West End Alignment...Hoax?

marrawi · 11-04-2018, 05:07 PM

Hey guys, I installed Z1 upper control arms and rear arms on my 370Z. I took it this past Friday to West End to get corner balanced. Chris worked on my car (he did last year as well with stock camber).

He told me that the front is not far off and he'll be able to adjust without removing the wheels, so he'll be done sooner. Which to me was very surprising, as you know Z1 upper control arms requires to be partially or completely removed to adjust the length, but I doubted myself and not West End as they are known to be the best.

He finished the car at 12:20 and told me that he had front at -3.3, 0 toe and rear at 2.6 1/8 toe.

Btw, my appointment was at 11 but I found out that he had another appointment at 12:30. So he kind of knew/wanted that he'll be done in an hour and a half with my car. Hmmmm...

My OCD took me today to our neighborhood PepBoys to check my alignment using their Hunter computerized machine. Sure enough, the alignment was far off. -2.7 FL and 3.7 FR! Attached are both West End and Computer alignment check.

What do you guys think? Could the computer be wrong? What would you do?

Sorry, duplicate post, don't know how to delete thread

axmea? · 11-05-2018, 12:58 AM

Your hunch is what matters so if you think you did not get the service you paid for, you should go back and talk to them. If they are truly reputable, they will guarantee their work.

Spooler · 11-05-2018, 07:55 AM

If the alignment is this far off you should be able to see it. Yeah, it's that bad. Unless you know the guy at Pepboy's, I wouldn't trust his work. They hire anyone who will claim to be a mechanic, no teeth required.

CRiZO · 11-05-2018, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooler

Unless you know the guy at Pepboy's, I wouldn't trust his work. They hire anyone who will claim to be a mechanic, no teeth required.

Same with places like Goodyear / Firestone. The people who work there typically have no training whatsoever.

Source: Friends that worked there who really shouldn't have.

marrawi · 11-05-2018, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRiZO

Same with places like Goodyear / Firestone. The people who work there typically have no training whatsoever.

Source: Friends that worked there who really shouldn't have.

I understand, but the computer guides the technician through every step. I was watching the process. You can literally have a monkey do the process.

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God-Speed · 11-05-2018, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axmea?

Your hunch is what matters so if you think you did not get the service you paid for, you should go back and talk to them. If they are truly reputable, they will guarantee their work.

Hotrodz · 11-05-2018, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axmea?

Your hunch is what matters so if you think you did not get the service you paid for, you should go back and talk to them. If they are truly reputable, they will guarantee their work.

West has a good reputation and has been recommended to me in the past so I would go talk with them. Just the time they spent on the car does not sound right. It takes my shop longer just to set adjust my coil over ride height and align.

marrawi · 11-07-2018, 10:30 AM

Took it back to them, told Chris that I don't understand how he could fix the camber/caster of newly installed FUCA without removing the wheels. I told him that I just eyeballed/tried to match with OEM length and installed them.

He lifted the car and came back and he swore that the front was symmetrical. He said I don't know how you installed the FUCA but it is -3.3 on both sides. He said that he intentionally left the caster with more on right than left because it is daily driven as well.

I guess I'll just sit on it and watch tire wear.

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Chuck33079 · 11-07-2018, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marrawi

He said I don't know how you installed the FUCA but it is -3.3 on both sides.

That is unlikely. Possible, but unlikely.

Rusty · 11-07-2018, 11:56 AM

A couple of things come to mind. One, West End didn't do anything, and pushed it out of the door. Pepboys caught it. Two, West End did it right. Pepboys are trying to screw you. Need a third opinion.

OptionZero · 11-07-2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marrawi

Took it back to them, told Chris that I don't understand how he could fix the camber/caster of newly installed FUCA without removing the wheels. I told him that I just eyeballed/tried to match with OEM length and installed them.

He lifted the car and came back and he swore that the front was symmetrical. He said I don't know how you installed the FUCA but it is -3.3 on both sides. He said that he intentionally left the caster with more on right than left because it is daily driven as well.

I guess I'll just sit on it and watch tire wear.

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No alignment printout from west end?

marrawi · 11-07-2018, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptionZero

No alignment printout from west end?

Nope, they never do.

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redondoaveb · 11-07-2018, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marrawi

Nope, they never do.

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Do might try Jonhson's, they're a reputable shop that does corner balancing also. They're in Torrance.

marrawi · 11-07-2018, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redondoaveb

Do might try Jonhson's, they're a reputable shop that does corner balancing also. They're in Torrance.

Thanks! I'll definitely do.

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littlejuanito · 11-07-2018, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marrawi

Nope, they never do.

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That's right, they never give you a print out. I went there about three times to get an alignment, corner balance and a few suspensions parts installed and the wheels were not removed either.

By the way, there's a well known performance alignment shop in Temple City called, JC Auto House. I went there after going to West End and I felt they did a better job. I definitively recommend it.

JC Auto House
9237 Lower Asuza Rd, UNIT O
Temple City, CA 91780
626-287-7781
Ask for Cyrus

https://www.yelp.com/biz/jc-auto-hou...t_by=date_desc

11-05-2018, 12:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
axmea? A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,236 Drives: WELL ZED PW 6MT Rep Power: 53241	Your hunch is what matters so if you think you did not get the service you paid for, you should go back and talk to them. If they are truly reputable, they will guarantee their work. God-Speed, Rusty, Hotrodz and 1 others like this. __________________ >MyZ's Album< NISMO Convert/ECUTEK/Takeda CAI/F.I. HFC NR CB Carbon/F.I. 34 Row Oil Cooler/4.08 Final Drive /Powertrix+Swifts/Hotchkis/SPL/Whiteline/TWM/Zoom Engineering/EVO-R/AeroJacket Vented CF Fenders + CF Spoiler/Avant Garde-WORK/NST/Morimoto Halo/STi Clear Lenses/Carbon Signal Automotive/RJM Performance/ZSpeed Clutch Flywheel CSC delete

11-05-2018, 07:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
Spooler A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ga Posts: 13,830 Drives: 2013 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 2684392	If the alignment is this far off you should be able to see it. Yeah, it's that bad. Unless you know the guy at Pepboy's, I wouldn't trust his work. They hire anyone who will claim to be a mechanic, no teeth required. sx moneypit and marrawi like this.

11-07-2018, 11:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 68 Posts: 35,217 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684438	A couple of things come to mind. One, West End didn't do anything, and pushed it out of the door. Pepboys caught it. Two, West End did it right. Pepboys are trying to screw you. Need a third opinion. Hotrodz, littlejuanito and YYZ like this. __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

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11-07-2018, 10:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
marrawi Base Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: California Posts: 74 Drives: 2015 370z A/T Rep Power: 10	Took it back to them, told Chris that I don't understand how he could fix the camber/caster of newly installed FUCA without removing the wheels. I told him that I just eyeballed/tried to match with OEM length and installed them. He lifted the car and came back and he swore that the front was symmetrical. He said I don't know how you installed the FUCA but it is -3.3 on both sides. He said that he intentionally left the caster with more on right than left because it is daily driven as well. I guess I'll just sit on it and watch tire wear. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk