Alignment specs needed

[gnalan]

I basically just got ripped off for almost $60. No spec sheet from before or after. Nothing. I do have a steering rack that is making all kinds of noise now, as well as the pump, neither of which I've had since I've owned the car nor did I have either sound when I took the car to the alignment shop.

I was sitting right in front of the car watching what he was doing, and all I seen him do was grab 2 wrenches, which he only used on the passenger side, and he said he adjusted my toe and that's all he was charging me for. The steering wheel is still not straight, it's still pulling to the right, and he tried to say it's because my caster is off and they have no way of changing it. He didn't measure the caster on either side, or the camber, so how can he blame it on something he didn't even measure? He didn't even touch the rear, which I'm assuming is adjustable since there's factory specs listed in the owner's manual for both the front and the rear.

Now I have to figure out what he did to my steering rack, since it started making noise driving from the shop home (which is less than 5 miles).

[MoVolvos]

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A heavy Toe in will bind the suspension and potentially hide noise and looseness from bad or worn suspension parts. As for the Caster, he must turn the steering to the right then to the left in order to measure that. I assume he hooked up equipment on all four wheel to obtain measurement.

A good alignment guy will take your car around the block, check the tire for uneven wear on the edges, cupping, feathering etc... which could indicate out of spec, bent parts, bad shocks and or other suspension problems. He should also even out all tire pressure, then raise the car, give all 4 wheels a vertical and horizontal shake down besides checking all the components for obvious problems. It you have bad, loose, worn or bent parts or even a leak in the rack you'll probably not get an accurate alignment. Since I have not use a rack since 1996, I've forgotten a bit besides I only used it a few times.

Clean car by the way!

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[MoVolvos]

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The two wrenches were to loosen the nut on the tie rod end for the toe. As I mentioned before most guys will just "set the toe and let it go" is the mentality of most alignment guys.

A good DIY guy can even check the Caster, which I don't as the adjustment is not available. For Volvo's the Toe is the most critical.

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[gnalan]

Clean car by the way!

Thanks. I'll get some nice pics of it posted when I get a chance to.