I CAN’T STAND Arguing With Other Mechanics

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Күн бұрын

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@DavidLPitman 2 ай бұрын

Make a deal with the shop you like and give the customer a single price for the rack/pinion install + alignment. Don't deal with some unknown shop. Solved.

@user-sq9kt2sk7k 2 ай бұрын

you are 100% correct sir. many alignments are done just doing the quick toe adjustments 😳

@TylerJackson-e8m 2 ай бұрын

i like how you fight for your customers and you are absolutely a real one doing it right the first time. i like your honesty and commitment behind your word and if you don't know something your not afraid to say it. you stand behind your work unlike these shady shops. you also own your mistakes. 100% hard to find a mechanic these days to tell you straight up. keep up the hard work and i wish you very well sorry i haven't been able to catch your stream been driving 18 wheeler but ill try to stop by to catch you. thank you @ALEX THE CAR DOCTOR keep making this great content:)

@clintonhall1370 2 ай бұрын

as a fellow mechanic this by far the best channel yet very informative.

@MichaelAyers-h6i 2 ай бұрын

I would like to say half in North Carolina and I have watched your show for a couple of months on your KZbin channel and thoroughly enjoyed the family dynamics and your crew at the garage. It's good to see good people do good things. And as far as Dr. Alex goes, he should tell him like I feel it's hard to beat experience, intelligence common sense And it's also good to see missus card, doctor take it for herself and her employees in the shop. Especially when she takes over the camera when you're busy and tells us what's wrong with the vehicles. I would also like to see episodes on each one of your employees in order to get to know them. Thanks so much again. Your friend in monterey north carolina mike

@KasparrTV 3 ай бұрын

Tow and go involves setting the steering wheel. I’ve never not straightened a steering wheel on an alignment. That’s like 50% of what is required in an alignment

@ClevelandBuckeye-gw5dz 3 ай бұрын

Facts

@mikeschaner5853 3 ай бұрын

Negative, tow and go, is strictly setting toe on front wheels. A full alignment service BETTER include a wheel centering though.

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

it is simple, you set total toe then test drive if the steering wheel is off center just shorten one tie rod and make the other longer the same distance

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

@@mikeschaner5853 90% of the cars on the road today only have a toe adjustment caster and camber are a thing of the past

@mikeschaner5853 2 ай бұрын

@JimSix-jo6hf not that simple most times...

@mph5896 3 ай бұрын

It’s nice when manufactures make a rack that only goes one way into the steering shaft. Asian stuff is usually splined so it can drop on anywhere. You may want to sub out the work to the alignment shop right by you as part of the job. That way if there were any issues, you get to deal with it instead of the customer.

@victorpecina7137 3 ай бұрын

I do rack and pinions all the time and I have never had problems with shops like those thankfully. That shop needs to be exposed so people dont go there. Clearly seems that they dont have profesional employees to perform the job. Thanks Alex keep up with the excellent work tjat you do. Unfortunally these days we have to deal with people that claim to be technicians. Keep the good attitude brother and good work environment.

@HomieTalkwithG11 3 ай бұрын

Alex you are 100% right about an alignment being needed after replacing the rack and pinion. Sad part is a lot of these chain shops don’t know what they are doing. Very similar situation with my 07 Jeep Liberty. My stepdad and I replaced the rack and pinion over a weekend. Took it to a chain shop for alignment , they didn’t want to touch it. Took it to another actual alignment shop and they took care of everything. It wasn’t even expensive.

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

most of the chain stores do not want to do just an alignment, they make money by selling you other front end parts, glad you found a real alignment shop

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

How much are those chain "repair" shops paying their mechanics? You often get the quality you pay for in this business.

@derschafer1012 2 ай бұрын

It sounds like the issue is that the steering rack was not centered when it was installed. I’ve never run into this issue with a steering rack because it takes a few minutes to put it in a vise and turn the input shaft clockwise while counting the number of turns, turn it back the same number of turns, then turn it counter-clockwise while counting the number of turns. If it’s the same in both directions, then turn it back clockwise to the original position; that is perfectly centered. I’ve never had one come in off-centered, but I would never take it for granted that the manufacturer, rebuilder or distributor centered it or hasn’t messed with it. I don’t think that’s part of a normal alignment. Never once have I had to disconnect the steering shaft from the rack and pinion as part of an alignment. Alignments include adjusting all factory adjustments, if setting camber and caster involves drilling struts and installing cam bolts or something, that’s not included in the normal price.

