After $150 alignment dilemma. Advice needed, please help.
 

I had my alignment done after Progress Tech springs (-1.2 drop F and -0.8 R) were swapped into my RX-8. When dropping off the car I asked for a more slightly more aggressive setting than stock, which would be a very slight toe out in the front, more camber more around, and I stated I would like around -1.8 front and -1.6 camber rear.

After being charge $150 and waiting for 7 hours, I get the call to pick up my car. He shows me the spec sheet.

Left Front:
Camber: -1.2
Caster: 6.4*
Toe: -1/32in

Right Front:
Camber: -1.3
Caster: 6.6*
Toe: -1/32in

Front Total Toe: -1/16in
Steer ahead: 0.01*

Left Rear:
Camber: -1.7
Toe: 1/16in

Right Rear:
Camber: -1.6
Toe: 1/16in

Rear Total Toe: 1/8in
Thrust angle: -0.03*

He insisted that he could not do my front camber because of seized washers. I am pretty sure they are not seized. On my drive home, I noticed some clanking from the rear. I also noticed that my steering is off center (I have to turn the wheel slightly to the right). The steering has always been centered before the alignment and I have never gotten the clanking.

I could not diagnose the rear clanking. Rear end-links were unbolted and bolted on again, and the noise has not come back for now (only had 2-3 mile test drive). Steering is still off centered.

WIth the specs, I heavily suspect major understeer. Not to mention the alignment was done without driver weight. I have made a complaint about this and waiting to hear back. For nearly DOUBLE the price other reputable places offer, this is unexceptional. I would like any suggestions to approach this situation and perhaps response to the alignment guys with.


Edit: For those who wonder why I went to this place. It is because a friend which runs a Lotus shop recommended him. At the time, I was not in the right situation to make any major complaints (long story).

They couldn't do the job right the first time, not sure if you are going to get any satisfaction. I can only offer you some recommendations that I have used, both in NJ.

I have had problems with shops not tightening the alignment cams enough, even reputable shops after I told them this has been an issue. However, seized front control arm alignment cams are not unusual. IMO they should have stopped immediately upon determining this with only a partial charge rather than giving you a halfass job and expecting full payment. You should not hesitate telling them this either and certainly never go there again.

Agreed. I am hesitant to even go back if it is free of charge (which is unknown since I havent gotten a valid response yet).

The most knowledgeable man alignment guy in town was OCD, and I had a big fight with him over alignment.

My conditions were that I watch him so I can see what its actually set at, then, I'll tell him where I want it.

Wow! You'd think he's doing brain surgery!

"You give me the specs you want, and leave the car".

Me: "Ain't gonna leave my baby for you to jack on".

I go to a less busy shop with a guy that can barely understand his equipment, but he wants $120. instead of the other guy that might have been $59.95.

So we align it, and I leave with the rears still -1.9 camber.

After some more track days, I can't get it to rotate, so I put new Hankook V12's on and get it aligned once more.

This time the same guy suggests I sit in the car while he aligns, and shows me -1.65 camber and .04 toe in on rears.

Perfection at the track! I wouldn't change nothing, and the tires wear right, too.

Lesson? Never settle, not in marriage, not on car service.

Is he the only alignment tech there , had the same thing happened to me and had another guy do it to my specs and I watched the whole time , why in gods name would it take them 7 hours to do an alignment , sounds fishy to me :-/

I never never NEVER NEVER let someone align any car I own un-supervised. Plus if they're actually good, you learn some tips/tricks :)

The one time I broke my own personal rule on this - I got screwed on it. Dropped off the car to be aligned before a race and got a "toe & go" bullshit alignment like you got.

Watch 'em like hawks, and if they do good slip them a $10 or $20 as an extra thank you. You'll find that alot of "can't do that" changes to "we'll make it work" that way.

Also $150 for an alignment is a ripoff, even in NYC you shouldn't be paying double....

If you get some very basic alignment tools you can do the alignment yourself!

Yes, good alignment techs are few and far between unfortunately...

Sounds like you've gotten the right advice mentioned plenty of times already in this thread, but I'd just like to add that my car had the front camber adjustment bolts seized into the subframe as well. I would imagine it is fairly common among the northern cars, although my car showed very little signs of undercarriage rusting, and it is a 2005 with about 70k miles.

You know what to do Rob.
And my front cams were seized as well but we managed to pull -2.1 from the front (at SJF).

SJF bound for me ASAP. On my way home from AutoX, I noticed the off-centered steering got even worse. To the point where I am taking left bends on the highway with the wheel straight. I also noticed that something is making a squeak/clunk when I turn the steering wheel left and right at a stop or low speed.

Lose alignment bolt could be your clanking and your steering wheel getting more of-centered issue.