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Always get a copy of the alignment printout. A “before” and “after” if you can. Usually if you ask, a shop will give you a copy. This is a good reference for your maintenance records and after an experience I had with a Firestone shop, it possibly saved my new set of tires.
While I was paying for the install and alignment I saw the alignment printout which the clerk was putting into their files. I asked for it and he kind of shrugged and handed it over. I should have inspected it closely right then but my wife was waiting in the other car for my “ok” and there were other errand to run so I just pocketed it and left. Red flag was that most of the readings were in bold red.
The car drove well and once home I checked the paper more carefully. They had used the alignment specs for a 2001 S60, not a ’95 850 wagon. The sheet was the “Before” and against the S60 spec, my car was out on everything. Pulling out my 855 specs confirmed that the car was fine except for a couple of tenths of a degree on rear toe-in before they started mis-aligning it.
Back at Firestone I presented the printout, explained their error and got my car rack ahead of waiting customers. I did have to tell them three times what model it was, something they should have been able to pull by the VIN. They measured and confirmed their screw-up and made it right. I’ve the paperwork which confirms it.
Moral of the story is, if I hadn’t taken the printout, I would have never known they aligned it to the wrong specs. What gets me torqued off is that when I do a job myself, it’s done right. EVERY time I pay someone to do the work, it’s wrong and I end up doing it over or having to go back if I don’t have the equipment needed.
Wonder if I have room in the garage for a Hunter. I’d only have to do a couple of hundred alignments for neighbors to pay it off.
Then a tire changer and balance machine, and Tirerack’s website….
Hope it helps.
Erwin
95 855T 170,000 miles
94 945T Somewhere around 150,000 miles
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