Loose Wheel Hub?

[tblake]

Yeah, after I swapped out my struts, I brought my car in to tires plus for an alignment and I left. A half hour or so later the alignment guy called and said I need a camber kit on the front. I said, "ok, what is that going to cost". He told me 80.00. (thinking thats ok) but I asked him "that would be an 80.00, on top of the initial alignment charge", and he goes. "No, thats 80.00 for the camber kit, 80.00 for the alignment, and another 130.00 for installation of the camber kit, so close to 300 all installed.". After hearing that I told him to not touch my car and I would be there in a few minutes. Well, I got there, and if I remember correctly, the camber spec for the front is +1.0 to +1.6. Well my passenger side was +1.6, and my drivers side was +1.7. Even though its barely out of spec, it shows RED on the machine. I told him to align the toe as best he can and leave it at that. There is no way I was going to pay them 300 to install a camber kit and align it.

On top of all that when I got my car, the steering wheel was off, so I took it back in for them to adjust again. And its pretty close right now, but not 100% straight. I just got sick of dealing with them. Then the worst was a week later I checked my tire pressures and the left front tire was down to 20psi. (which probably threw the camber readings out of spec) since tires plus did not fill up my tires before the alignment.

I'm done going back there, they are a bunch of idiots! Not to mention I think they put my wheels on with an impact last time I had them rotate my tires and warped my rotors.

[doctorhrdware]

$130 just to install the shims, is it that hard to install.

[00GTP4ME]

Wow. What a place. I always wonder how places like that stay in business. You can only go so long depending on new customers who haven't heard about your reputation for so long.

[doctorhrdware]

It is easy when you take advantage of women that are not car literate. Nothing against women, but these dishonest shops do it all the time. The thing that gets me is that they do it with a clear conscience, and continue to do it also.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by tblake

. A half hour or so later the alignment guy called and said I need a camber kit on the front. I said, "ok, what is that going to cost". He told me 80.00. (thinking thats ok) but I asked him "that would be an 80.00, on top of the initial alignment charge", and he goes. "No, thats 80.00 for the camber kit, 80.00 for the alignment, and another 130.00 for installation of the camber kit, so close to 300 all installed.

What camber kit were they planning on installing Tim? I did my GTP several years ago and it was around $20 per strut for the camber kit with the eccentric bolt. Then all you need to do is remove the strut and file - elongate the two mounting holes that go to the steering knuckle.

[tblake]

Thats what I was wondering Bob. There was no way I was going to pay 80.00 for just the front camber bolts, and then pay to have them installed, and then pay to have them align. If you ask me, alignment should be covered under the install price. Its sort of like a rack and pinion, if I pay to have a shop put one in, the flat rate price reflects install and also an alignment. You don't add the alignment to the cost of the R&P install. Every idiot knows that!

[tblake]

After I told him I didn't want the camber bolts put in, he told me my car would pull. I said I'll deal with it. Guess what? No pulls (idiot!)

I'd rather install the bolts myself and then take it to a shop and have aligned afterwards.

[jvandermolen]

I have a 2004 Grand Prix with 145k miles. I hear a grinding noise at low speeds going straight and then louder on turns. However, I cannot hear any abnormal noise at higher speeds. With the car on the ground I can feel some slop in the left wheel when I push/pull on the top. However, when I jack it up and set on stands, I cannot feel any slop by doing the 9 & 3 and 12 & 6 check. I removed the wheel and put vice grips on the hub and couldn't feel any play either, only when there is the weight of the car on the wheel can I feel any slop. I know that the right side hub was replaced at 75k but the left side is original. I also checked the ball joint and I couldn't find any play. Everything else is fairly new (struts, tie rod ends). I brought it into the shop and they said that it was the tire bead rubbing on the rim...not sure how that is even possible. Stupid shops.

I checked all of the other wheels and they are tight.

Anyway, I'm looking for some help. Any ideas?