Camber bolts so lose causing clunking noise. WTF Alignment shop

Brenden Burnham · February 27, 2022

So been going on for a bit now. First want to give you the back story. 6 Months ago got 4 new tires for the truck. Should of gotten alignment done right away but did not. Just slight wear on outer part of tire more than anywhere else. And did pull slightly to the right. Not terribly bad but noticeable. Decided to get the alignment done 2 months ago. Went to a shop that you would think would know what they are doing? Well I had them replace both upper control arms as the ball joints were done and just wanted the entire control arm replaced. So they replaced the control arms and did the alignment.

Went home and immediately did tire rotation. Was abou that time anyway. The back ones straight wear and again the fronts slight more wear to the right. Noticed that the lean was still there although not as bad. Figured was due to the slight wear on the tires? Not sure. Before I get to the next part I want to bring up a point. You know how something that changes over time you get use to and really do not notice because you drive it day in and day out. So what was happening was the pull was getting worse but ever so slightly again I would not notice due to driving every day the truck. Back track about 2 weeks ago and I started to hear a clunking noise. Now the noise would only happen in reverse and only immediately from a stop(clearly somewhere on front drivers side). Would normally only do it once or twice. But was pretty loud and could feel it. Driving though still felt same and honestly no shaking/rattling/noise even at high speed. Now comes in the parts cannon. Doing research led me to believe it was one of three things. In order most likely was the Wheel hub/bearing. Tried to do on my own and am sure the original was on as those three bolts located on the back of the hub I could not get off. Started to strip one of them so took in as I just do not have the power tools. So had to take in and 2 hours of labor later was done. Boy did my heart sink when the exact issue was still there. Next was going to end up replacing the CV axle and if that did not fix it the front U-Joint.

Never really looking at the stance before of the front wheels/suspension yesterday I noticed not just the drivers side but both front wheels had a tilt to them. With both wheels facing straight forward the top of the wheels were clearly sticking out further on top. And boy was the outside of the tires clearly worn more than the middle/inside. After this I took it back to the same crap alignment shop and have them fix immediately. They noticed that not just the one but both camber bolts were not tight. Now remember from above I had them replace both upper control arms. Apparently they did not tighten down the bolts, my thought is after going back and forth adjusting both camber bolts they never tightened down to specs.

So what was happening was due to the lose camber bolts the alignment slowly getting out of whack and to the point where the wheels were as far out as the camber would allow. At that point is when the clicking/clunking noise started happening.

Now I have tires that have to be replaced that should have at least 20k more miles on them. I do take the blame for letting it go on so long without going back immedately to the shop that did the alignment. That should of been done right off the bat. But again I thought it was a different issue. Never in my life would I of thought the camber bolts were so lose that though a short period of time they had self adjusted all the way over to the point where it was causing a clunking noise. I am sure it could of been worse though had I waited even longer. I imagine this shop does not even torque down to spec the bolts of what the manufacturer says they should be.

Anyway I just had them fix their own work yesterday the boss was not there but will be on Monday. You better believe they are going to get an earfull from me first thing Monday morning. The good news is no major damage happened. Imagine if it had come all the way off and my wheel went bye bye. Needless to say this shop will be getting a bad online review from me. And at least they did admit that both camber bolts were lose. Shame on them.

Edited February 27, 2022 by Brenden Burnham
change

Brenden Burnham · February 27, 2022

And before others state that I must of been driving it hard taking it off road. That absolutely is NOT the case. I do not drive it hard and in fact has not seen off-road since going to get it aligned. All it has seen is paved road and I do not drive it hard at all. I do feel dumb for letting it go that long that is no doubt my fault but who I would of never thought that would of been causing the symptoms. I was trying to save up for parts I felt were the cause. Never would of thought was something so simple. Lesson learned that's for sure. If you want something done right do it yourself.

Edited February 27, 2022 by Brenden Burnham

Brenden Burnham · February 27, 2022

And so now this is both a failed brake job done by another shop and now a failed install of upper control arms and alignment. The quality of shops really has taken a dive at least here. Now I know where NOT to go.

