Need an Alignment!

[RyanBorck]

I have an 81 FI Spider.

Had new tires installed but local NTB said they couldn't do alignment because of bad parts!

I just got the car back from my Fiat Mechanic before having the tires installed and he gave it a clean bill of health. So either he missed something (since he didn't necessary look at the suspension specifically) or NTB isn't comfortable doing an alignment on a 28 year old car.

Any one know somebody in DALLAS that can do a great Fiat Alignment? (My guy is an hour out so something close to actual Dallas would be great).

Thanks.

[ga.spyder]

Having been thru a load of front end issues this winter(complete rebuild,bad bushings..re-do bushings,bad alignmemt,etc... ) I feel I am qualified to say that NTB probably didnt want to mess with the car.And you are better off they didnt.Unless the tie rods are falling off,the car isnt difficult to align.They use shims for camber adjust,and any good front end guy can handle it.
Yesterday was my first chance to drive extended hwy. miles since all the work.The car is a joy to drive. You can take your hands off the wheel and drive for miles.No jitter,bump steer...fantastic.
Craig

[baltobernie]

I second Craig's Reply. The problem is not lack of specifications (all modern alignment shops have specs for cars a lot more obscure than the Spider). The problem is the somewhat fragile front crossmember and its attachment studs provided for the lower A-arm. The nuts on these studs (two per side) get loosened to allow the insertion or removal of U-shaped washers (shims) between the A-arm and the crossmember to achieve the correct geometry. A gorilla with an impact wrench can destroy these (relatively) small studs in seconds, then you're in for a big repair involving fabrication and welding. Maybe NTB did you a favor by turning you away.

[mbouse]

or, maybe the NTB just does not have the direct access to "exotic" suspension parts.

my local shop took a look at the tie rod ends and connecting rods before they did ANYTHING, saw my brand new parts, and decided quickly to do the alignment job. they simply have enough work that they can choose who accept/reject as a client, without the hassle of locating parts for a non "modern" vehicle.

[RyanBorck]

While looking under the car at the inside of the back wheel on the driver side, I noticed a liquid which appeared to be coming from between the wheel and the tire and dripping down the wall of the tire down to the garage floor... WHAT COULD THAT BE? This was just after I brought the car home from the NTB after they installed the tires I had purchased. Maybe water or oil that was just left from when they installed the tires?

Otherwise.

Thanks everyone. I did find a local guy and will try him tomorrow morning for the alignment. He already has a 1600cc Fiat up on the blocks so I figure he at least knows the car. I am just hoping NTB didn't break anything while attempting the realign and than just say they were going to pass due to defective parts (as I said, they did install the tires).

We'll see tomorrow! Local Fiat guy wants $90. NTB would have charged me something similar and I did find a second option (Muffler King) who would charge $60 and also came highly recommended by a separate body shop. But I like the foreign focused car mechanic. Plus Muffler King guy told me it's common that after doing an alignment there still may be a drift to the right or left, which can be corrected by flipping the two front tires, but not guaranteed. That left me a little uneasy. I am never comfortable when people already know what will more than likely go wrong before even seeing the actual car - sort of seemed like a setup to charge me for additional work that may not have been necessary.

Thanks again.

[RyanBorck]

90 Dollar Job turned into nearly 400. Mechanic said something about the Cambers or Campers? The car did seriously turn to the right at will (imagine driving down the highway, if you were to let go of the wheel, it would instantly turn to the right). So, when he believes this car had never been aligned.

After - Car drives straight and my are isn't sore from having to man handle the wheel to keep the car straight. Driving past 60mph is no longer scary as sh*t.

[ga.spyder]

In the interest of safety...money well spent.
Craig

[markpink]

Hi.

Well I replaced all my front suspension parts over the last six months. And I did the drive way method of "does it look straight".

It was fine for driving a few miles around town, but gave me feelings of impending doom when I went on the highway.

I tried a few local places that gave me the usual "Fiat... no we don't do Fiats". Based on a recommendation on this board, I brought it to Sears. They said Fiat no problem. An hour later, I had a different car.

And I just drove that car over 900 miles in 3 days last weekend to go to Freak Out 2009. Sometimes over 70 MPH. No shake, no problem. Cost me $70.00 for what drives like a new car. and Sears treated me the same as if I had a Ford.


Mark

[ga.spyder]

I recently drove mine at highway speeds for an extended time.What a joy.The alignment/rebuild was worth all the aggravavtion.
Craig