Konnie Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Had both front suspension arms replaced on the car, February, 2015 it had two new tyres on in july 2014, done maybe 5000 miles on them. Thought had a puncture checked tyres both are down to canvas,. Should the garage that carried out this work done the tracking when carrying out a job such as this. ? please no guesses, just if you carry out this type of work, as I need to know when talking to the garage, if shoddy work has been done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewi76 Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 The first thing they should have done when carrying out any work like that is set the tracking up before they even road tested the car , I've been a mechanic for 25 years now and can only guess that the work has been done by an apprentice and not been checked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastair0903 Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 I have change many suspention arms myself on vairous cars and never have set the tracking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Tracking SHOULD be checked but most times is not. When a vehicle leaves the workshop it should be in a roadworthy condition and adjusted to makers specification. If the tracking was that far out I'm surprised you didn't realise when cornering in the wet. 500 miles for a set of tyres is ridiculous.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted May 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 I have change many suspention arms myself on vairous cars and never have set the tracking is this because you just don't or don't feel it is needed. my thought being if you replace a worn part with new one how does this not alter alignment of suspension. Tracking SHOULD be checked but most times is not. When a vehicle leaves the workshop it should be in a roadworthy condition and adjusted to makers specification. If the tracking was that far out I'm surprised you didn't realise when cornering in the wet. 500 miles for a set of tyres is ridiculous.! Tracking SHOULD be checked but most times is not. When a vehicle leaves the workshop it should be in a roadworthy condition and adjusted to makers specification. If the tracking was that far out I'm surprised you didn't realise when cornering in the wet. 500 miles for a set of tyres is ridiculous.! 5000 miles and I'm a steady driver, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 oops. Still, even 5000 is nothing. And yes, tracking should be checked but very often isn't. Taking it back and proving the tyres are the one's that were on at the time will be very difficult however. Worth a try and if no joy then just speak the truth about the garage to all you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crumpler1991 Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 How many workshops actually have tracking equipment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Did you ask for tracking to be done? If not, in the eyes of the garage they have done what you have asked and replaced the suspension arms. It's common knowledge that tracking should be checked after replacing suspension components, but most of the time it isn't checked. If they didn't offer to check and adjust it then they should have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastair0903 Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 I agree with others , it should be done . But some people would begrudge having to pay for tracking when they initially didn't ask for it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 You shouldn't have to pay for it ! It's all part of the original job. If parts are replaced then work should be done to manufacturers spec, no matter if parts aren't OE. You wouldn't accept replacement wiper arms that bounced off the scuttle, nor would you accept a replacement screen that didn't fill the frame. What the garage has done is cut corners on something you couldn't check yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Perhaps the garage should have offered tracking - at a cost. I don't agree that it is part of the job. That line of argument would mean tracking checks when shock absorbers, shock mounts, wheel bearings, tyres, anti-roll bar bushes etc. were replaced. I am surprised that the OP did not feel the tracking was out - if it is. Good luck if the OP feels the garage might have done shoddy work, but I would be astonished if the garage accepted the slightest liability. They might even cite the complete absence of regular tyre checks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowStandards Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Well no, you should have to pay for it! I've never heard of a garage doing things for free, if you mentioned it they'd of added it to the quote. I'm unsure how a suspension arm would alter alignment significantly unless it was way out of spec anyways! I doubt its even worth your time moaning, anything could happen in 5000 miles and you'd have to prove otherwise :\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Equally, tracking can be so easily put out day to day driving incidents such as kerb strikes, potholes etc I'd be surprised if the garage wouldn't leap at the chance to have done the tracking as its a service rather than a product supplied thus is nearly 100% profit. Also, once a tyre has started to wear noticeably unevenly, even if alignment is corrected, that tyre is always going to wear out prematurely, just maybe at a reduced rate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Perhaps the garage should have offered tracking - at a cost. I don't agree that it is part of the job. That line of argument would mean tracking checks when shock absorbers no, shock mounts no, wheel bearings no, tyres no, anti-roll bar bushes likely on some etc. were replaced. I am surprised that the OP did not feel the tracking was out - if it is. Good luck if the OP feels the garage might have done shoddy work, but I would be astonished if the garage accepted the slightest liability. They might even cite the complete absence of regular tyre checks. more than likely, and quite rightly so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 rodp - bit surprised that the top mount on a McPherson strut wouldn't affect tyre wear. I think we both know it would. If you don't think the other items might alter tyre wear or warrant checking the tracking, I am glad you have nothing to do on my cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPARKIE Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) changed loads of wishbones and we never used to check tracking....your changing a lower arm not a track rod or steering component so oe equipment should line back up...... if there was any doubt it was out then the tracking was put forward to the customer to chose if they had it done and if they did it was a sale and we got bonus on found work. and £2 a tyre we sold. Edited May 29, 2015 by SPARKIE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 rodp - bit surprised that the top mount on a McPherson strut wouldn't affect tyre wear. I think we both know it would. If you don't think the other items might alter tyre wear or warrant checking the tracking, I am glad you have nothing to do on my cars. You did say shocker, not strut, so I assumed (wrongly) that you meant a free mounted shocker. Wheel bearings wouldn't affect tracking that was set with good original bearings, in fact replacement would reinstate original tracking. Tyres wouldn't affect it either as tracking is set from the rims, not tyres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewi76 Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 If the car had been tracked before as the bushes or joints were wearing this would cause wear when new components are fitted as worn bottom arms can change castor/camber angles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 oops. Still, even 5000 is nothing. And yes, tracking should be checked but very often isn't. Taking it back and proving the tyres are the one's that were on at the time will be very difficult however. Worth a try and if no joy then just speak the truth about the garage to all you know. still on the drive with tyres on, just found out when got home, have mobile tyre fitter come told him to leave as is at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Did you ask for tracking to be done? If not, in the eyes of the garage they have done what you have asked and replaced the suspension arms. It's common knowledge that tracking should be checked after replacing suspension components, but most of the time it isn't checked. If they didn't offer to check and adjust it then they should have. did not ask or mention was carried out under warranty, did not ask as expected full road worthy condition after work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 If the car had been tracked before as the bushes or joints were wearing this would cause wear when new components are fitted as worn bottom arms can change castor/camber angles think bushes were changed as part of job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 both front tyres were new. start july 2014, mot start September 2014, both fronts showing 7mm tread, work done start February, this is a dealership ford garage doing work on ford car, and have in the past flagged up tyre wear at 3mm, nothing after job, now BOTH fronts are showing canvas, on inside, the work they have done previous to this has been below par, and returned for leaks etc, but am tied to them through warrenty. so figures are 9 months 7mm tyre worn, just under 5000 miles not struck anything not hard driver only work done was these front suspension arms both sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 rodp - tyres wear out for a reason. When changing tyres - two at the same time and axle - tracking springs to mind. I know what tracking is and where it is taken from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 When I change suspension such as ball joints and bushes etc I check the tracking as part of the job, it only takes a few minutes to check. If a car comes in that is showing tyre wear I'll check for warn joints etc and check the tracking. Most customers are happy to pay for a few minutes to know their car is safe and or their tyres will last a little longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 When I change suspension such as ball joints and bushes etc I check the tracking as part of the job, it only takes a few minutes to check. If a car comes in that is showing tyre wear I'll check for warn joints etc and check the tracking. Most customers are happy to pay for a few minutes to know their car is safe and or their tyres will last a little longer. How many garages would charge a few minutes labour to check the tracking, I couldn't name 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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