@thk7513 3 ай бұрын

My shop did not have an alignment rack. You need to figure out how many alignments you would need to do in a day to see a possible return on investment. That being said, whenever we would do a suspension/steering repair, I TOOK IT TO ALIGNMENT SHOP TO GET ADJUSTED, I did not send my customer to finish up on my repair. Do the complete repair or don't do it at all, don't put your customer in the middle. Hate to say it but you jumped head first into the trick bag. Get with a fellow shop that will do your alignments well and quickly. You can always add a second line to the repair order for alignment and charge for it.

@mikeschaner5853 3 ай бұрын

Agreed. Exactly what we/i have always done. Do your steering/suspension repair, and farm out the alignment. 1 method that is tried and true, is the chalk line method. Good show sir, any good alignment service, should include centering the steering wheel.

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

this may be the best comment on this video, you are 100% correct the job should be complete when the customer picks up the car, I hope Alex reads this and makes some adjustments you do not want to get the customer involved in subleting repairs it never works better to send it out and test drive it before it leaves

@mikeschaner5853 2 ай бұрын

@@JimSix-jo6hf 💯

@isaiahkanoho4761 2 ай бұрын

Only one thing I know when replacing a rack and pinion is center the steering wheel, lock it down with the seat belt so you don’t have a chance of breaking the clock spring when removing the steering shaft from the rack itself, and when installing the new rack ALWAYS check where the center of the shaft is because all new rack and pinion are not always center out of the box or from a parts store. And how do you check if the shaft on the new rack is center simple use vise grips clamp it down on the shaft and count how many turns from one end to the other end then divided it in half, and that number will be your center and you can always verified if your center number is correct by just continuing counting. For example if you counted 4 full turns from one end to the other just divide that 4 in half which is 2 full turns that’s your center number then to verify that, you just count the other 2 full turns and you should bottom out on the other end. I know it can be confusing, but I always have my steering wheel center when I get it aligned. Try it out and maybe it’ll at least get the steering wheel close to center.

@RicoMaatre 2 ай бұрын

@@isaiahkanoho4761 Exactly. That's how myself and all the other mechanics I know do it. I'm sure that's how he does it. My guess is the alignment shop was trying to get over.

@tonycotta6602 3 ай бұрын

Alex i got fed up with dealing with shops like that along time ago went out and bought a alignment machine stoped all that lallygagin with people that just want to rip people off.

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

Not worth the expense unless you intend to do a whole lot of alignments for a number of years. How much are you charging for an alignment? How long did it take to pay off the alignment machine? To me it's not a worthwhile investment.

@SammyKurts-ku2ht 3 ай бұрын

That new tech is trying I’ll give him that !! Keep giving him knowledge he will get better and better with time bro !

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

I hope he makes it but Alex lost that smile over some of that stuff I hope he stays and learns

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

The one who walks more than he works?

@EuroSprintech_0911 3 ай бұрын

Agree 100% The Dr!. . . Got to remind some of these shops the Alignment procedure 1st- Rear camber, then rear toe(where applicable) 2nd- front camber/caster adjustment, and lastly, is the Toe adjustment 🤨

@usadaytrader 2 ай бұрын

I had a rack and pinion installed at a shop and they installed it and gave my truck back to me with my steering wheel upside down, but reassuring me the alignment shop would be able to correctly re-enter the wheel as part of the alignment. I took the truck to the Toyota dealership and got it back with the steering wheel in the correct position and it drove straight as an arrow. It was amazing.

@elohemi Ай бұрын

1:41 *NAW! THOSE CHAINS (AS A WHOLE/Shout out to CHRIS at Percision Tune Auto on Charlotte Ave. in Nashville) ARE SH%T!!! It is RIDICULOUS how BAD it has become!!! I'm telling you, we unlocked a NEW LEVEL after C O V I D!* #IAlmostALWAYSknowMOREthanTHEM #IONLYgo2THEMifTHeyHaveATOOLthatIDONT

@imfloridano5448 2 ай бұрын

Oh yeah I gave my sister who lives in Atlanta y'alls channel so she could if she is close bring her vehicle for repair to y'all. I admire y'alls honesty and integrity.