Brenden Burnham · February 27, 2022

Sorry about the rant but still fresh in my mind and how frustrated I am as it is all still fresh. The thing is I am a great mechanic but really it comes down to having the tools and space to do and I just do not have. But even so I cannot do an alignment without a machine, I could of not done the tranny teardown/repair/replace. I am working on getting the space and tools though so I can do all but the most complex of jobs. Just cannot trust anyone else it seems. Just so frustrated.

dna9656 · February 28, 2022

I empathize 100%. So, I have so many tools I don't always know what I have! That shop owes you a pro-rated amount of money for the premature wear due to their negligence OR 2 tires new or used in very good shape.

I have taken my vehicles in for alignment and as I left the shop my steering wheel was not centered as I drove down the road. That makes me crazy; shops that don't check things that were specifically asked for! Shops that don't road test things like alignments, brake jobs! Any safety related repair should be road tested, we shouldn't need a law for this, every shop should do it as a matter of quality control and to lessen liability for shoddy work like you got. Don't forget to post your displeasure on the BBB web site as well.

Edited March 3, 2022 by dna9656

Brenden Burnham · February 28, 2022

4 hours ago, dna9656 said:

I empathize 100%. So, I have so many tools I don't always know what I have! That shop owes you a prorated amount of money for the premature wear due to their negligence OR 2 tires new or used in very good shape.

I have taken my vehicles in for alignment and as I left the shop my steering wheel was not centered as I drove down the road. That makes me crazy; shops that don't check things specifically asked for! Shops that don't road test things like alignments, brake jobs; any safety related repair should be road tested, we shouldn't need a law for this, every shop should do it as a matter of quality control and to lessen liability for shoddy work like you got. Don't forget to post your displeasure on the BBB web site as well.

Totally agree with everything you said. Not to mention the worst fuel economy due to such so should pay for a couple fuel bills lol. Just seems the quality of shops and mechanics is not what they use to be. They just try to rush through stuff getting people pushed out as fast as possible. The negligence is obvious. They were two younger mechanics that were working on it. I am betting each one thought the other had finalized and torqued down when in fact neither one did after going back and forth between the two wheels adjusting camber. They are lucky that a wheel didn't fall off causing extensive damage.

Got back from talking with the owner. I am getting hooked up. Am sure the two guys won't do it again after the long talk they got from the owner.

Really just need a good impact cordless gun with some sets of impact sockets. Was thinking of getting a Rigid 1/2 impact gun. Yes? Need one powerful enough to take off the wheels and even 36mm wheel hub nut if need be and suspension nuts/bolts parts. I do have a good cordless wrench though.

Edited February 28, 2022 by Brenden Burnham

shakenfake · February 28, 2022

Milwaukee impact M18

Brenden Burnham · February 28, 2022

On 2/28/2022 at 1:41 PM, shakenfake said:

Milwaukee impact M18

Nice. I was looking at that and the Makita XWT14Z. The Makita breakaway torque is insane.

Edited March 2, 2022 by Brenden Burnham

cottrillj · March 2, 2022

On 2/28/2022 at 3:02 PM, Brenden Burnham said:

Really just need a good impact cordless gun with some sets of impact sockets. Was thinking of getting a Rigid 1/2 impact gun. Yes? Need one powerful enough to take off the wheels and even 36mm wheel hub nut if need be and suspension nuts/bolts parts. I do have a good cordless wrench though.

I have a Rigid 1/2" 18V impact. Works great for most everything, but it wouldn't even begin to touch my 14 year old axle nuts (wheel hub nuts). Had to break out the pneumatic impact for that task. 800 ft/lbs of torque made quick work ot them....

On 2/28/2022 at 3:02 PM, Brenden Burnham said:

Edited March 2, 2022 by cottrillj

dna9656 · March 2, 2022

There are torque sockets out there, you put them on your impact gun and they somehow take your lug nuts to the correct torque. They are like a double ended socket, you get a set usually. I have no idea how they work. I was the Assistant Non Commissioned Officer (Staff Sgt.) in the local USAF Base Vehicle Maintenance Shop. I was a body shop guy doing duty in the general purpose vehicle shop. We worked on everything except tracked stuff, excavators, aircraft cargo loading vehicles, etc. We did 10 ton tractors on down to those little vans that aren't legal on the public highways. I supervised and in/out QC., parts ordering (made sure the numbers were correct, turned in the requests, reported completion estimates to the Chief of maintenance or the maintenance Officer. I never figured out how those rods worked but I had a LOT of good guys working for me. They used them all the time because they were faster to use than a torque wrench. I couldn't argue that point at all; and they never needed calibration that I can remember, maybe a cal. check because there was no way to calibrate it. You might like that way better than a torque wrench.

