A little help please.
Question: Does the year of a car matter when getting an alignment? Isn’t it all done with lasers and stuff now?

Reason question asked:
I have to work on other peoples cars in order to pay for the parts for my MB. I replaced a tie rod boot on a 78 Volvo the other day. The alignment was real bad when I got it and the tires were shot. The guy was going to get an alignment so it was a good time to do the boot. I noticed on the other side of the car that the boot had already been replaced and who ever did it forgot to put the nut back on the tie rod and that is why the alignment was jacked up.

There is a chain here called Tires Plus, not sure how big they are, but that is where we took it. I asked the guy at the shop if they could put a new nut on while he was doing the alignment. He said the mechanic would have to charge labor and it could cost a lot. Laying on the ground it would take me about 5 min. with vise grips. When the guy picked up the car they put new tires on it and told him the car was too old and was not in the system so they could not do an alignment. They sent him on his was with new tires and the front end so far out of whack you could look at and see it was off. You just about had to put your foot on the door to get enough grip on the wheel to keep the dam thing on the road.

__________________
1987 300D Turbo

They are just stupid. You shoud be able to take it to a shop and set it at a reasonable alignment, you dont need the computer specs.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Thanks
That is what I thought, just wanted to hear it from some one else before I send the guy back down to yell at them. I told him to call them and ask for some money off for the wasted time and wear on new tires.

__________________
1987 300D Turbo

Moved to OD, because they know more ways to call the tire shop "stupid".

Note:
All modern alignment machines have option to enter specs for special/older cars.

What tie rod nut are you referring to? If it's the nut that holds the tapered end of the ball portion into its socket, I wouldn't be driving it lacking that nut.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

The nut I am talking about is the one that you snug up once the alignment is set. It is on the threaded rod.

__________________
1987 300D Turbo

Any alignment technician with three brain cells working should know this is NOT safe to drive...

Management should have written a safety disclaimer on the work order.