Front Suspension Work: The Death of a Vehicle?

[CrackyWainwright]

Having paid close attention to cars and pickups for more than 30 years now, one thing I've observed among a lot of people I know (my family included) is that while we always think that engine or transmission problems are the essential end of life for a vehicle, almost as often that moment of "OK, we're trading this car!" comes when the front suspension won't hold an alignment any longer, the owner has already paid a shop $1,000 for new front end parts and labor, and the car or truck STILL won't hold an alignment. A vehicle that eats up tires every few months is one that will be sold or traded very soon.

You fellows tend to have more mechanical ability than most of us laypersons who can only change the oil in a vehicle, so I want to ask: are there truly many cases where front suspension work can make a car drive smoothly and wear tires evenly just as it did when it was new? Is it hard to find a good, competent front end mechanic?

 

[cb_13]

It is hard to find a good alignment technician. Most shops just want to do a toe and go collect your minimum alignment fee and not bother with the hassle of installing caster sleeves, camber bushings or whatever additional work might be needed. Although some of that can be due to not wanting to explain that the work is in addition to the standard alignment fee.

 

[Mr Nice]

Most techs will never use a Hunter alignment rack to its full potential.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted by CrackyWainwright
the owner has already paid a shop $1,000 for new front end parts and labor, and the car or truck STILL won't hold an alignment. A vehicle that eats up tires every few months is one that will be sold or traded very soon.


Same shop that killed your V6 Accord with the snapped timing belt?

Also is it the same shop that charged $1 in repairs now saying it won't align properly? Something seems off.

 

[bullwinkle]

Sounds like a good argument for a "lifetime alignment" plan to me! Weird thing is, even with the horrible roads we have around here, I don't really have that many alignment issues. There's been more unibody rust to death issues than anything else.

 

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by CrackyWainwright
the owner has already paid a shop $1,000 for new front end parts and labor, and the car or truck STILL won't hold an alignment. A vehicle that eats up tires every few months


Sounds like the frame is bent, but still, the shop should be able to adjust for that if it's not too bad. If tires wear out every few months, you buy $20 used tires every few months.

 

[HangFire]

I never told the full story of buying my used Camry from the local used car lot. Part of it was asking for an alignment before delivery. They had it done by Mr Tire. After purchase I took it back and Mr. Tire did it again. Steering wheel was still off center. This car had 39K miles.

After that I took it to Firestone and got the lifetime alignment, and they mostly fixed what Mr. Tire was doing wrong. Close enough, but I'll be back.

So yes, I can believe it.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted by cb_13
It is hard to find a good alignment technician. Most shops just want to do a toe and go collect your minimum alignment fee and not bother with the hassle of installing caster sleeves, camber bushings or whatever additional work might be needed. Although some of that can be due to not wanting to explain that the work is in addition to the standard alignment fee.

All the times I've taken cars into Sears, Big O or Firestone for alignments I've always gotten a explanation for extra parts or labor if cam bolts or shims needed to be installed. But no one does caster, just camber and toe.

 

[borgward]

I bought a clapped out Datsun 1200 Coupe that had 180,000 miles on it. Drove it for about a year. I then put about $1200 into it rebuilding the engine and all new front suspension w/KYB struts. People thought I was crazy. I stopped driving it at about 800,000 miles. The last engine was an A14 engine and a 5 speed transmission. I was going way fast and slowed down. Figured it would be best to check out the suspension before going that fast. I stopped driving it because the seat was beginning to kill my back, and because my wife gave me her third generation Escort. Still have the Datsun. I threaten to get it running as soon as I have other things out of the way.

Not being able to keep a car aligned is either rusted unibody or more likely not being able to find a competent shop.

 

[dogememe]

So basically lousy shops with incompetent techs is the end of the car, not the car itself.

 

[brages]

Have driven multiple vehicles with over 200k miles and never had a big problem with alignment or abnormal tire wear.

Suspension with age will get loose and affect ride/handling.

Most cars die due to wrecks. If not that, either because the transmission fails or the car just gets too grotty to be seen in. IMO

 

[Wolf359]

Probably changing out the front end stuff like springs/struts, ball joints, tie rods, control arms, wheel bearings, sway bar link is a keep step in getting the car to 200k and beyond. Most of that stuff doesn't last much more than 100k. Never really had a car that couldn't be aligned, mostly if you changed out the worn parts, you could get it aligned. I do the 3 year alignment warranty at Goodyear.

 

[GoldDot40]

Originally Posted by borgward

Not being able to keep a car aligned is either rusted unibody or more likely not being able to find a competent shop.

You said a mouthful here. In my experience, there's not a vehicle on the road that can't be repaired to where it won't hold an alignment. As long as the suspension and chassis geometry hasn't been heavily altered via a collision or rusted out...a tech who knows what they're doing can do it right.

 

[borgward]

I made sure to get tie rod ends, Ball joints, etc that had grease fittings. The lubrication does not fail. Dirt and grime eventually get into things, even sealed parts. Having grease fittings enables you to flush out that grime that wears out parts.

 

[KGMtech]

anything man made can be kept working if the skills and materials are available.

Like that old story of my grandfather's axe....."yep, 60 years old and still good, replaced the handle 3x, and the head 4x but it's still chopping like new"

 

[ad244]

Originally Posted by cb_13
It is hard to find a good alignment technician. Most shops just want to do a toe and go collect your minimum alignment fee and not bother with the hassle of installing caster sleeves, camber bushings or whatever additional work might be needed. Although some of that can be due to not wanting to explain that the work is in addition to the standard alignment fee.


This ^^

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted by brages
Have driven multiple vehicles with over 200k miles and never had a big problem with alignment or abnormal tire wear.

Suspension with age will get loose and affect ride/handling.

Most cars die due to wrecks. If not that, either because the transmission fails or the car just gets too grotty to be seen in. IMO


I've had similar results over the course of many vehicles. I usually keep em to 200k plus. Alignment issues have really only been of consequence to me when dealing with 08 BMW X Drive, IIRC 07 Mercury AWD, and now 17 Subaru OB AWD.

 

[vwmaniaman]

The o[d US made cars of Cuba say a lot about some peoples desire to keep it working.

 

[walterjay]

A good shop can restore your suspension and alignment to as good as new. You just have to find the right guys.

 

[HangFire]

The thread title remimds me of another Dakota owner, who told me his Dak "just died". I asked if it was the engine or transmission, instead he listed a half dozen minor items, most of which I had fixed on my own truck. Altogether it was about $500 of DIY or $2K+3K at a shop, though some of it might require creative sourcing (ebay, junkyards).

So in his mind, it "just died". But he drove it to trade it in.