Is the allignment shop trying to screw me?

[imq707s]

I took my 1997 Mercury Mountianeer ( same as an explorer) in to the allignment shop today to get the front allignment done. The guy calls me back an hour later and says that the camber is out and that fron the factory there is no way to adjust the camber. He said that the only way they can adjust it is to add a special bolt kit ($55 + $70 install). So now my $50 allignment has turned into a $180 allignment. Is this guy trying to screw me? Were can I get one of these bolt kits so I can install it myself? Anyone have any pictures of what is included in this bolt kit? Is it true that you can not adjust camber on explorers ( and mountaineer's ) straight out of the factory unless you install this kit? Thanks.

 

[BradE.]

Wow. I have never heard of anything like that before. I had my 1997 Explorer aligned before, no problems.

They might be trying to rip you off, I am sure others will chime in.

 

[Broccoli1]

Take it somehere else fast. Alignment scams are one of the #1 rip-offs out there.
SOP: "your alignment is off and needs this which equals$$" and ahlf the time they haven't even looked at your alignment

 

[james t]

part rip off- part truth. the alignment cam thing is for real. however, it would have to be seriously off to need them. they're prices on the cams and the install seem high. take it somewere else and get a second opinion.

 

[Bobby Locs]

I had the same problem with a aliment shop, But the funny part is that I walk out with him and showed him that those special bolts where allready installed on the truck.... Its funny and realy screwed when they do that, But the look on his face when I showwed him that they where on there was the best, So in the long run I got the whole aliment done for half price...

 

[imq707s]

How difficult will it be to install the allignment cams myself? What's involved? Anyone have pictures of what the allignment camber cams look like?

 

[james t]

unless you just really want to do it, just have the shop do it. it involves releasing the tension from the torsion bars and removing the upper control arms. one of those things that i would rather pay someone $50 to do.

 

[imq707s]

Here is a good question for you guys, why in the hell didn't Ford put those adjusters in at the factory? Did they actually think that that camber would stay perfect for ever? I'm sure most explorer owners would have rather paid $50 more for their truck than going through the hassle of installing the cams themselves, or paying a shop to install them.

The allignment shop I went to was going to charge me for an hours worth of labor install the cams, so I figure I can install them myself.

Is it possible that the tornsion bars need re-torqued ?

 

[imq707s]

One autoparts shop is saying that the kit consists of four round washers with offset holes for the bolts to go through. The other shop says that the kit has some goofy offset bolts that you use, no washers. What do I need?

 

[james t]

these are the cams you need...

 

[imq707s]

Well I started looking at my upper a-arms and it looks like there is a cam on the front of the bolt, and a sqeare washer with a hole in the center on the rear of the bolt. So basically I just have to swap a new cam with the square washer and I can use the front cam that is already installed from the factory. Why did they put that square washer on at the factory instead of a cam? It's got a cam on the front of the bolt for adjustment, but a square washer on the back that prevents adjustment. How stupid it that?

 

[DocVijay]

After my lift, I took it to Ford (yes, as in a dealership), and the alignment was only $65. Also I had the assurance that it was all done to spec with factory parts (if needed).

 

[imq707s]

**** Update****

Well I just saved myself $100 by installing those camber cams myself. I went to a local auto parts store and bought a pack of the for cams for $30. They were very easy to install, it only took me half an hour to do all four. You just take the nut off of each of the two bolts in each upper A-arm and pull off the square factory washer. Then put the new cam back in place of the square washer, tighten the bolt and your done. It was a piece of cake. So instead of paying a shop for part and labor I did it myself for $30. Then I took it to get alligned and it cost me $40.

 

[sonkakaro]

After my truck was lowered i took it to Sears. I ordered 2 packs of those camber adjusters from ford parts network which is a total of 4. After a short time Sears calls me and says that I don't have enough. The guy said it's 4 per side. I've never heard of this. I know i have a sport which is different from the 4 doors but it should only need 4 right?

 

[BradE.]

Yes, you only need 4.

 

[james t]

2 bolts and 4 cams per side. total of 4 bolts and 8 cams for the whole front.

 

[imq707s]

It comes from the factory with a cam on one end of each bolt, and a square locking washer on the other side. You can leave the factory cam were it is, just replace the factory square locking washer with one of the aftermarket cams. There are 4 factory cams on your truck, and 4 square locking washers. You need to have 4 aftermarket cams to replace the 4 factory square washers. If Sears is telling you that you need 8 cams, they are trying to screw you. You only need 4.

 

[aldive]

You only need 4.

 

[X24]

I have never had a good experience with a Sears auto center. My advice is to find a privately owned alignment shop. If the Sears guys screw up and dont do it right, when you come back to complain you most likely wont be dealing with the people that did the job. Go to a private shop where the owner isnt afraid to get his hands dirty and 9/10 times you will see a difference in quality of work and pride in the work.

 

[james t]

a note on the stock cams...

i just replaced mine recently. the stock cams were mutilated on the bolt. the bolt is flat on one side, and this is what holds the cam in position. when i removed the bolt and cams, i noticed that the aftermarket cam (on the nut side) was fine, while the stock cam (on the bolt head side) was pulled out of position. this had one cam turned slightly more than the other on the bolt. all 4 stock cams were like this. the whole was "boogered" out.