I brought my car into a local tire/wheel shop for an alignment today, after having completed all the steering work(lower ball joints,tie rods,sub frame bushings,drag link,steering coupler,stabilizer,shocks,etc....), I got a call at the end of day saying they don't have the alignment specs. for my car in their database, too old. Now this is a large 12 bay shop and they have all the computerized alignment equipment. Does this sound right for a 1980? I hope they didn't screw up anything. The steering was tight and quite responsive when i bought it in, was just pulling to the right a bit.

I had my ball joints done about 125 miles ago by a local indy and he said he did an alignment, but thats when it started to pull to the right. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have any of that fancy alignment equipment and I was gonna take it back to him and complain(he charged me $78 for alignment), but decided to just take it to a professional alignment shop so it could be done right. I'm getting a little paranoid now becuse of all the time and effort and money I've put into the front end. I thought alignment would be pretty straight forward. Any thoughts or advice? Should I have taken to the dealer or what, Thanks

Take it back to the indie and tell him your problem. Shoulda done that in the first place.

Back in 1980, they didn't have all that fancy computerized stuff...and they did just fine. Best alignment I ever had was from a guy using those old-fashioned mechanical gauges.

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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!!

Yea your probably right, I should have talked to indie first but I'm not happy with the him about the prices he charged for parts/labor and I don't want to deal with him again. If he couldn't do it right the first time, he's lost my confidence and business. I've done all my own work except the ball joints and I expect a professional to do as good or better job than me.

The car is still at the tire shop as they said they would still do the alighment but have to get another source for the specs. I Still would like to know if computerized equipment would have specs. for my "old" car, or him if he's BS'ing me, anyone know?

That alignment shop needs to be familiar with the procedure for aligning a Mercedes. Are they using the spreader bar and the tool to lock the steering box as they should be? I have seen very few shops other than a dealer who does the alignment by the book and I've heard a whole lot of reports of folks unhappy with their alignment results at the tire shops. A lot less are unhappy at the dealer other than the price.

Len

You know at this point I just don't know what the alignment procedure is. What does the dealer charge for an alignment? I jut want it done right.

Unforntunatly I can't do it myself, I'm starting not to trust anyone with my car except myself , because I care if it's done right, no BS and not half assed.

Boy, we've all been there. An alignment is about the only thing I take my car to the dealer for. Everything else I stumble through myself. Dealers charge anywhere from $100 to $175 for an alignment. The dealer is the only place that I've always gotten a proper alignment using the proper tools. Considering I do it every four or five years, I pony up and let them do it, especially if there is any kind of abnormal wear on the tires.

Len