Firestone alignment;what was I thinking?

[rickdm]

I am off to MSR tomorrow for a track weekend with the PCA. I have heard about how important an aligment is on a Miata, but I did not have time to get to a specialist so I thought I would try out the local Firestone. I gave him the alignment specs I wanted (-1, -1,5). I get the car back this afternoon and the printout has a note that says that you cannot adjust camber on Miata without special camber bolts, but he did his best. The computer readout; Left side -.8 front, -1.1 rear, right side -.3 front, -1.7 rear. I threw a fit , how could you not match left and right? The guy had gone home and now I am stuck with this alignment on the track. Tell me this is not going to be as bad as I think it might be.

rickdm
'91 BRG

[Majik]

Nah, it wont be optimal, but it probably wont be worse than a car that came from the factory either.

[HudsonHawk]

Next time go see AJ at NTB in Lewisville.

[4W4K3]

Not that we specialize in Miata's, but I work at Sears Auto in Lewisville (in the mall). If you come in there ask for Danny, he will do it right or not at all. Which is the way Firestone should have done it.

[MadMonkey]

Soon as I get my new wheels on I'm taking my car to BAM

[Black_devil_miata]

Your alignment isn't that big a deal in my honest opinion. If you cant drive your car with the alignment as is, you aren't going to be able to drive it when it is aligned. True the guy at firestone should have done a decent job and for that you should say something, but its firestone....what did you really expect?

[4W4K3]

Your alignment isn't that big a deal in my honest opinion. If you cant drive your car with the alignment as is, you aren't going to be able to drive it when it is aligned. True the guy at firestone should have done a decent job and for that you should say something, but its firestone....what did you really expect?

I'd definetly ask for my money back, if you had to pay. You came in with specs, he said he could do it. You did not get what you wanted, you had an agreement, you should get your money back.

Or at least a free come back so they can fix it after you race. We do that at Sears. I forget how long the warranty is, but if it goes out of spec you can bring it back and have it re-aligned for free.

[rickdm]

Well, at least they did not charge me. That is the only positive thing I can say.

rickdm
'91 BRG

[icepenguin66]

If you don't go to a specialist, then just make sure you find someone that does know what they are doing at a regular shop like AJ at NTB. The NTB in Richardson off Arapaho used to have a gear head (that had a Miata none the less!) that always did a great job on my car. Never trust just any grease monkey with an alignment!

[Darron65]

+4 for BAM! He aligned my car today and I left very happy.

[Treibenschnell]

+4 for BAM! He aligned my car today and I left very happy.

So you're saying that BAM! gave you a happy ending?

[Bacon]

I have to put my two cents in. AJ at NTB in Lewisville did my alignment right. He fixed my pull to the right, straightened my wheel, and gave me a PERFECT setting with the paper to prove it.

[rickdm]

I got to the track on Saturday and the guys at PST (race shop at MSR)were able to fix my alignment. They have a new computerized machine that is very slick, they can align and corner weigh at the same time. The tech said the initial readings were totally messed up. I had 1 degree of positive camber on each front wheel, and the front toe was so far out that he had to turn the tie rod bolt eight full turns on the right and nine turns on the left. I have learned my lesson.

rickdm

[Maynerd]

Gary at TDR suggested I go to AJ at NTB too. His machine was down a couple of weekends ago, haven't checked back to see if he is up and running.

I'm done with Firestone. They stripped a wheel bolt when I bought a new tire from them (long story why I bought from them) and failed to tell me before I drove off. I guess my life isn't worth a $7 stud and 5 minutes of labor. Fortunately Gary and Mike later noticed it when I was over at Gary's for some unrelated work and fixed it.

[CraiginTX]

So you're saying that BAM! gave you a happy ending?

[icepenguin66]

Gary at TDR suggested I go to AJ at NTB too. His machine was down a couple of weekends ago, haven't checked back to see if he is up and running.

I'm done with Firestone. They stripped a wheel bolt when I bought a new tire from them (long story why I bought from them) and failed to tell me before I drove off. I guess my life isn't worth a $7 stud and 5 minutes of labor. Fortunately Gary and Mike later noticed it when I was over at Gary's for some unrelated work and fixed it.

Damn, that's messed up! Whatever Firestone place my parents went to did a great job on their Solstice. Guess they got lucky.

[Maynerd]

I went to the one on lower Greenville. I thought I was safe, a friend had taken her 99 Protege in for various things on 3 seperate ocassions with no problems. I think one of the mechanics there even drives a Miata, as there's one parked out front.

[trickyrix]

I've never had good luck with NTB (or Goodyear, or Firestone, etc), but maybe I was going to the wrong one. For what it's worth, I get all my alignment work done down at Dallas Frame & Alignment. They'll do whatever you ask 'em to w/o any corporate BS. Plus, they make sure your car actually drives right before you get it back!

[BAM!]

Gary at TDR suggested I go to AJ at NTB too. His machine was down a couple of weekends ago, haven't checked back to see if he is up and running.

as of now i can do miata alignments if you
1) arent very low or
2) dont have a chin spoiler and dont mind the frame rails sliding on a little paint.

-untill we get our other machine fixed

[black roadster]

as of now i can do miata alignments if you
1) arent very low or
2) dont have a chin spoiler and dont mind the frame rails sliding on a little paint.

-untill we get our other machine fixed