2019 F-250 here. Little story time here followed by questions. Picked up the truck from the Ford Dealer body shop after a little body work the other day. On my next highway drive I noticed the steering pulls a little to the right. If I hold the wheel straight, it tracks straight, but if I let go of the wheel, the wheel turns about 5 degrees right, thus turning right. I called dealer, and asked for the alignment results (more so to make sure they did one, since they charged me for it). Looked fine.

Here's the curveball- I was going to put a level kit in this weekend. Seems silly to take it to the dealer to adjust the alignment days before the install. So I decided to shoot straight with the guy at the body shop, who in all honesty was great to work with. Told them the truck is pulling right. He says bring it in, no problem free of charge. I explain I'm putting level kit in this weekend, and would need alignment after that anyways, does he mind coming to an agreement? Told him I would understand if there was a small fee. He proceeds to tell me they don't do alignments at the actual shop, and actually send the trucks out to get alignments elsewhere. You guys ever heard of this? Also told me he'd have to charge full price after the level kit install. Seemed shady to me after that, and I kind of felt stupid for thinking they might even want to work with me on that.

That being said, anybody know a good place in South Florida (palm beach, broward, dade) to get an alignment post level kit? estimated cost?

was quoted $125 at Truck and Speed World in Broward (sunrise & 95)

thanks!

 

I'm not sure if it's common, but I used to work at a shop that did all the alignments for the local Ford, Chevy and Chrysler dealers (probably 60% of our business was alignments), so certainly not the only dealer doing it. I would say due to the relationship between the dealer and alignment shop, what he is telling you seems reasonable. They'll fix if they screwed it up, but you putting a level kit on isn't an excuse for a free/discounted alignment. I'll be if you paid him to do the level, you could get a free/discounted alignment.

 

I have never gone out to price alignment equipment but from what I understand they are not cheap at all. Especially the laser guided machines...and they can take up space at a dealership. If I'm right, and I think I am, it does seem reasonable they would send the truck out for that kind of work.

Price of $125 seems like a fair price for sure from a dealership but may be a bit high for an independent shop.

National Tire and Battery will sell you a 3 year alignment package for about $175 that allows you to bring the truck back free of charge every 6 months for alignment checkups and adjustments.

https://www.ntb.com/services/wheel-alignment

 

thanks for the replies. Interesting stuff about the dealer sending the truck somewhere else for alignments. I never would have thought that. I don't think I was being too greedy by asking what we could work out. Seemed fair to me, but that's why I was honest with him, and see what he said. oh well.

 

I’m down in Miami, but I use either Apex Alignment or The Alignment Factory.

Out of curiosity, what dealer was this. I bought my truck at Sawgrass Ford and have pretty decent service from their service department.

 

A dealer sending a vehicle out for alignment? Yeah, that's strange. I've had vehicles that aftermarket shops said they were physically not capable of aligning, even though I was running stock tires and wheels. The dealer was the one I had to go to.

 

My shop owner friends latest alignment machine cost over $60,000.... just saying...