Tell me if you think the alignment shop is full of it

[65 Fury Convert]

Took my '93 4x4 Explorer to the alignment shop today. Don't know if it has ever been aligned - I've had it 2 years and I haven't done one yet - had 65K when I bought it, now has 97K. The alignment shop says they got it close to where it should be but it needs to be shimmed to be just right. He said it was close though. I asked how much for him to shim it and he said $189. Does this sound legit? He said Explorers need shims to get the caster correct. Is $189 reasonable or is he just priming me for the full stem lube treatment as well?

 

[NOTAJP]

The explorers use cams on the upper ball joints for alignment. If you have had any lift or lowering you will most likely need new cam shims. $189 would be a legit price if it needed to be done.

 

[65 Fury Convert]

Okay - no lift or lowering on it, thanks. Anyone else on this subject?

Also, $250 for radius arm bushings?

 

[dejello]

Originally posted by 65 Fury Convert
Also, $250 for radius arm bushings?

You can go to a local auto store and get some for I think $30 or so...

[EDIT] - That extra cost is probably labor though...

 

[65 Fury Convert]

Yeah I hear they're a real PITA to replace though otherwise I'd do it myself. It's getting the rivets out that makes it tough. I guess I'm just a real cheapskate and need to pay up to get it fixed. I always expect to get screwed when I go to a mechanic is all. I've had bad experiences in the past. So they are going to charge me $61 for my alignment today, $189 for shims and another $250 for radius arm bushings. Pkus another $61 for another alignment. Ouch!

 

[MO_GUY]

my oh my......thats a dent in the pocket

 

[dejello]

Originally posted by 65 Fury Convert
Yeah I hear they're a real PITA to replace though otherwise I'd do it myself. It's getting the rivets out that makes it tough.

luckily mine didn't have rivets

 

[Opera House]

If you're cheap at heart

Just slide the radius arm bushings on. Only effort is geting the big nut off. Remove the two frame supports for sway bar and pull the axel forward an inch. Chisel off the old bushing and cut the new poly bushing lengthwise to the center. Then pry it over the radius arm, get the bushing warm first in hot water. My mounting hole even had chunks of metal missing and it has lasted 70K without a problem. About 45 minutes a side. Thise rivets are a waste of time.

 

[Siekyre]

I just lifted my truck 5.5 inches. The local alignment shop did a total alignment (toe, caster & camber) for $90. That included re shimming the Camber. I called around, and the prices were from $80 to $130.

I'd say it is high.

Les Schwab = reshim alignment $130
Firestone = $120
4 Wheel Parts = $100
Alignment Specialities = $90

 

[Redrig]

i paid $ 140 for my alignment. and was quoted 350 for radius arm bushings plus labor.

 

[mrboyle]

Originally posted by 65 Fury Convert
So they are going to charge me $61 for my alignment today, $189 for shims and another $250 for radius arm bushings. Pkus another $61 for another alignment. Ouch!

The $189 quote should cover the price of the camber/caster shims ($35-$45ea.), the labor to install the shims and the alingment. You can't just pick a set of shims and install them. The selection of what shim to install is done during an alingment.

 

[unclemeat]

Radius Arm bushings $23 Labor $ 150 at the 4x4 shop.

 

[65 Fury Convert]

Sounds like what I need to do is shop around for the best price. Mrboyle, not offense against mechanics, trust me, I think you guys work hard for the money. Thanks to this forum I can get other peoples experiences.

 

[Bruce Rock]

Check out Haynes or the Ford CD. Neither of them require you to remove the rivits to change the radius arm bushings. They do require removal of the spring and some other stuff though.

I just bought a set of bushings since mine are also shot. 149 K miles, must have the orginal bushings since they are the rubber type. Rubber radius arm bushings are no longer made according to the parts man.

Check your shocks. Bad bushings tend to wear them out faster than normal.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Why two alignments? Seems like a waste - why not save the $$ and just do one?

 

[blackcrowe]

I took mine to this place to have it aligned a couple of months ago. After about a half an hour the guy said that he couldnt get one of the bolts loose(i forget which one), because it was so rusted. I just said f it, i'll do later.

 

[mrboyle]

Originally posted by 65 Fury Convert
Sounds like what I need to do is shop around for the best price. Mrboyle, not offense against mechanics, trust me, I think you guys work hard for the money. Thanks to this forum I can get other peoples experiences.

I don't take any offense to people that don't trust mechanics. I do however take offense to the few mechanics that give all of us a bad name, as well as the people that constantly complain someone is ripping them off, yet insist on returning to have their car fixed time and time again, each time complaining that they are being ripped off. If you think you are being ripped off, go somewhere else. Its that simple.

Rubber radius arm bushings are no longer made according to the parts man.

They still make rubber bushings, its just that most parts houses don't stock them due to the low demand.

After about a half an hour the guy said that he couldnt get one of the bolts loose(i forget which one), because it was so rusted.

This is not that uncommon. The best thing to do is start soaking the bolts with penetrating oil. Soak every bolt you can see for several days prior to having it aligned.

 

[Glacier991]

In the "for what it's worth category", I replaced the RA's on my 92 recently. First I tried the "leave the rivets in" approach, disassembling other things to pull the radium arm back through the bracket without much success. Seemed like a lot of disassembly to me. So I center punched, drilled and air hammered the rivets out (about 45 mins work). Like Opera House I found one bracket had chunks of metal missing. I debated leaving it, but thought about the forces involved here, and when I found out a new one from Ford was $40 I sprung for a new one. there's a good link for you all on the rivet issues in the resources page under Explorer maintenaince. It really was not all that tough, use a HARD drill bit though. A punch on my air chisel obviously helped too.

Happy exploring

Chris

 

[Bruce Rock]

They still make rubber bushings, its just that most parts houses don't stock them due to the low demand.

Thank you for the correction.

 

[Hotweels]

OK...... i am not the first one to recommend doing this but i will post it again just to be nice.
#1 find a muffler shop that works for a bit of cash or has a cheap hourly rate
#2 get them to cut the rivets off with a torch and put bolts in the holes.
#3 take the truck home and do the bushings in the driveway since the hardest part is allready done

Out of pocket cost should be $100 max for the rivet removal AND the new bushings if you install em, hope this helps a bit.