"Alignment Tech" Broke Tie Rod End

There are some dodgy garages around. I had a car put an exhaust system on a Holden Cailas V8 for me. Nice car that I had spent a lot of money on. Fully worked engine etc. When I took it for a drive the exhaust was tapping against the subframe / chassi rail. I took it back and told them to fix it.

I happened to pop back in later in the day and caught them red handed chopping a hole in the chassi rail to stop the exhaust tapping against it.

Fark what a muppet it would piss you off the banging part but then it gets worse!

umm let me see. Op booked into some place he's never been before,cause for some reason he definitely aint going back to where he's previously been. ! Complains on social media before the job is completed and paid for ! The vehicle a 24 year old jap 4x4 worse for wear .owner tight with money,dives in on the "managers special" and demanding wants done before weekend regardless of what may crop up & so happens the wheel alignment is out for some reason!I again wonder why , He believes the man on the job is a specialist alignment technician . Again I wonder why? It being 4x4 has probably seen more water than land ,
I'm guessing owners "adult life " bracket somewhere late 20s early mid 30s. I conclude the owner a relative of Mr R.Sole .The only skill the repair shop have failed in is not identifying the problem in the stranger. I'm talking about the difficult type from the get go who rock up to the workshop door with old run down end of life vehicles.It's not even worth the money or time.

The way it should've been done. If the tech. can't do it - don't and let someone who can do it.

The problem it was already done , the wheel alignment "tech guy" already did it after the fact . the motor trade is more on repairs than plain service.trying to make good from bad ,sometimes shit happens so ya got roll with it .no good fighting against it .The best solution is putting right from what is wrong and seeing the way clear amicably when shit happens.Wheel alignment tyre shops by and large actually lack in certain equipment and right tools for certain adjustments and repairs.They show alignment is out and point out other issues by the way causing such ,and may do some minor toe in ,toe out adjustments but that's about it.I agree with you the wheel alignment people should Identify & see there are potential seizure issues re-threads & adjustments and notify the owner before attempting rectifying adjustments and even refer another course of action at least let the customer know or give them an option. Further alignment associated work ie kingpins/shockys/ bushes/worn bearings etc work should be carried out in more appropriate workshop with the right gear anyways a customer would expect that and told so if the alignment people are not equipped to do that work themselves within their own business.

Go home sit down & heed the warning. be thankfull.

strobo wrote:

The problem it was already done ,

He should've tried with the correct tool - not a pipe wrench and when he found it to be seized said its a job for a mechanic.

The thing is we don't know actual circumstances poster is moaning about .The adjuster may have been preworked up ,bruised or damaged previously ,Nuts rounded off etc , rendering corrected tool use impossible so unsavory methods were used to get the part off or freed up.and has informed owner after attempts .No pics only his word.A simple phone call before hand with customer would have cleared it all up.How often i've come across owners having a crack at a job themselves and damage done in the process and taking it somewhere else to sort out their handywork! We just don't know for sure . re OP!

1994 model. Seized is seized.Mate, it's had a fair innings and been exposed to god knows what. Just fit a new tie rod and consider the other side too. Young fella was doing his best. Next time use a dealer or specialist where the mechanics are usually A grade rated. Brakes, steering or tyres go new parts. You are a long time dead.

Sounds like you took in your old vehicle and they were the last suckers stuck with it and you want a free repair.

We had a vehicle in that required a new hubcap. This particular cap needed the wheel nuts removed to fit it, and one was seized solid. Pretty obvious to the dumbest of dumb-arses that the last time on, it had picked up a thread.
My slant on that was to let the mechanic deal with when it goes for a wheel-alignment. At least he would get paid for it instead of us wasting time that we don't get paid for.
The owner said she had just had tyres fitted by a top Co in Hamilton. (guess that was like saying she knew they wouldn't take the blame)
Anyhow, it turned out that the only remedy was to snap it off. And now she won't pay for it. Even complained to the Insurance Co about it.
It was unfortunate for the Insurance plonked who rang, that I answered the phone. Sort've got told that it would be best for him to make a phone call back to their client, and tell them to pay the bill, instead of trying to have a piece of us over it.

Jeez - that guy must have had wet undies after breaking a ball-joint like that!