@dirtrider3526 2 ай бұрын

I love this channel so much. No u don't show the repaires but as a tech and the only alignment guy at my shop i do love what u r doing. Its hard af to find a honest shop!

@moneymoney12 2 ай бұрын

I have a commercial account with NTB, have not gone because of poor customer service, corporate called asked why and I told them, they offered me a free oil change to give them a shot again. I called to schedule the oil change and the shop wanted to argue with me about the person not having the authority to do that and I said take that up with corporate. I never went. Corporate called to see if I had gone, I explained and said you got too many people who want to be in charge who are barely getting a paycheck. I passed. This is why they were recently bought out

@Sipboyshawty-c 3 ай бұрын

I included the alignment on racks or tie rods because of this happening to my shop. I teamed with a local shop that does good, and I have been great since then when it comes to front end work

@marlinyoung1606 2 ай бұрын

If you have to disconnect the rack and pinion from the shaft that for sure is extra labor. Usually about a half hour extra of labor if it’s easy to get to. Some are more difficult and will require a little extra time. Removing the rack from the steering shaft is not a normal procedure when doing an alignment. It is usually only done when someone else installed a new one or removed for another service. If it is only off slightly this is usually is not required. Any tech that values his time and knows his worth will not give out free labor especially for something that was not caused by him or her.

@garnellwalls3721 3 ай бұрын

Hello car Doctor I've been following you guys for over a year this is my first time commenting on anything I agree 100% with Alex on this front end alignment situation I am a automotive mechanic for over 50 years now and centering the steering wheel is the first thing that you do on a front end alignment that is a requirement of the alignment and for this guy to tell you all that he was charging $250 to reset the steering wheel is ridiculous and just disgusting this the kind of stuff that gives mechanics bad names is quite obvious this man has no respect for the for the trade so Alex you are 100% right on that the centering the steering wheel is a part of the front end alignment also from one mechanic to another mechanic on that Jaguar I noticed you said that you disconnect the battery to bring the computer back to the normal settings there is a way to do that when you disconnect the battery both negative and positive touch the two terminals together and hold them for 30 seconds this is called a global reset and it will reset the computer values back to factory try it it really works thank you guys for your show I appreciate it I enjoy it and one day I look forward to meeting you guys if I'm down in that Georgia area thank you

@rmacuil5 2 ай бұрын

I'm ase certified 3 times on suspension, drivability, & a/c. Im lucky to be in a shop that is honest to customers & honest with there techs. We joke around allot on things like, oh here we go again with the customer stating " I need an alignment because my car is shaking, and my mechanic told me I need an alignment" 😂 Result - tire tearing apart We do alignments on all vehicles up to diesel duelies. When "customers" bring there cars to us from other shops that change the suspension, but don't do alignments what so ever. Sometimes it makes us look like we're the ones trying to scam the customer. Due to the act that the previous shop didn't inspect the suspension properly, like completely missing a worn ball joint, worn tie rods, bent suspension parts, etc. I just wish that at least, there were more shops like you to explain the limitations you have on an alignment basis. Keep up the good work buddy. Remember you gotta work hard to play hard

@jackyheath8131 3 ай бұрын

have you thought about talking with the alignment shop behind you about doing some alignments for you thats how we do it at our shop on jobs like that we do the job take it there let them align it pay them then charge the customer accordingly

@KrimsonApoLLo 3 ай бұрын

This. I really don't understand how they don't have this kind of deal going with that alignment shop already. It would save them from a lot of situations exactly like this.

@eliasnicholson 3 ай бұрын

He did state that he recommends people to the alignment shop nearby, this particular customer just wanted to go back to the NTB he’s comfortable with

@thk7513 2 ай бұрын

He should have done, and not put it on the customer. If Alex did the complete repair to include alignment, there would be no fallout from NTB. Alex has got to remember that to stop shooting yourself in the foot, do not put bullets in the gun.

@noahadim 3 ай бұрын

I'm a one man business so I do the same, any front end work is on the customer to get an alignment. Sounds to me like a combination unreasonable customer and a shady alignment shop.

