Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: My55tbird2 on November 20, 2007, 01:31:25 am

Title: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: My55tbird2 on November 20, 2007, 01:31:25 am
Yahoo Message Number: 35543 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35543)
Just a note to the group to remind everyone to be sure to get all information up front as to what is included in a front end alignment on your CC. A phone quoted $159.00 alignment on my 2003 Magna ended as a $417.00 charge because it took the tech from 1:30 pm til 4:30pm to do the job. My coach only needed shims and some longer bolts because of the shims. I would probably not have been too upset with a $200+ invoice, but $417.00 was usury to me. I bought two new Michelin's and on my return to WA the coach handling was terrible. I just came back through JC on the way to AZ sans towed car and the coach handling was still terrible.I took it in this am at 8;00 and requested they recheck all settings as the handling was unacceptable and unsafe. My reception was less than cordial, but they did get the coach in and reset the adjustments which they said "were not off much".I won't elaborate further but I hope they got it right this time. The reason for the alignment was the outer edge tire wear not poor handling.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Macke 2003 Magna #6277
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: Al on November 20, 2007, 10:14:45 am
Yahoo Message Number: 35547 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35547)
Here are the questions.... This has been talked about here before but here we go......
Was the front end rack in ground ? Was the shop normal work heavy duty ? Was the coach driven on the rack on straight from some distance ? You can see techs drive up to door then back up turning the wheels slightly to settle the suspension down then drive on the rack.
Did you have CC align specs for your make and year model ? One of the things you can get ...free via fax from CC . The tech enters into his front end system for his guide.
Was the air ride completely exhausted and then allowed to level up to ride height ? Did the tech check all tires for correct air pressure prior to starting the job ? Very important... is your coach at and within specs to correct ride height ? I this is not addressed then the whole alignment is off.
I' am very surprised they had to install shims (big red flag ) and as much as you say even needed longer bolts. In all seriousness the biggest thing found is out of adjustment toe-in or toe out. If the tires are wearing the same way after the align as before then your problem hasn't been found. If your fighting the handling then alignment is not right.
As you can see the alignment is a art of getting the pieces put together for a correct repair. I would find another shop and have the whole process redone. There is absolutely no reason for the driver to fight the driving down the road. With a level road and no wind the coach should..... will pretty much drive itself.
I'll guess that the shims were installed on the right side (passenger) ? let me know ! AL

00 affinity #5851
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: Tom on November 20, 2007, 10:31:59 am
Yahoo Message Number: 35549 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35549)
Are you speaking of Keyser or someone else?
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: Ron Schonscheck on November 20, 2007, 10:42:20 am
Yahoo Message Number: 35550 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35550)
Well done Al, if the owner follows up on all your info he will find the problem.
Ron Allure 30185

Boateral@... (Boateral@...) wrote:
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: My55tbird2 on November 20, 2007, 02:51:55 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 35553 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35553)
Quote from: Tom "

> Are you speaking of Keyser or someone else?
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731 >

You guessed it but it! Macke PS- I am at camp CC and in talking to
another owner here was informed that he recently had a worse and more expensive experience. Macke 2003 Magna#6277
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: Kyteflyer_2000 on November 20, 2007, 10:49:08 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 35563 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35563)
Which shop in JC did the alignment? I was thinking about using Bob Dickman Les Schwab in JC for tires and an alignment this summer.

Frank

2000 Magna 5766
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: My55tbird2 on November 21, 2007, 09:59:26 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 35576 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35576)
Bob Dickman does not have equipment to align our coaches, they do autos.
I had the alignment done at Kaiser Brake and Alignment in Eugene. I do not recommend them. I am going to go to the shop in Grants Pass that some in this group have recommended. Happy Thanksgiving-drive safely! Macke 2003 Magna #6277

Quote from: kyteflyer_2000
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: Egon Schlottmann on November 22, 2007, 05:28:11 am
Yahoo Message Number: 35578 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35578)
If traveling through Dallas, TX , go to Buddy Gregg Motorhomes andhave Pro Tire come out and do an alignment. Did mine in 2001 and still have no bad tire wear at 70,000 miles. Go to service desk and have them get in contact with Pro Tire, they do all of Buddy Gregg's work.

Egon

'99 Allure #30321
'02 Tahoe Z71

Quote from: my55tbird2
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: Tom Fisher on November 22, 2007, 07:54:47 am
Yahoo Message Number: 35579 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35579)
Quote
If traveling through Dallas, TX , go to Buddy Gregg Motorhomes andhave >Pro Tire come out and do an alignment. Did mine in 2001 and still >have no bad tire wear at 70,000 miles. Go to service desk and have >them get in contact with Pro Tire, they do all of Buddy Gregg's work.
Pro Tire numbers are 940-367-0830 / 940-483-6824. They are located in Denton, TX and do very good work. They will come to you.

Tom Fisher
Dallas
Title: Re: My recent Front End Alignment experience in Eugene
Post by: Attack Sub Sailor on November 22, 2007, 11:18:16 am
Yahoo Message Number: 35584 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/35584)
If you are coming thru West Sacramento try Les Shwab, They do mostly big rigs here, make sure you have the factory specs as they will use them to set the corret tolorances. I have always had to have an appointment, last time was 2 weeks out. $125.00. And who says California is all bad!

www.lesschwab.com

631 Harbor Blvd

West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 375-1946
John 31060