Alignment Shop in NNJ ( or central) For DE Setup
02-19-2008, 11:57 AM
#31
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As far as wheel weights go, until I went to the metal HVAC tape I have always lost them, even had them rip through the purple duct tape Hoosier used. I use two layers of the metal tape, have never had a problem since. As for shops, look hard enough and someone will have had a bad experience regardless of the other 99% good and hate them with a passion.
02-20-2008, 01:03 AM
#32
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I get my work done by Princeton Porsche. They have a track oriented following and do excellent work
02-22-2008, 09:06 PM
#36
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I'm with you dan212.....Princeton Porsche does an excellent job. I have tried several indies and returned to Princeton Porsche for any work. Very professional and repairs are within 10% of estimates.
Last edited by Ninetynine996; 02-22-2008 at 09:06 PM. Reason: spelling
02-23-2008, 09:54 AM
#38
NASA Racer
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As far as wheel weights go, I decided long ago that was my responsibility. That means cleaning your wheels before you have the tires put on so there is a good contact patch, applying HVAC tape yourself and monitoring it at the track. I've had HVAC tape come off at the track. Every shop neglects wheel weights at one time or another. One reason is that it's almost always the lowliest of shop hands who gets the job of putting on and taking off tires.
02-23-2008, 09:57 AM
#39
Burning Brakes
02-23-2008, 10:13 AM
#40
Burning Brakes
As far as wheel weights go, I decided long ago that was my responsibility. That means cleaning your wheels before you have the tires put on so there is a good contact patch, applying HVAC tape yourself and monitoring it at the track. I've had HVAC tape come off at the track. Every shop neglects wheel weights at one time or another. One reason is that it's almost always the lowliest of shop hands who gets the job of putting on and taking off tires.
I wouldn't complain at all if the wheel weights fell off during road or track use, but come on, the OP didn't even have the wheels mounted on his car-- he brought them back to his house in wheel bags. What was the point of having them balanced in the first place if the weights would fall off IN THE BAGS? That's just sloppy work, and yes, you can argue that it's meaningless and not a big deal, but it certainly shows a lack of attention to detail.
If we're willing to put up with wheel weights that fall off, what's next? "Oh yeah, they forgot to properly torque my wheels, but you know, it wasn't a big deal. The wheel fell off on the way home from the shop, but it was really my job to torque the lugnuts when I picked up the car." We're driving these cars at 140+ mph -- details can and do matter.
02-23-2008, 11:38 AM
#41
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Oh, I've had shops forget to torque wheel nuts as well. My point is - find me a shop anywhere that doesn't make these or similar mistakes. I could send you a list of shops I've used in the area that have all made mistakes on my car or my friend's cars and it would include every shop East of the Mississippi. If anyone thinks the way to solve this is to find the perfect shop, they're going to be in for a surprise. It doesn't exist. You find the best one you can and you deal with the mistakes. If you find yourself the victim of a particularly egregious one you switch shops but don't delude yourself that the new one won't make mistakes as well. If we were to poll all the guys here about the mistakes their shops have made it would be every one and a very ugly list of mistakes. I know of suspension bits being installed upside down that then broke on track, gears put in the wrong order on transmission rebuilds, the list goes on and on - all top shops in the area.
02-23-2008, 01:10 PM
#42
Burning Brakes
Oh, I've had shops forget to torque wheel nuts as well. My point is - find me a shop anywhere that doesn't make these or similar mistakes. I could send you a list of shops I've used in the area that have all made mistakes on my car or my friend's cars and it would include every shop East of the Mississippi. If anyone thinks the way to solve this is to find the perfect shop, they're going to be in for a surprise. It doesn't exist. You find the best one you can and you deal with the mistakes. If you find yourself the victim of a particularly egregious one you switch shops but don't delude yourself that the new one won't make mistakes as well. If we were to poll all the guys here about the mistakes their shops have made it would be every one and a very ugly list of mistakes. I know of suspension bits being installed upside down that then broke on track, gears put in the wrong order on transmission rebuilds, the list goes on and on - all top shops in the area.
Now I'm going to watch the guys at my shop like hawks when they work on the car, with pictures and diagrams to carefully make sure they're installing everything correctly.
02-23-2008, 03:25 PM
#43
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As far as wheel weights go, I decided long ago that was my responsibility. That means cleaning your wheels before you have the tires put on so there is a good contact patch, applying HVAC tape yourself and monitoring it at the track. I've had HVAC tape come off at the track. Every shop neglects wheel weights at one time or another. One reason is that it's almost always the lowliest of shop hands who gets the job of putting on and taking off tires.
02-23-2008, 04:02 PM
#44
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As far as wheel weights go, I decided long ago that was my responsibility. That means cleaning your wheels before you have the tires put on so there is a good contact patch, applying HVAC tape yourself and monitoring it at the track. I've had HVAC tape come off at the track. Every shop neglects wheel weights at one time or another. One reason is that it's almost always the lowliest of shop hands who gets the job of putting on and taking off tires.
Adam
02-23-2008, 05:16 PM
#45
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Not so at Paddock Performance. I have witnessed every one of the mechanics there - and the owners too - mount and balance wheels at their shop. I mean Junior @ Paddock is a terrific engine builder, but he won't hesitate to mount and balance wheels should the need arise. There doesn't appear to be one "lowly" individual relegated to that task at their shop.
Sure, everyone makes mistakes, but I agree with another poster here that the customer has a right to expect that the job will get done correctly.
Richard
P.S.: Are you racing at VIR at the end of March?