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

Once you get to that point it will always be this shop didn't do this, the other shop didn't do that. Not worth the hassle. Going back & forth over the issue is time consuming & can lead to ill will that can be avoided. Partner with a quality shop that has an alignment machine.

@puremayhemFTW 3 ай бұрын

I like the service advisor dude seems like a good dude

@ryans413 3 ай бұрын

That makes sense to straighten the wheel because all your adjustments are based off the wheel being straight.

@joehomanick 2 ай бұрын

Hey Alex I also do not have an alignment machine. However I send it to the shop around the corner from me. Just take that truck to the people around the back from you and make that customer happy and be done with it . This way you know that 💯% it done correct and proper. Don’t let them do it and talk 💩 to your customer and it’s not gonna be done correctly.

@txmade4371 2 ай бұрын

Discount Tire Tech, NTB is awful. We fix many tires issues after they do there customers wrong.

@carolchia1001 2 ай бұрын

Had a brand new rack&pinion done and took it to my local firestone for an alignment and the next week I noticed the bellows were ripped up because they were totally twisted. I’m guessing it was from the alignment shop not loosening the bellows clamps before spinning the tie rods, but I honestly don’t know enough about alignments to say for sure…I also don’t know if that’s included in the alignment work or if the customer is responsible for getting that taken care of later or if it was just a premature bellows failure. Regardless, it’s nice to hear from real, honest shops about the shortcuts they’ve seen from other shops and the drive to do things better. 👍

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

The bellows do not twist themselves.

@joshsalazar7935 2 ай бұрын

Alignmet shops are the worste. Mother went in for alignment. They told her struts bad on a 2021 jeep renegade, but they still did the alignment. Now she complains about truck jerking from left to right when accelerating. I check everything and struts look good. Come to find out it's the motor mounts. Which have just been done 3 months ago by the dealer. Now we trying to figure out how to go after the dealer because one week after she drove off the lot she got the mounts done because the truck was jerking and dealer said she ran the truck through rough mountain terrain. How is a 70 year old women going to take her one week off the lot car into the mountains. Do you recommend good after market struts for the renegades?

@GDWS81 3 ай бұрын

I always take it to the alignment shop myself, that way the customer is not caught in the middle. I suggest you do the same to avoid all this drama.

@titanjake8640 2 ай бұрын

Man let me tell you. You did right as always. Very good shop, very good KZbin channel. I am a part time neighborhood mechanic and they bring me cars and put other mechanics on the phone arguing....uhh why did you not fix it then??

@michaelpickarts7683 3 ай бұрын

Have y'all thought about making a business agreement with the alignment shop around the corner when you get a rack & pinion replacement or adjustment come into the shop either 1 of your techs take it over there or have the customer drive it over & just include it in the price of the parts & labor? Maybe the shop with the alignment machine will give you a discount on the price especially if you bring them lots of business & they respect thigh neighbor like the 1 of the 10 commandments tells us all 2 do maybe at least until u get your new shop & alignment machine of your own? I'm sure y'all thought about that already!anyways I enjoyed the video very interesting & entertaining

@8650mack 2 ай бұрын

Ugh chain shops. I feel your pain. They truly will hired almost anyone off the street and train them on corporate bs instead of how to properly do things.

@Bo-Dog 3 ай бұрын

My buddy worked at NTB, he was the only hardest worker in there. A few times i'd came in to help him, it'd be 2 or my other people there.

@c-eas-da-srt8-monsta 2 ай бұрын

My thoughts, charge the customer for the alignment and take it to the guys behind u. I’m sure u can get a situation worked out with them.

@celestial4762 2 ай бұрын

We have our own alignment machine and rack for such things. I hate doing alignments, it is not what I like to do, but that said I at least like having it there so when I put on suspension/steering parts I at least know what I did and I make it come out right. Got a lot of flack before in the past of sending them off to others and having it come out wrong. Even that said, plenty of times I aligned something, someone feels something is wrong and takes it to another shop and that shop says we did something wrong. When it comes to alignments, or even sometimes any repair, most shops just wanna point a finger at the other.

