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Finally got my registration/plates. Headed to my local Chevy dealer for the mandatory state inspection. 850 miles on the car.
i pull in the garage and they hand me a printout stating I need a wheel alignment. They claim the front drivers side camber is off. (Failed). Non-warranty item with a cost of $735 to fix and it will take 3.5 hrs.
First, is this something that can be determined just by driving in the shop? I always thought the car had to go on some type of machine to test alignment.
Second, does $735 sound correct for this?
im already skeptical of local dealers. This sounds like a scam.
Finally got my registration/plates. Headed to my local Chevy dealer for the mandatory state inspection. 850 miles on the car.
i pull in the garage and they hand me a printout stating I need a wheel alignment. They claim the front drivers side camber is off. (Failed). Non-warranty item with a cost of $735 to fix and it will take 3.5 hrs.
First, is this something that can be determined just by driving in the shop? I always thought the car had to go on some type of machine to test alignment.
Second, does $735 sound correct for this?
im already skeptical of local dealers. This sounds like a scam.
Price sounds like a rip-off. For a car like this the price should be no more than $200. Even my Porsche dealer charged around $300 and $400 only on cars with 4-wheel steering. The Corvette doesn't have 4 wheel steering.
Believe alignment check ad correction free w/ less than 5000 miles and 1 year. I brought mine to dealer complaining of pull,, dealer corrected alignment under warranty. Car had 1200 miles and owned for 8 months
Just found some info in the warranty booklet (pg 12). Seems alignment is covered to 7500 miles.
From above comments, it also seems the cost is high. Guess it is a dealer scam. Should have know, as this is the dealer that was selling C8s with a &45k ADM.
Looks like I will find another dealer for future service. Unfortunately, not all local dealers will service a car purchased elsewhere..
I had my alignment covered under the warranty @ 7k miles. I then lowered my car and paid for another alignment which cost $131 (same dealership, alignment back to factory spec).
There are dealerships with drive-over alignment scanners which are actually really cool, my dealership had me try it out while demoing it and the findings lined up pretty closely with their rack assuming you drove over it perfectly straight.
Just found some info in the warranty booklet (pg 12). Seems alignment is covered to 7500 miles.
From above comments, it also seems the cost is high. Guess it is a dealer scam. Should have know, as this is the dealer that was selling C8s with a &45k ADM.
Looks like I will find another dealer for future service. Unfortunately, not all local dealers will service a car purchased elsewhere..
thanks
They never put the car on an alignment rack but printed you out an alignment spec sheet?
id send that to the state attorney general.
Of course let them know they owe you a free alignment then too lol
They never put the car on an alignment rack but printed you out an alignment spec sheet?
id send that to the state attorney general.
Of course let them know they owe you a free alignment then too lol
Not sure I would call it a spec sheet... see attached image. Someone mentioned that there are drive-over alignment scanners. It's very possible this dealer has one. I'm still skeptical of the veracity.
Car drives fine. I'll watch for uneven tire wear. I'm definitely going to find another dealer for service and will have this looked at when I take it in for my "included" service.
Not sure I would call it a spec sheet... see attached image. Someone mentioned that there are drive-over alignment scanners. It's very possible this dealer has one. I'm still skeptical of the veracity.
Car drives fine. I'll watch for uneven tire wear. I'm definitely going to find another dealer for service and will have this looked at when I take it in for my "included" service.
Yep, recall the large Chevy/BMW/Mercedes dealer in town (I don't use for my C8) installed a similar device that does a quick check when you pull the car in! Doubt that accurate. Frankly I recall back in 1959 when I had my first car the State inspection had a big dial meter you could read re front toe! It was pretty simple. You drove over two plates that could move sideways on bearings! The pointer showed toe-in and toe-out. If it showed toe out you failed. Would not be hard to noncontact measure top versus bottom of wheels from a fixed geometric plane and get a rough camber measure.
