KENTUCKY81

Hello all,
I took my car to Midas for a frontend alignment after my rebuild. When I put the front end together I did not put any alignment shims in, kinda figured on getting new ones. When I got my car back I checked to see how many shims it took to do the alignment.... It appears that the frontend is perfect. It required no shims to align the frontend.
Its this really possible. Its hard for me to believe. I've done a pretty good bit of business with them. I would hate to think that they just didn't do the alignment on the frontend at all. :confused:
Any thoughts????

Binnie77

I find that very hard to believe as well. The shims are used to set both castor and camber. I think I would be getting out my level and measuring tape. :D

Paul L

The alignment report will give you a good idea of how close you are to specs. I assume they gave you a copy.

lyonsh

Midas, huh. Sounds like you got their patented "toe and go" job. You DID get the printout, didn't you? And bubba wasn't leaning on the car anywhere when they hit the print button, was he?

BADCAIMAN

I recently had a 68 camaro that I restored aligned and they got it on the money with just one shim on the left side and none on the right....So I would say it is possible..But if your not sure bring it back......Good luck

KENTUCKY81

Thanks, I did not know a printout was available. I'm going to go talk to them today. The fact it took no shims on either side really makes me a little nervous. I think the toe and go sounds about right since the other bolts might be a little hard to reach. Thanks again. :cheers:

Paul L

FYI. This is a typical alignment report. Pic is not good but basically it summarizes recommended min/max specs to actuals on the car. You should have received one of these.




[Modified by paul79, 10:08 AM 2/4/2002]


[Modified by paul79, 10:09 AM 2/4/2002]

WATTAC

I'd say your chances of getting by with no shims is about ZERO. The design is made for a fixed number of shims to which a few may be added or removed depending on the differences in the frames. And to assume both sides could be aligned with no shims, I'd say there's a really good chance you didn't get what you payed for.

Andy

KENTUCKY81

I went to see the manager at MIDAS yesterday. I ask him if he thought that an alignment without shims was possible.
The man said that he ask the employees doing the job two or three times if they needed any shims(since I told him I did not include any). The employees told him that they did not. There was no printout available.
I'm going to another place and have it redone. I really thank you all for your posts. If it turns out that they did a good job at MIDAS I will let you know. :cheers:

Eric 96

Please let us know what your print out shows when you do finally go get one done.

KENTUCKY81

I've got the numbers on the alignment test.

The front end was a +69 on the left and +70 on the right
The rear end was a -14 on the left and -47 on the right

The mech at the other shop would suggest that they did not do anything.

Don't cha just luv it. !@#$@#$ :mad

honaker

I would go back and demand my money.
:cuss :mad :cuss :mad

INTIMIDATOR ZO6

:seeya I second that! :yesnod: :D :boxing

lyonsh

I agree with demanding your money. But you also need to demand more numbers (unless those are just part of your numbers: are those camber readings - or are they the toe measurements?).

On the front, you should have 3 measurements: camber, caster, and toe for each wheel; on the rear, you should have 2 for each wheel: camber and toe.

Paul L

I agree. In the pic I posted above the specs are:

FRONT
-camber
-caster
-toe
-set back
-inc angle
SAI

TOTAL FRONT TOE

REAR

-camber
-toe

TOTAL REAR TOE

THRUST LINE

I do not pretend to understand what all those numbers mean.

virtue4u

I once had a non-vette realigned. They charged me $56. I got in the car and drove it, realizing immediately that they did nothing. I demanded my money back and they gave it to me without a peep. They knew I was right. It's sad, but there are theives in the world.

Paul L

Just a tip. The shims in front are "Chevrolet" and available anywhere. The rear shims shown below are "Corvette" and are a specialty item. Most shops will be silent on this matter but will not go near those old frozen shims in the back trailing arm. In other words you will never get a true four-wheel alignment.




[Modified by paul79, 8:16 PM 2/5/2002]

KENTUCKY81

Those were toe numbers. The others are within spec or are on the boarder.
Thanks again for all the support. :cheers:

Paul L

Glad things got sorted out. Let us know how Midas handles this matter.

LemansBlue68

What the Midas shop pulled on you was fraud , plain and simple. I wouldn't just ask for my money back, I'd report them to your state consumer's bureau!!! I just went through this with a transmission shop this past year. What you paid may not seem like all that much by itself, but if this shop is pulling this on every other person walking in the door, they're making
poopieloads of $$$$ without doing a damn thing but stealing your money. You might also get in touch with the Midas national headquarters and local news media. You'd be surprized at the number of other people that may have complained as well. I was-- with my transmission shop incident.

BE A ROYAL PITA WITH THESE PEOPLE!!!