Alignment Tech Says "plugs Must Be Removed"

[Tahoetime]

I just got my Tahoe and went to get an alignment on it because it pulls a little to the left.........

 

 

The tech said he couldn't align it because Chevy puts these "plugs" in the control arms that won't allow enough adjustment. He says its about 2 hours labor to do this job before he can even do the alignment.

 

 

How hard is it to get these things out myself??

[Zembonez]

I just got my Tahoe and went to get an alignment on it because it pulls a little to the left.........

 

 

The tech said he couldn't align it because Chevy puts these "plugs" in the control arms that won't allow enough adjustment. He says its about 2 hours labor to do this job before he can even do the alignment.

 

 

How hard is it to get these things out myself??

It's a one time thing. I was told the same thing when I had Fred aligned.

[Wingnut]

They were STILL doing that in '01? WTF?

[jhm]

I just got my Tahoe and went to get an alignment on it because it pulls a little to the left.........

 

 

The tech said he couldn't align it because Chevy puts these "plugs" in the control arms that won't allow enough adjustment. He says its about 2 hours labor to do this job before he can even do the alignment.

 

 

How hard is it to get these things out myself??

Why are you getting an alignment before checking the tires? Do they have obvious wear to one side? If not, try rotating them to see if the problem goes away.

[Zembonez]

They were STILL doing that in '01? WTF?

Yipper. I watched them do it on Fred when I did the lift.

[Tahoetime]

I just got my Tahoe and went to get an alignment on it because it pulls a little to the left.........

 

 

The tech said he couldn't align it because Chevy puts these "plugs" in the control arms that won't allow enough adjustment. He says its about 2 hours labor to do this job before he can even do the alignment.

 

 

How hard is it to get these things out myself??

Why are you getting an alignment before checking the tires? Do they have obvious wear to one side? If not, try rotating them to see if the problem goes away.

 

 

 

 

 

The alignment tech put the laser thingies on all four tires and said the caster, camber, and toe were all out of spec. He showed me the computer screen and they were all in the red.

 

 

 

The tires are in good shape, maybe 8-10K miles on them.............

 

 

 

Could the tires actually give a bad alignment reading on the computer?

 

 

 

(I'm all for saving money if all I have to do is rotate the tires)

[bryanhunt]

A '99 that has never been aligned needs it by now.

[jhm]

A '99 that has never been aligned needs it by now.

I disagree. My '01 has 60k on it and has been checked and is well within spec. I had a '86 I bought new and kept for 11 years and it never went out of spec. Age dosent mean anything, he could get an alignment today and tomorrow hit a hole and it's out again. I suggested the tires because a bad belt will cause the vehicle to pull or drift to one side. Not as uncommon as people think. If the tool is showing out of spec than that is the problem.

[bryanhunt]

I disagree. My '01 has 60k on it and has been checked and is well within spec. I had a '86 I bought new and kept for 11 years and it never went out of spec. Age dosent mean anything, he could get an alignment today and tomorrow hit a hole and it's out again. I suggested the tires because a bad belt will cause the vehicle to pull or drift to one side. Not as uncommon as people think. If the tool is showing out of spec than that is the problem.

 

Okay age doesn't mater, miles do. I made the generalization based on the average yearly mileage of 20-25k miles a year. Thats putting him well into the upper 100 thousands. Its likely he's at over 150k and considering all of his numbers are out of spec, he needs an alignment.

 

A bad belt also causes a noticable warble normally.

[Draenor]

The tech said he couldn't align it because Chevy puts these "plugs" in the control arms that won't allow enough adjustment. He says its about 2 hours labor to do this job before he can even do the alignment.

 

 

How hard is it to get these things out myself??

2 hours is about right. If you do not have air tools, do not even bother. You have to unbolt the upper a arms and chissle or knock out the slugs. Its a PITA, with air tools

 

They were STILL doing that in '01? WTF?

Yipper. I watched them do it on Fred when I did the lift.

 

That blows. When did GM stop this, or is it still used?

 

 

I just got my Tahoe and went to get an alignment on it because it pulls a little to the left.........

 

 

The tech said he couldn't align it because Chevy puts these "plugs" in the control arms that won't allow enough adjustment. He says its about 2 hours labor to do this job before he can even do the alignment.

 

 

How hard is it to get these things out myself??

Why are you getting an alignment before checking the tires? Do they have obvious wear to one side? If not, try rotating them to see if the problem goes away.

 

 

 

 

 

The alignment tech put the laser thingies on all four tires and said the caster, camber, and toe were all out of spec. He showed me the computer screen and they were all in the red.

 

 

 

The tires are in good shape, maybe 8-10K miles on them.............

 

 

 

Could the tires actually give a bad alignment reading on the computer?

 

 

 

(I'm all for saving money if all I have to do is rotate the tires)

 

+1 in a way. I would check all the components for bad wear first, ie. tie rod ends, ball joints. Also, the alignment tool takes its reading off the wheels, NOT the tires.

You wouldnt have the current alighment specs?

[Tahoetime]

I guess I'll go ahead and bite the bullet...........

 

 

 

 

My Tahoe has 90,500 miles.