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

yes it seems like a lot of times another shop wants to throw you under the bus!!!, I did a brake job on a newer BMW and set a code that I could not clear, the brakes worked fine but they wanted to do the whole job over because the parts were not approved BMW parts? yes they were better than the BMW crap I replaced!!!!

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

@@JimSix-jo6hf One of the few replacement parts that does not have to be OEM. If they want OEM BMW brake pads the price goes up.

@SammyKurts-ku2ht 3 ай бұрын

Alex is 💯 percent correct ✅!!! There’s multiple professional shops that install steering racks and take it straight to an alignment shop ! That’s very common ! Little do they know that’s the correct way to do it ..

@DANNYN224 3 ай бұрын

This is true what Alex says most alignment shops really don’t do a good job my uncle has a Nissan pathfinder he changed control arms alignment was off after that he found a noise it was the sway bar links the person who did the alignment didn’t even told him when he drove it after its making noise also it needed a wheel bearing aswell

@mph5896 2 ай бұрын

Sway bar links don’t have anything to do with an alignment. Should they have been checked during the shakedown. Sure.

@lamontgray6015 3 ай бұрын

You know we understand you brother keep on keeping on i love your channel

@SirHoffinator101 3 ай бұрын

I did the EPAS unit on my fusion in my driveway in the winter. It wouldn’t be too bad of a job if it was on a hoist. That was my exact worry…whether or not the rack was ACTUALLY straight when I installed it…luckily it was and alignment went well. Part of the install was too make sure the steering wheel was as straight as possible before removing the old rack, that way when I installed the new one the steering wheel wouldn’t be crooked. Made me nervous that the steering wheel would move while I was working on it because it’s only one bolt on a collar to hold its position.

@opalar27 3 ай бұрын

your woman got your back through and through

@AlonzoJ-pf4dt 3 ай бұрын

She dope 😎

@MrMexed15 2 ай бұрын

Why don't yall partner like she said with Clay's for alignment, maybe discuss a discount to encourage customers to go so they don't deal with shady shops. It'd be a win-win.

@coollary1 Ай бұрын

5:16 wow You need to make a list of these things that other mechanics half-ass I’m so tired of not knowing what to specifically ask for to make sure I get everything done properly.

@coollary1 Ай бұрын

7:15 I gotta do my research

@WDIO-RADIO 3 ай бұрын

Alignment machine was over 1/2” out of tolerance of 1-3mm at Firestone. Even the big boys have issues. Ate 2 of my $500 tires.

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

Always get a print-out of the specs - both before & after the alignment is done to avoid issues down the line.

@marcuswarren2235 3 ай бұрын

It is not an uncommon practice for repair facilities to do steering/suspension repair without an alignment machine. Many shops do not have the space for a dedicated alignment bay. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do those types of repair. Lube tech’s should stick to just that, and leave the mechanical repair aspect to the professionals.

@jesska30 2 ай бұрын

Dealing with this right now! Got an alignment, they said I needed a new outer tie rod. Ummm…no & no again. I had to manually adjust one side & then the other. Now the codes are gone 🤦🏻‍♀️ Go figure.

@elmayimbe_the_amateur_mechanic 3 ай бұрын

"You can just eyeball it." That tells me all I need to know about that place.

@AlonzoJ-pf4dt 3 ай бұрын

😂go fly a 🪁 tell them Alex

@ThisAintForU 3 ай бұрын

You may have to just invest in that extra for your shop. That way you don’t have to run across these type of problems again.We hear you Alex keep being that great mechanic that you are

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

Cash or credit card? Not cheap.

@dirtrider3526 2 ай бұрын

As a allignment guy and full time tech I'm in a big ma n pa shop. U HAVE to shack it down n make sure everything is tight. I have had vehicles come back for tires that we PERFECTLY worn COMPLETELY bald. Some ppl get upset but I'm sorry I can't align ur vehicle with a bad ball joint or anything else. "The best alignment shop" near me I have inspected vehicles and failed them for ball joints etc. Sorry but now u need another one. He is 100% right!

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

Those worn parts will not maintain alignment because the slightest movement caused by the worn parts will put you in the red on the machine.

