I'm pretty new to this forum and i have recently bought a 99 isuzu trooper and the tires were shot and i decided on and bought a set of Cooper SST M/T tires in 265/75R16 all else stock on vehicle.

Main question is: My car would veer to the left when i first bought it, It would veer to the left when new tires were mounted and balanced about a month ago and that place didnt do alignments. so now i took it to get an alignment (also the tires would wear on the outside sholders but not the inside sholders on the front 2 tires). After the alignment my car still veers to the left! And when the alignment was done the tires were rotated so i'm guessing it shouldnt be the tires. I believe that i got ripped off and that the mechanic either didnt do the alignment at all or did a bad job. Please let me know if you guys think that i was ripped off or if it might be something else because if i did get ripped off i want to report it to the Better Business Bureau.

Thanks for any input,

Chris

Basically you did I can do alignments with a machine and I can tell you if the guy who did it is learning they will do it again just to make you happy.

I'm sure they will realign your truck if you ask. However, some vehicles do have a tendency to pull to one side or another, but this shouldn't be to the degree that it causes uneven tire wear. My Rodeo Sport always seem to pull slightly to the left, no matter what tires are on it or how many times I align it. But, the tires wear very evenly. Not all shops can deal with camber issues (tilt of tire to one side or another). This may be your problem. When you go back, ask the shop for a print out of what they did - toe, camber, and caster. Ask them to explain the results and what was done to correct any problems.
Pete

I used to have a 99 Trooper...took it to Sears for an alignment. They had 5 or 6 tries at it, never did get it right. Their computer would say it is in spec, but you drive it and it is pulling big time...their mechanic was so pissed.

Eventually I took it to an alignment specialist here in town called Hoover Alignment (not sure if they are national). They got it right the first time, and they didn't use a computer at all, just some chalk marks and I don't know what. So it pays to take it to someone who truly understand suspension geometry, rather than relying on a computer printout.

IMHO, you got ripped off if you didn't go back and say, "Please explain this and since I paid for a good alignment, can you please fix it properly or return my money?"

I get my alignments done at Goodyear; they are national and offer a lifetime deal (Sears used to). For someone that occasionally offroads (I know, I'm the red-headed stepchild of the board), I notice it occasionally knocks the alignment out. On the 3rd 'free' alignment, Goodyear has paid for itself.

My '93 Amigo has had many, many alignments. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What I have noticed is even in chain shops, quality varies. They even use the terminology, "The guy who knows how to work the alignment computer isn't here." In chain shops, you're not likely to get an experienced professional.

I tend to go to the more 'upscale' part of town because my personal experience has been:

1. The mechanic shows up every day. Seriously. On my side of town (in two different towns), the manager apologizes and calls the alignment guy at his house, says the dude comes in when he's ready. Must be nice to have good job security.

2. The alignments have never had to be redone on the 'upscale' side. On my side...well, I've rolled off the rack and went to another Goodyear. Not always, but enough that I now drive out of my way to go to the farther, nicer one.

In reference to finding guys who know what they're doing: In general, if you go for general maintenance work at non-chain shops, obviously be prepared to pay a little more on the upscale side. No slam is meant, building rent/taxes are more expensive, employees either have nicer house or have to drive farther, so it costs a little more. But more expensive doesn't necessarily mean they know more--my best mechanic ever was in a small, "auto/welding/sheet metal/upholstry' zone (lots of odd shops, and one Indian grocery) next to a graveyard. Looked like the pits, but a great, honest cost, trustworthy guy.

Mechanic tip: Ask them if they know how a carburator works. If so, they're a cut above a basic, untrained mechanic. Bonus points for having seen/worked on one.

Sears still offers the lifetime alignment. I take mine back after every wheeling trip and they have to fix it. Just make sure the mud/dust is off first. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
-J <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Chris-

Wayne is right. Before you go calling the BBB, FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, FEMA, FDA, USDA ect, did you go back to them after the alignment? In an ideal world, they should have road tested it, but not always. I assume the pull is bad enough for you to notice right away. You probably should have just turned right around and taken it back.

Yes, something is not right, but they deserve at least a chance to make it right before you start screaming you were ripped off. Any consumer transaction requires at least two parties, one of them is you.

Good Luck,
Michael

Good information. In case any Isuzu ( <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )people want to compare, Goodyear is $140 for 2- or 4-wd, but I got mine for $120 since I had an appointment and they couldn't wake up their alignment guy.
How much is Sears ? (I checked online and they had no info)

You would have though Sears would have learned from the time they dropped their lifetime support of Craftsman tools....and sales dropped just as fast. Lifetime is a big selling point to me, especially if you offroad a couple times a year and bump it out.