FREE ALIGNMENTS:
You can get a FREE Alignment, typically within 500 miles BUT DON'T ASK FOR A FREE ALIGNMENT! Recall when I posted what I do someone with a C7 said they were told when they asked, GM does NOT give a free alignment on warranty! I never ask for a free alignment. I just say after ~500 miles when the sway bar bushings etc have worn in that: "Feels Like My Car is Pulling to the Right!" That allows the dealer to put on the warranty reimbursement sheet, "Customer Says XXXX." That is how they get paid by GM!
Depends on the dealer as some posted they get one free at 7000 miles etc but don't see how the dealer can apply to GM for warranty reimbursement at that mileage. Hit a few potholes and alignment's out! Also some dealer's rightly won't lie on a GM warranty reimbursement request! Heck if they do and GM service satisfaction folks call and you say yep got a free alignment it's their *** not yours! If you don't like to say something you can't feel, suggest driving on a narrow rural road and take your hands off the steering wheel. You'll feel it go to the right!
My Experience: GM's allowed variation from alignment centerline spec is very broad. For example can drive a truck thorough their + or - 0.6 degrees camber from centerline spec. So the allowed rear camber on my 2017 Grand Sport was, as noted in the pic below, -0.5 to -1.7 degrees. I brought a spreadsheet in with GM spec, range and WHAT I DESIREED. My rear camber was close to GM max allowed, -1,7 degrees. I had asked for -0.8 and the tech took ~40 minutes to make all settings to my sheet. He did not have to do that BUT frankly I offered a nice tip for doing what I had listed! In fact only one toe was out in Red on their Hunter Alignment Machine and he could have taken 5 minutes and just corrected it!
For my C8 I did the same at ~450 miles. Turned out only one rear toe was in the Red and needed to be adjusted. All other camber and toes were close to centerline so no adjustments were made. Tech still got a nice tip!
Finally got my registration/plates. Headed to my local Chevy dealer for the mandatory state inspection. 850 miles on the car.
i pull in the garage and they hand me a printout stating I need a wheel alignment. They claim the front drivers side camber is off. (Failed). Non-warranty item with a cost of $735 to fix and it will take 3.5 hrs.
First, is this something that can be determined just by driving in the shop? I always thought the car had to go on some type of machine to test alignment.
Second, does $735 sound correct for this?
im already skeptical of local dealers. This sounds like a scam.
You are being scammed.
I just had my new wheels installed: Take off the wheels, de mount the tires, move the TPMS. Mount the tires on the new wheels. Balance the new wheels. Put the wheels back on the car. Put car on alignment rack align the new set up (the offsets were changed) and the charge was $420 and change.
Yep, recall the large Chevy/BMW/Mercedes dealer in town (I don't use for my C8) installed a similar device that does a quick check when you pull the car in! Doubt that accurate. Frankly I recall back in 1959 when I had my first car the State inspection had a big dial meter you could read re front toe! It was pretty simple. You drove over two plates that could move sideways on bearings! The pointer showed toe-in and toe-out. If it showed toe out you failed. Would not be hard to noncontact measure top versus bottom of wheels from a fixed geometric plane and get a rough camber measure.
FREE ALIGNMENTS:
You can get a FREE Alignment, typically within 500 miles BUT DON'T ASK FOR A FREE ALIGNMENT! Recall when I posted what I do someone with a C7 said they were told when they asked, GM does NOT give a free alignment on warranty! I never ask for a free alignment. I just say after ~500 miles when the sway bar bushings etc have worn in that: "Feels Like My Car is Pulling to the Right!" That allows the dealer to put on the warranty reimbursement sheet, "Customer Says XXXX." That is how they get paid by GM!
Depends on the dealer as some posted they get one free at 7000 miles etc but don't see how the dealer can apply to GM for warranty reimbursement at that mileage. Hit a few potholes and alignment's out! Also some dealer's rightly won't lie on a GM warranty reimbursement request! Heck if they do and GM service satisfaction folks call and you say yep got a free alignment it's their *** not yours! If you don't like to say something you can't feel, suggest driving on a narrow rural road and take your hands off the steering wheel. You'll feel it go to the right!
