Recently replaced all my tie rods and took my car to the dealer for an alignment.

Before touching the suspension the car drove completely straight.

After replacing the tie rods it had a slight pull to the right.

Now the car has a pull to the right after alignment which the MB dealer claims in a radial pull.

Here are the spec sheets..

thoughts?

Basically everything in the front end is new with the exception of the lower control arm bushings.

What about the rear? Worn trailing arm and subframe bushings can aggravate the alignment, as well.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

If it didn't pull right before they're blowing smoke up your dress .

A proper front end man knows to adjust each car to spec. then test drive it and make minor adjustments ~ most dealer only set it on the rack, adjust it and call it a day .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I knew it would not be long until the true colors of the diesel list would be shown. Read the thread below in it's entirety paying particular attention to post 11 and my post 12 .

https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/395777-could-these-dealer-alignment-specs-cause-pull-right.html

Your answer is correct but then a properly trained alignment man would have known to measure the tires when he discovered the car pulled to one side .

I'm not sure what your comment about 'true colors' means but I've been reading your replies here and there and every one has a negative slant so you're in no position to cast aspersions .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

If it's a radial pull, then swap the tires and check it out.

If it acts the same, then their computerized alignment machine is whacked. Go to an old school alignment shop that actually use a spreader bar.


.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Adjusting a car to compensate for bad tires is not the correct way to perform an alignment, ever. If the car is adjusted to compensate for bad tires ( like the drastically staggered caster settings in the pre alignment pic ) then new tires are installed, the car would pull to the left. I'm betting you would be blaming the new tires given you instantly blamed the alignment in your post 3.

Any competent tech ( even if they don't perform alignments ) would look at the before and after readings + post alignment customers symptoms and come up with the conclusion that the old settings were probably compensating for a problem somewhere.

The diesel side of this site tends to whine and cry about parts / labor pricing but wants top quality parts and work. Many times there is the instant "the shop is evil" mantra with little to no facts to back it up. There is someone on this that claims they haven't found a good shop in 25 years, even a blind nut can find a squirrel from time to time.

In another thread, post 11 states https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/395742-getting-expensive.html
The chances of our guy getting $ 3,800 of work on a 38 year old car while he is in the the waiting room is about zero. Does anyone really think that parts for this kind of service are sitting on the shelf? Does anyone really think a dealer would put this much into such an old car without getting full approval from the owner?

Without any info, poster 11 headed for . I asked for him to expand on how he knows the work was not needed or requested but he isn't responding.

There is much more to this story than poster 11 has reviled or even knows, however there is just enough info to perpetuate the dealer / shop is evil. Those are the "true colors".

Understood even if I don't agree 100 % .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

This.

I this is why I dont go to tire shops for alignments either. A toe and go is the best they offer. I recommend a frame shop.

OK , I'm fine with that.

My Son's 2003 Chevy big ass diesel pickup was pulling to the right so he slapped on new tires and took it to an old timey BEAR alignment shop we've been using for years, it came back with the same issue so he asked what the caster angle is and the new kid who replaced the old man, said "I didn't waste time setting the caster, just the camber and toe - in" ~ what a boob, why the hell did they charge $50 is they're too damn lazy to do the full job ? .

Back to Tyerman's now I guess .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better