@guianders 3 ай бұрын

Alex your exactly right those shops are very limited in there knowledge and alignment goes together with the process , I've told others this is not a debate it's my business and this is my profession decision. I will not take back in a released car and found bent frames upon returns

@Cognacvsop1873 3 ай бұрын

Jack, Daniel, and peppermint

@deewayne757 3 ай бұрын

I recently replaced a rack on a Toyota tundra and sent the customer to get an alignment & all they did was get the toe equalized and said they couldn’t get the steering wheel straight. I had the customer come back and I pulled the steering wheel off and recentered it. The vehicle still had the same amount of turns on both sides / no issues with clock spring. Those tundras can be annoying when getting the rack centered. However I do believe it is part of the persons duty who installed the rack to ensure it is centered & if the alignment shop wants to charge more to center the rack, I would 100% understand. That’s not part of performing a basic alignment, I’m sure you know that and other techs who have worked flat rate and have performed multiple alignments, also know that.

@vbarbee1 2 ай бұрын

8:14 Know this going to sound bad on my part but I had a friend vehicle failed inspection due to inner tie rods. So I ordered two inner and two outer. I noticed her lower control arm bushing was halfway missing on the driver side. Put everything back together and told her that it needs replacing ASAP, but parts have to be ordered. Anyways I took it to get an alignment. NTB did the alignment and didn't say anything about the lower control arm. Just set toe and sent me on.

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

Cannot get an accurate alignment with worn suspension parts. Any excess play in those parts will move the alignment out of specs.

@vbarbee1 2 ай бұрын

@s.j.5850 exactly, I was like wow and this supposed to be a professional shop

@MikeBrown-hd3bt 2 ай бұрын

you need to get tight with a shop with a rack , and u take care of the process of bringing the car there, getting it done and confirming its good BEFORE giving it back to the customer , and this will never happen again..... i do all the work and bring it to one shop im close with... they even let me use the machine , tire machines, etc :) love ur videos man

@AlexTheCarDoctor 2 ай бұрын

@@MikeBrown-hd3bt great advice thanks

@douglounsbury3912 3 ай бұрын

Its a good practice to count the full amount of turns of the rack so you kno what center would be

@Mike__P 2 ай бұрын

Your wife right again about Tata getting Jaguar in 2008 🤣 Don't argue lol

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

She knows her stuff. I don't know how she keeps up with so much automotive information.

@kootnygreen 3 ай бұрын

My last trip to the alignment shop was after i diy installed all 4 control arms on my 2004 chevy avalanche. I felt short changed on the work they did. The printout showed they only adjusted camber and toe-in only, but there is things on the printout that were untouched like rear wheel alignment and front end ride height. I attempted to adjust ride height myself by tighten or loosen the torsion bar keys but doing this will throw off the camber-caster.

@vincenth3481 3 ай бұрын

Hi Alex, The next time since you don't have an alignment machine, you can count the turns on both the outer tie rod and put back the outer tie rod on new rack. Feel better soon

@dannycolemire2652 2 ай бұрын

The vehicle that supposedly had struts on backwards not sure if you noticed or not but the front driver side rotor was groved up big time but the front passenger side looked fine. Did the old lady happen to mention any shaking when applying the brakes?

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

Brake job was probably declined. I noticed it too.

@a4life5 2 ай бұрын

For those times when you have throat pain and a scratchy voice, my dad used to give me a quarter of hot water, half lime/lemon, and the rest is honey. And just sip while it's hot/warm. And repeat throughout the day.

@ronsimmaculatedetailing6335 3 ай бұрын

Only thing I can think of is if the rack wasnt centered when the steering shaft was bolted down and it may be too many degrees out to adjust in the tie rods. If the tech is competent enough he should have no issues getting it sorted out 🤷🏾 I think they would have rather did the entire job lol

@ostus23 2 ай бұрын

Yep that happened to me. I had to take the steering wheel off because the tire would rub on full lock to the right. Not everyone knows how to or are confident enough to take that steering wheel off to make that adjustment.

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

yes that would be the only thing that makes sense for the alignment shop to charge 250 extra most cars are idiot proofed lol for the shaft position but it is the only thing that makes sense if we believe them

@liveloud9607 2 ай бұрын

Man for some reason I feel like Mason is the right hand man of the shop. 💯

@blazeandcyrus 2 ай бұрын

there's only so much to installing a rack and it's really pretty routine. Hang in there Alex and crew, you always gonna run into some shit along the way.

