This Is What Happens When People Dont Have A Clue...

[mitchy_]

took my car to an undisclosed location last week to have a wheel-alignment done.

the back had a bit of toe in from the recently fitted hicas lock bar. front and rear alignment, easy job? yeah!

gave them the car at 8am, handed over my money, and picked it up at 5pm.

it seems to drive fine, ie the wheels were straight, it drove in a straight line, $55 well spent.

whilst driving to the city tonight, i noticed a slight clicking sound coming from the rear, sounded like a dodgy CV joint click. so i had a quick look under it, couldnt see much really, so i planned on getting it checked out on monday.

then when driving from the city to pick up a friend from freo, heading down the freeway, just as you pass the city, and hit the newly done zig-zag part, on the last zag left, the rear suddenly felt like i was drifting... at 80km/h.. down the freeway. NOT cool.

so i quickly found my way over to the right hand emergancy lane, got out of the car and sawmy rear right wheel had taken on a new position with about 10 degrees toe in.

after further inspection under the car, it would appear that the arm that joins the right rear hub to the hicas, had become detached from the lock bar, thus allowing the right wheel to flap around as it pleased.

the only thing stopping the wheel from flapping around violently was the rubber 'boot' that stops dust/dirt getting into the threaded joint.

at 80km/h on a sloping surface, whilst turning left, and accelerating out of the corner, you dont really want the wheel bearing alot of the cars weight to suddenly change its orientation.

i had the car towed home, no way was i driving that any further. (i couldnt even come up with a cool story, like i was doing this MASSIVE BURNOUT, and it must have come loose from the sheer power)

so at 8am on monday, the undisclosed location is going to receive a phone call from yours truly, and they will be explaining how/why this happened, rectifiying the problem, and i expect some form of compensation for the trouble, and the tow home.

</rant>

[RRob]

Who screwed the tie rod into the hicas lock bar?

They arnt gonna check if the installer installed it correctly, they will only adjust the outer end of the tie rod.

[IMPORTD]

Wow thats terrible. I'm glad that you made it safely home and that it wasn't a terrible accident.

If they don't rectify the problem, I hope you warn others about going to them...

[Sneeza]

Jeez, thats terrible! Lucky the roads weren't wet or you didn't have an accident and get hurt. Good luck with calling them, update us with what they say!

I am always paranoid after picking my car up from tyre places etc... there must be occasions when they forget to do up the nuts properly.

[ossie_21]

My brother (lives near Sydney) was driving across the Harbour Bridge one day when he heard a strange noise & the car was shaking. Pulled over straight away, and seen that 3 out of 4 of his locknuts on one of his front tyres were missing, and the 4th he could undo with his fingers, so the wheel wasn't very far off coming off his car completely. The tyres had only been replaced that day or the day before, they got a phone call too!!

[jonn]

Who screwed the tie rod into the hicas lock bar?

They arnt gonna check if the installer installed it correctly, they will only adjust the outer end of the tie rod.

Like he said. I'd be chasing the installer of the lock bar.

[mitchy_]

Like he said. I'd be chasing the installer of the lock bar.

i installed it myself, and i know it was tight because i borrowed a massive wrench to get it cranked up as tight as humanly possible.

[ix9]

That sux balls mitchy - at least make them pay for the tow, fix it up, AND get the alignment for free!

[IMACUL8]

So whats the outcome?

[Shayde]

So that's all it takes to get shit free, hey?

[mitchy_]

rang them first thing this morning (on my lunch break now)

spoke to the manager, they are going to re-attach the tie rod arm to the lock bar, align the wheels(front and rear), pay for the tow, and give me a voucher for a free wheel alignment.

he was quite apologetic about it, and finding out why that part of the tie rod arm was loosened, rather than the other end.

-1 for the event occuring in the first place, but +1 for their effort to rectify the problem.

i think its all sorted now...

[Shayde]

I'd give that voucher to someone who doesn't have a high performance import

Guess they're just trying to avoid a lawsuit. By accepting that stuff, it's like accepting a pay out.

[mitchy_]

i'd just rather have my car intact, rather than a lawsuit..

but yeah, the voucher is going to mum and her mazda6

[Shayde]

I'd take your path also

At least it's sorted and they aren't being dicks about it. Look forward to seeing you on the road again!

[IMACUL8]

Great to hear