brackets , I turn off the trunk switch after loading the car , but before driving on Interstates/Freeways !

Good Luck,
Sonny
 
billcu said:
That's why I bought my own alignment tool.:)
Click to expand...

How are you getting along with that tool? I'm looking to get one myself in the near future as I don't longer trust any 'professional' shop.
 
I'm getting better at it. It's more work and not as accurate as an alignment rack but with 4 Marks, it saves me a lot of time and money.

I hope to take one of the cars to an alignment rack to check my work when I get the time.
 
Thanks guys for all the replies. Seems like I'm just going to return it to stock height and get it fixed instead of arguing with them which might lead to them messing with my car. Just keep in mind don't take your car to suntire.
 
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