My Experience: GM's allowed variation from alignment centerline spec is very broad. For example can drive a truck thorough their + or - 0.6 degrees camber from centerline spec. So the allowed rear camber on my 2017 Grand Sport was, as noted in the pic below, -0.5 to -1.7 degrees. I brought a spreadsheet in with GM spec, range and WHAT I DESIREED. My rear camber was close to GM max allowed, -1,7 degrees. I had asked for -0.8 and the tech took ~40 minutes to make all settings to my sheet. He did not have to do that BUT frankly I offered a nice tip for doing what I had listed! In fact only one toe was out in Red on their Hunter Alignment Machine and he could have taken 5 minutes and just corrected it!
For my C8 I did the same at ~450 miles. Turned out only one rear toe was in the Red and needed to be adjusted. All other camber and toes were close to centerline so no adjustments were made. Tech still got a nice tip!
Below my 2017 C7 Grand Sport Specs.
How has tire tire wear been with your desired setup? I recently installed a set of MRR M024 wheels and they add around 14mm of additional offset. The steering feels a little off so I was thinking about an alignment. I really like the feel of the track alignment based on my Ron Fellows experience but not willing to go that far with the camber. Your settings seem like a good compromise.
^^^^
Tire wear is very even. With ~6500 miles decided NOT to rotate tires. Would be foolish IMO to use -3 degrees Track camber setting on the street! I push lateral "gs" in a few favorite safe places. Fine for me! Was for C7 2017 Grand Sport where max rear camber was only -1.7 degrees, but I compromised at -0.8 digress with those 335 wide rear tires.
Depends on the dealer as some posted they get one free at 7000 miles etc but don't see how the dealer can apply to GM for warranty reimbursement at that mileage. Hit a few potholes and alignment's out!
I agree that a few potholes (plenty around here) and the alignment is out. However, it is in the warranty description (bold added by me):
are covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty for up to 7,500 miles; any replacement after 7,500 miles is considered maintenance and is not covered as part of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Checked the 2022 Owner's Manual and it read like mine. No mention of alignment or wipers covered. You're misreading what that warranty statement says, IMO.
Maintenance: All vehicles require periodic maintenance. Maintenance services, such as those detailed in the owner manual are the owner's expense. Vehicle lubrication, cleaning, or polishing are not covered. Failure of or damage to components requiring replacement or repair due to vehicle use, wear, exposure, or lack of maintenance is not covered. Items such as: . Audio System Cleaning . Brake Pads/Linings . Clutch Linings . Coolants and Fluids . Filters . Limited Slip Rear Axle Service . Tire Rotation . Wheel Alignment/Balance . Wiper Inserts are covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty for up to 7,500 miles; any replacement after 7,500 miles is considered maintenance and is not covered
IMO that means IF there is a defect in the wiper blades, brake linings, clutch linings, air filter etc it's covered up to 7500 and not after that! It doesn't say you get a free air filter, alignment or wiper blades by asking!
Now like sales literature the wording is a bit slippery so can understand it can be misinterpreted. My C8 will be close to 7500 miles this August when I bring it in for its 2nd 12 month engine oil change. Nope I won't get new wiper's unless "perhaps" the rubber is ripped!
Haven't had to get an alignment done on my C7 yet, but last time I had my C5 done it was $100 Can ($75 US) or so at an indie alignment specialist's shop.
Never any further issues after that until I traded in the C5.
Believe alignment check ad correction free w/ less than 5000 miles and 1 year. I brought mine to dealer complaining of pull,, dealer corrected alignment under warranty. Car had 1200 miles and owned for 8 months
Back in 2005 my C6 was wearing the inside rears slick at 7,000 miles or so (with no burnouts or tracking it!). Took it back to the dealer and said I wasn't happy. Got a free alignment and two new rear tires for my trouble.
Sounds like your dealer is crooked as hell. I'd go to the service manager, sales manager, general manager and owner. Write a letter to each expressing your disaffection and how you feel you are swindled by the dealership, cc the State Atty General with each letter. Also send a letter to any GM owner liaisons. The more I hear about GM the less impressed I am. Nothing's changed since the '80's, actually seems much worse now. Hope you get things sorted. Sounds like once you write the check you are on your own in "no man's land". I've been treated way too good by the dealers and Mfg's of the cars I've had for 20+ years. This **** blows!!!
Alignment question
