Alignment issue: What would YOU do?
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Stockton, CA
Alignment issue: What would YOU do?
Sorry for the long post; so if you want to read and comment, I’d appreciate it.
ffice
ffice" /><O
></O>
2006 2WD ShortBed, Extended Cab currently with 47200 miles.
Purchased 11/14/2009 with 45015 miles
Under CPO warranty until 2/14/10 or 48014 miles
<O></O>
Question to board members: What would you do? Would you push the issue, or let it drop? I live 250 miles from the selling dealer.
<O></O>
Summary: The local dealership has determined the constant pull to the left is due to the rear end (yes the rear end) housing bent/tweaked 2mm out of spec on one side.
The local dealer suggests I take the truck back to the selling dealer –250 miles away—and have them address the problem; which is to replace the rear end housing. The local dealer states since the truck is CPO’d the selling dealer should make it right.
<O></O>
My question is: will this end up being a nightmare dealing with the selling dealer 250 miles away or should I just accept this truck is going to always have a pull to the left and live with it? What would you do?
<O></O>
History:
Nov. 14<SUP>th</SUP>. Purchased the truck
The moment I test drove the truck, I immediately noticed excessive steering play and a steady pull to the left. Commented to the Sales guy during the test drive and made note to the selling dealer multiple times about the alignment during negotiations. I agreed to take it to a local dealer to have aligned after the sale since I live 250 miles from the selling dealer.
<O></O>
What’s been done:
Nov. 24-26<SUP>th</SUP>. The local dealer found bad ball joints (replaced/aligned, covered under CPO warranty). This corrected the sloppy steering. However, the mechanic noted after replacing the ball joints, the truck still pulled left. Suggested possible tire pull and to have tires rotated.
<O></O>
Dec 3<SUP>rd</SUP>, & 10<SUP>th</SUP>. Tires have been rotated and balanced (twice)
<O></O>
I was out of the country for one month
<O></O>
Jan 27<SUP>th</SUP>/28<SUP>th</SUP> Took the truck back to the local dealer. They test drove the truck with me and confirmed the –still significant—pull to the left.
They put it on the rack and with a front end guy, a frame guy and a 3<SUP>rd</SUP> guy. They all confirmed the front end settings are perfect. The rear end is out of spec by 2mm on one side. They’re assumption is a wheel took a good hit and has tweaked the rear-end housing. It’s their opinion the rear end housing needs to be replaced, or “re-tweaked” by someone who knows what they’re doing. The frame guy said the frame does not appear to be tweaked. All the settings show up clearly in the alignment readings, and the rear end is definitely off.
<O></O>
Do I take on the selling dealer, or do I drop it? I figure its gonna take a few weeks; they’re not just going to agree to do this, even though its clearly documented and proven. I’d have to take the truck there, leave it and hassle with them on the phone.
<O></O>
Your thoughts guys? What would you do?
ffice
ffice" /><O></O>2006 2WD ShortBed, Extended Cab currently with 47200 miles.
Purchased 11/14/2009 with 45015 miles
Under CPO warranty until 2/14/10 or 48014 miles
<O
></O>Question to board members: What would you do? Would you push the issue, or let it drop? I live 250 miles from the selling dealer.
<O
></O>Summary: The local dealership has determined the constant pull to the left is due to the rear end (yes the rear end) housing bent/tweaked 2mm out of spec on one side.
The local dealer suggests I take the truck back to the selling dealer –250 miles away—and have them address the problem; which is to replace the rear end housing. The local dealer states since the truck is CPO’d the selling dealer should make it right.
<O
></O>My question is: will this end up being a nightmare dealing with the selling dealer 250 miles away or should I just accept this truck is going to always have a pull to the left and live with it? What would you do?
<O
></O>History:
Nov. 14<SUP>th</SUP>. Purchased the truck
The moment I test drove the truck, I immediately noticed excessive steering play and a steady pull to the left. Commented to the Sales guy during the test drive and made note to the selling dealer multiple times about the alignment during negotiations. I agreed to take it to a local dealer to have aligned after the sale since I live 250 miles from the selling dealer.
<O
></O>What’s been done:
Nov. 24-26<SUP>th</SUP>. The local dealer found bad ball joints (replaced/aligned, covered under CPO warranty). This corrected the sloppy steering. However, the mechanic noted after replacing the ball joints, the truck still pulled left. Suggested possible tire pull and to have tires rotated.
<O
></O>Dec 3<SUP>rd</SUP>, & 10<SUP>th</SUP>. Tires have been rotated and balanced (twice)
<O
></O>I was out of the country for one month
<O
></O>Jan 27<SUP>th</SUP>/28<SUP>th</SUP> Took the truck back to the local dealer. They test drove the truck with me and confirmed the –still significant—pull to the left.
They put it on the rack and with a front end guy, a frame guy and a 3<SUP>rd</SUP> guy. They all confirmed the front end settings are perfect. The rear end is out of spec by 2mm on one side. They’re assumption is a wheel took a good hit and has tweaked the rear-end housing. It’s their opinion the rear end housing needs to be replaced, or “re-tweaked” by someone who knows what they’re doing. The frame guy said the frame does not appear to be tweaked. All the settings show up clearly in the alignment readings, and the rear end is definitely off.
<O
></O>Do I take on the selling dealer, or do I drop it? I figure its gonna take a few weeks; they’re not just going to agree to do this, even though its clearly documented and proven. I’d have to take the truck there, leave it and hassle with them on the phone.
<O
></O>Your thoughts guys? What would you do?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 0
From: Mattawa Washington.
Agree; give them a call you can't predict how they are going to respond. You definatley want to get it fixed on the warranty. Living with it is a hazzard in bad weather and is going to eat your tires up needlessly. Pulling trailers can amplify a bad alignment. I would call right away and get the ball rolling.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wagonerkl
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Dec 4, 2008 05:22 PM
Dominater
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Apr 27, 2005 04:44 PM