@Mobiletech43 2 ай бұрын

I’ve never unbolted the wheel to center the steering wheel for an alignment unless the wheel wasn’t locked in place during the rack and pinion change. Absolutely no reason for the wheel itself to have to be centered. That’s what the tie rods are for.

@benrogers771 2 ай бұрын

I center the rack by spinning all the way to one side, then all the way to the other side and count the turns. Usually 3 then divide by 1/2 and thats centred.

@montyM89 2 ай бұрын

I had a place not adjust my outer tie rods and another not adjust my wheel.

@mikescb7700 3 ай бұрын

We have this alignment machine at work that’s a on life alignment machine. No rolling compensation needed. It’s called the Rav4 look into it it’s a neat system🤘

@Roger-il8iw 2 ай бұрын

Alignments are sketchy. Other than cost of the rack, it’s free money for a shop. Lots of times they tell everyone they need an alignment and then do basically nothing for hundreds of dollars. Then when a car needs a legit alignment, they don’t know what to do.

@thabanga510 3 ай бұрын

I had an alignment shop that told me they couldnt get my rear passenger side alogned becuase something was bent. i went to another shop who were more thorough and they aligned everything with no issue. They wouldnt even do the allignment without inspecting my suspension.

@robertmccollum3649 3 ай бұрын

Alex... The next time you get the alignment done and charge the customer for it with the bill cause you know what you're doing and you right... Please brother ... Cause I have problems just like that and I have to get the car back and get it right myself... Cause that's a paying customer..... I learned from my mistake

@stevecraig9384 2 ай бұрын

I love watching you guys

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

Alex it is hard to find a good alignment shop, these guys are trained to upsell because it is hard to make a profit just doing an alignment, but you do not need an alignment machine, they take up space and cost a lot, my business, Jims power steering in Akron does not have an alignment machine yet we have installed over 30,000 rack and pinions since 1993 and I have never sent anyone to get an alignment, all you need is a test drive, see where the wheel is centered then check total toe with a toe bar (mine is home made) and you can set toe and center the wheel at the same time with some practice it is not hard I can usually do it in one try but I have done it over 20,000 times, replacing a rack only changes toe and most cars do not have caster or camber adjustments anymore, and camber can be set with a simple level like if a strut was replaced that had an adjustment at the lower bolts

@davntelisha19 2 ай бұрын

I use the autel alignment machine it’s pretty good and you can move it around too the only thing I don’t like about the autel machine is they give you a 2 year subscription after that the bill is 1800 hundred for 2 years

@bigjay1970 2 ай бұрын

I'm literally subscribed to let's say a lot of auto mechanic channels. Like a lot!🤔🤪😳 I will say that Alex and His Wife are the most real people that I can imagine.🤗 Only maybe a close call to South Main Auto.🤔🤫😬 If you read this Alex and company just know one day you will have a shop and the equipment that goes with it that will make a major chain store jealous. 🤪 Such good people from what I see here at this facility. Glad I'm not a multimilliare yet or I would buy you that alignment machine my figen self!🧐🤓😎 And I'm not kidding! YOU never know who's behind these KZbin posts!🤔🤫😋😇 PS: I think you may have as good of a wife as I have so we both win in the End! I mean that lady of yours seems like a Gem!🤔😎😇

@GeneG-wk2mz 3 ай бұрын

Man they just don’t want to go the work I had one done on my novas years ago and yes at the alignment shop they angle the steering wheel include in the price no extra charge and there are shops will do your alignment even you have any bad suspension parts they don’t care

@ChiefDLK 2 ай бұрын

I am not sure what vehicle the rack and pinion are on, but the steering wheel shaft is usually indexed to the rack. The only way most vehicles could be off is if they were 360 degrees off. So that makes me wonder what vehicle this was on.

@Cognacvsop1873 3 ай бұрын

What is the best alignment shop in your area that you maybe can partner with that solve all of that and have a tow to that alignment shop?

@icepick859 2 ай бұрын

Did y’all put the rack in not centered?

@michaelpeters5007 2 ай бұрын

U can straighten the wheel with some basic alignment tools a string across the front and rear wheels will be able to set the toe by turning tie rods I feel your pain tho my guy. U can also but the mechanical caster and camber gages for pretty cheap if u needed at times.