Edited March 3, 2022 by dna9656

dna9656 · March 2, 2022

I also must concur with you on the quality of some mechanics. Getting things done by 2 people is inherently dangerous (see rock auto news letter this month for an example); if you're going to do that you both better walk around the vehicle and check it all. You can't assume the other guy got "it"; and everybody knows what you do when you assume. You make an Ass (outta) u (and) me.

Edited March 3, 2022 by dna9656

Brenden Burnham · March 2, 2022

1 hour ago, dna9656 said:

I also must concur with you on the quality of some mechanics. Getting things done by 2 people is inherently dangerous (see rock auto news letter this month for an example); if you're going to do that you both better walk around the vehicle and check it all. You cant assume they other guy got "it"; and everybody knows what you do when you assume. You make an ass (outta) u (and) me.

What made it so obvious if their screw up was not just the one but both. Exact same thing on both front wheels where the nut was so lose both control arms had worked themselves all the way out and the tilt was obvious. I really should of noticed and that is my bad. My bad for thinking I did not have to check a paid worker's work. Lesson learned especially after this and the brake job. It is funny I went back there after getting the new tires installed yesterday. Went and had them check everything again while I was watching like a hawk and even had them mark the camber positions with a pen so I know if it starts happening again the exact position it is in now.

And cool that you were in the Air Force I was in the Army a SGT(E-5). I did work in the motorpool sometimes we had to do basic maintenance on our vehicles like Hummer's, 5 tons, 2 1/2 tons, etc. Like fluid changes, wheel changes, just the basic stuff we did though. Was not my field being a mechanic.

cottrillj · March 3, 2022

5 hours ago, dna9656 said:

I was the Assistant Non Commissioned Officer (Staff Sgt.) in the local USAF base Vehicle maintenance.

4 hours ago, Brenden Burnham said:

And cool that you were in the Air Force I was in the Army a SGT(E-5).

Thanks to both of you for serving our country!

Edited March 3, 2022 by cottrillj

dna9656 · March 3, 2022

21 hours ago, Brenden Burnham said:

What made it so obvious if their screw up was not just the one but both. Exact same thing on both front wheels where the nut was so lose both control arms had worked themselves all the way out and the tilt was obvious. I really should of noticed and that is my bad. My bad for thinking I did not have to check a paid worker's work. Lesson learned especially after this and the brake job. It is funny I went back there after getting the new tires installed yesterday. Went and had them check everything again while I was watching like a hawk and even had them mark the camber positions with a pen so I know if it starts happening again the exact position it is in now.

And cool that you were in the Air Force I was in the Army a SGT(E-5). I did work in the motor pool sometimes we had to do basic maintenance on our vehicles like Hummer's, 5 tons, 2 1/2 tons, etc. Like fluid changes, wheel changes, just the basic stuff we did though. Was not my field being a mechanic.

The Army has a different idea of "Operator Maintenance" than the USAF did. I say "did" because there is no more "Vehicle Maintenance" in the USAF. GSA has it all. I don't know about Special Purpose or what we called "Heavy Junk" (excavators, snow plows/blowers, tracked stuff, M-Series like you mentioned.

In the USAF operators were responsible to check the oil, water, brake fluid, tranny, radiator and other stuff (as required by that vehicle" top off those fluids if ness. They had to wash the thing too, check the inflation on the tires. We did everything else. We looked at the fleet every 4 months for preventative Maintenance.

The whole point of hiring some one to work on your stuff is so you don't have to! You shouldn't have to go around and check the work; if you have to do that go elsewhere! There are honest mechanics in your town or nearby. Expose the dead beats on the BBB site.