soontobered84

Thanks 911! I started thinking about that before I saw your post and thought that maybe I should explain further. I did tell them upfront when I took it back that I had done some work on it. They said no problem.

And I did take another 928 (the Jalapeno) to them for alignment. They did great!

Landseer

My guy told me about the warranty on one hand, then said he'd re-align even if I changed parts, too. I think he liked messing with it. Variety.

FREAKINHEAT

I am shocked as well that someone would take their baby to Sears. I fear taking my Chrysler 300 to NTB b/c of the knuckle heads that work there. Wait, NTB is owned by Sears, aren't they?

Landseer

Well, you missed that Sears has the fully computerized Hunter 400 with 928 programs downloaded in all stores nationally. That's a big plus. The question is how to coach them to use this asset in your local area to your or your club's advantage. I didn't just turn over the keys and go walk around the mall. Gotta engage them. We've covered this before. SeanR had them lined-up to do his Texas cars at one point.

I had one done there in May 2008. 21K miles later and the bridgestones look very evenly worn.

auzivision

Check out this rack:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_09013011000P

Hopefully, I'll need one of these come Monday and the price is right.

So I just need to make sure they have the kind that doesn't require the car be lifted? Is there a specific Hunter model number or something I should ask?

Also, do I need to find my centering bolt (have one somewhere)? I’m not messing with the rack or tie rods (just shocks) so it shouldn’t be needed… correct?

auzivision

I see one of my questions was answered like one minute before I posted it... Hunter 400 it is

Landseer

Understand how it is done, bring a paper with torque values, pick an off-peak time and have some conversation with them.

The money in alignments is putting ball joints and Tie rod ends on cars --- upselling.
Take that out of the equation --- you are there for the best alignment they can do in a reasonable time without regard for the parts --- thats your responsibility. If they won't warranty because of that, who cares, you are there for an alignment. If the shop head is smart enough to be maximizing revenue, then he might not even take the car on. Gotta schmooze. Don't waste their time, but don't get upsold. If you can't engage, try another store.

Don't let them take the weight of the suspension to inspect parts. Just align. Make sense?

Make it fun, buy donuts, wear a clown suit, tell them they are better than the P dealer will ever be, thank them for listening... whatever it takes.

Make your own ride height adjustments before hand. They aren't setup to measure except fender lip to hunter bed. You might be able to run a straightedge across the hunter bed and measure from the right points, if you show them how, but that means more engagement.


What the hell is anybody doing with a Chrysler?

auzivision

I’ve been kicking around a few places that have alignment racks and every time I mention I need an alignment without lifting the car, I get the deer eyes in the headlight look. I went so far as to contact the local Hunter rep to get his recommendations on who in town had a capable rack. Sears wasn’t on his list, actually none of the half dozen or so within walking distance of my office were.



As you can see by this photo taken from my office, I have a vested interest in having Sears being able to handle my alignment (at least until I learn AO’s trick). Other choices are Firestone, NTB, Midas, Mineke, and Indy Tire Center all within 5 minutes walk.

Didn’t someone have a write-up with nice instructions to hand a tech?

dr bob

One line, very large print:

YOU CAN'T LIFT THE CAR AT ALL DURING THE ALIGNMENT PROCESS. PERIOD.

That should pretty much take care of everything the Hunter instructions and pictures don't cover already.

robot808

Post #11 of the New Visitors thread, newbie.

Tom in Austin

For a Hunter-equipped shop, I think lifting the car would be a separate, pre-alignment activity intended to evaluate the condition of things (i.e. upsell) as the Hunter machine I'm familiar with is drive-on and has no lifting capability. If you can get across that you want just the alignment done there is not a reason for them to lift the car.

There is a shop-finder feature on Hunter's website that will list locations using their equipment, in addition to the many Sears locations. One thing I found when I called a few places and talked with the manager is that for whatever reason, some guys who have a Hunter will tell you they "can't do a Porsche". Not sure what they mean by that, perhaps that it isn't profitable, their techs are baboons who can't be trusted, or some other thing.

I've not had very good luck with my alignments. The last place I tried seemed to have a one-hour limit. They diddled around for a while and when they (reluctantly) gave me the printout showing only the toe within spec, they started in on the "that one isn't adjustable" and "we leave that a little high because when you sit in the car, your weight it brings into line". I will not be going back to that shop.

NoVector

Tom - If you ever have to time to kill in San Antonio, Jones Autowerks can hook you up. They're the cat's *** for local Porsches. They did my GTS a year ago--so far, so good. But, I think they were about double the cost of Sears.

Bruce