@codyhernandez1738 3 ай бұрын

Hope y’all doing well after that hurricane

@StrongerThanBigfoot 2 ай бұрын

Before installing the rack and pinion doesn't the rack and pinion have to be center as well?

@txmade4371 2 ай бұрын

💯

@edwinblessing9811 2 ай бұрын

$50,000. for an alignment machine is a lot that would take years to pay for.

@WWBCMedia1 3 ай бұрын

Second shop tried to up sell him. The second shop wanted to do the whole job. And charge $2k. He probably paid $400 for installation part and then $150 for alignment. Saving him $1450. Second shop being extra. They want to up sell him get another $300 for 1 bolt lol. Even with the tow and upsell the customer is saving a thousand $$$$. Keep going black man job well done

@MacAutoDiag 2 ай бұрын

It's up to the installer to center the rack and the steering wheel when installing a new rack

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

Centering the steering wheel is also a part of an alignment. Get the steering shaft as close to center as possible when you replace the rack.

@kennycunningham8721 2 ай бұрын

Today is hard to find a good true alignment and frame shop and I mean a shop that this is what they do everyday. I personally will not go to a chain tire shop unless they have a man that this is all they do.

@tedwilliams8766 3 ай бұрын

if i, a very capable diy'er, can do an alignment and center up the steering wheel after doing suspension work or a rack in my little shop with string lines, 4 jack stands, a level and tape measure, why cant a chain store? of course i tell the people who i do work for to get an alignment after im done but so far no one has. last year, i rebuilt my wifes front end and this year she got new tires and got an alignment check...it was all in the green. like anything, if you want to get good at anything, practice and practice some more. alex, which autel are you using? thanks. hope youre feeling better.

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

yes a level and a tape measure will get it done!!!

@elmayimbe_the_amateur_mechanic 3 ай бұрын

That 1992 Jag has Lucas electronics...run fast! 😂

@AlonzoJ-pf4dt 3 ай бұрын

Nice 👍

@moneymoney12 2 ай бұрын

Jaguar Cars and Land Rover were both purchased in 2008 by Tata Motors and fully joined into Jaguar Land Rover Limited in 2013

@s.j.5850 2 ай бұрын

New alignment machines are way too expensive to invest in. It will take years for it to pay for itself. Just partner with a good alignment place & put that money towards something else. Tell your customers that the shop you do find (to do the alignments) is the recommended shop to go to. Include a $20 rebate to avoid the back & forth with the incompetent shops if you have to. You can also send one of your mechanics to the favored shop to ensure nothing goes wrong, even though it sacrifices manpower for an hour or so. What about the new guy who walks more than he works?

@ChiBoyBB 2 ай бұрын

It's funny you got Fusion and Jaguars in the shop, for the fusion, Jaguar, and Aston Martin looks the same with the same lines

@curtisj2165 2 ай бұрын

They all have Ford DNA

@JimSix-jo6hf 2 ай бұрын

a long time ago I had a good friend that had a towing business and a marathon gas station he spent 14,000 on a new hunter alignment machine but the only guy he had that knew how to do alignments left so I told him I would come in saterday mornings and do 2 alignments until he hired a replacement, I would do the alignment on the machine then road test it then pull it in on a lift and check toe with a toe bar and center the steering wheel, he said the machine does not do that?, I told him it will get it close but a 5% tolerance, this toe bar and my test drive are not plus or minus 5%, it is right on!!!!, I would not put up with a steering wheel off 5%, why should your customers?

@joedso9710 2 ай бұрын

The solution i see is include an alignment on the ticket. What i mean is you obviously have a good relationship with a neighbor. Give him the business. That way when the car is received you did your end and know the alignment was done but if there was any complaints you send it back. Help each other out. Dont kill yourself. The only thing they can get you on is if your a full turn past or before the center. Possible you couldve left it too far out where the alignment cant be possible. They have a right to charge because taking the shaft apart to recenter is not part of an alignment service. Its like emissions. You cant just repair the job and say test drive the car. Drive it and get the emissions and include the time for a test drive. That paper makes a difference. Telling you free tips here....