9 replies to this topic

[TorontoR]

A few weeks ago, I got in to a fender bender. I was hit on the front passenger fender side. Besides replacing the fender, I have also had a number of suspension part replaced. This includes: right axle, spindle, control arm. I was told that the inner and outer tie rods were fine and did not need to be replaced.

The car was aligned (so the mechanic says). Yesterday, I took it for a drive at the shop for the first time. The steering wheel was completely off!!! I mean I was holding it a 2 o'clock (may be a bit more) to go straight!!! I was so pissed, I told the mechanic off. He said the alignment was done, but that he forgot to 'straighten' the steering wheel, and that was normal after being hit from the right side. He said he would need to adjust the steering wheel.

I have never heard of such a thing. I thought aligned cars come back with a completely straight wheel, and the steering wheel should not be tampered with.

Can anyone shed some light on this. I can't tell you how stressed i am over my 00 laser blue R, awd system.

[JRL]

Not true
After an alignment the wheel can (and will) be off to way off and you adjust the tie rods to get it back straight.
I'm a bit suspect on who did the alignment. Usually the wheel is FIRST put straight, then tied so it can't move, then the car is alignened to the wheel.
It sounds like an amatuer did yours

[T5BLACKattack]

When doing an alignment, one of the steps is making sure the steering wheel is straight, then you put a steering LOCK on the wheel. Then you adjust the wheels/tie rods to the computers spec. So your car was not aligned right, i would ask for my money back and run far away from that shop if they cant even get an alignment right.

[TorontoR]

ok...so it sounds like he didn't have the steering wheel straight when he did the alignment. Sounds pretty moronic to me!!

Do you think that is the only issue??? Do you think it has anything to do with crappy suspesion work he did on my front passenger side?

He says he needs to adjust the steering wheel ( i googled this and it seems some people do this)......will this screw things up?????

Damn... this guy is probably the worst mechanic I have ever come accross...i just want my car back so i can take it to a volvo master tech!!!

[Dan A]

If he means he's gonna correct it by removing the steering wheel, then run. But I doubt he means that.

Sounds like he doesn't do this much though.

[TorontoR]

honestly...i don't know anymore...I told him NOT to touch the wheel, and to get it re-aligned...and to leave it alone if he doesn't want to do it.

A bit off topic...but his body guy says that 'laser blue paint' (441) is really expensive paint....are they pulling a fast one on me again?!

Getting the car away from these guys tomorrow!!!!!

[atefitty]

The steering wheel should of been fixed in a straight position and secured there before he did his toe adjustments..Besides, he's suppose to test drive it anyway after and he would of seen this..That place you went to is a joke.

[T5BLACKattack]

As i said, run far far away.

[Deimos]

Demand money back, go to a competent mechanic.

[nvr70]

I've used these before guys and had good service. Takes about an hour and costs about $125.

http://www.quickmuffler.com/