Alright well my car has been way out of alignment for too long, so i took it to tires plus the other day to have it done, well it turns out they can't do it because I need a center link, idler arm, and pitman arm...


So I took my car home and told them I didn't want to pay the $650 to just have that done...
went to autozone and got the centerlink and idler for $80

ok now those two I can understand needing to be replaced, they wear out
I did my research and came up with that the pitman arm should never wear out and will only need to be replaced if the car is hit from the front and damages it in the process, or some freak accident happens to it...

my first question is, are the BSing me?


my other question is, with the way my steering is feeling/acting would I need anything else besides what I already have?
(symptoms listed below)


When I'm at a dead stop going around a corner after a stop sign, sometimes not always the car will make a loud pop/bang nouse from what sounds like the passenger side, and when this happens the front end will literally jump up

also when cruising at 50-60MPH it will be tracking fairly stright, and all of a sudden have a strong momentarily pull to the right

and the last thing I can really think of that it does is the tire wear..
after 2 months my two front tires were toast
inside was brand new still while the outer 1/3 was completely bald!

I need some serious help here
thanks!

 

bump

need info asap please

center link and idler arm going in tomorrow

 

HOLY CRAP! you need an alignment bad!

 

Anyone else?
:P

i know i need the alignment desperately, i just couldnt afford it for the longest time considering ive been out of the hospital for only 4 months after two spinal surgeries
>.<


An honest second opinion would be very very appreciated

im dreading having to take my grandmas saturn to school tomorrow
hopefully i can snag my dads 86 monte ss...
lol

 

you dont need the pitman arm, its a non-wear piece on a third gen, they obviously didnt look at the car well enough to know that and probably dont care. A lot of steering issues are caused by the idler arm.
After you have the centerlink changed, and i assume your doint the inner and outer tierods too? get a good alignment at a shop that knows what they are doing and has an alignment machine.

The wheels are obviously way out of alignment.

 

Thanks,

as far as i know my tie rods are just fine.

well, parts are going in today and getting its alignment

bye bye $120
lol

 

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR THE ALIGNMENT!!! If they gave you bad info on the pitman arm (which does not wear) you definately do not want those idiots performing the alignment. Check out my post, Z28 steering box... WTF. I was having alot of problems with my alignment and steering. With the great advice I recieved on that thread my car drives great now.

 

Thanks!
yeah those guys at the shop arent too bright

apparently the dumba$$ pulling my car out of the garage doesnt know how to drive stick, and when he got out of my car and gave me the keys he didnt bothing using the E brake or putting it in gear. causing it to roll back, freaking me out and forcing me to jump in it as fast as i could, hurting my back that i just had surgery on a few months ago


never going there again, tires plus BLOWS

Thankis though guys!

i wound up replacing the tie rods too, just need the money for the alignment, and two new tires