Miata Mailing List: February 1999, Message #134

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Mike,
        Not only did your alignment guy screw up, your dealer doesn't sound
too smart either. Check the archives on Miata.net for alignment settings
especially those recommended by Miq Millen and find a proper alignment place
that as someone said, knows what a Miata is. Don't settle for nearly the
settings are not only achievable but desirable and if they will let you sit
in the car while they do it, that too is an advantage.

Jeff Gehrig
MX5 CLUB of NSW #169 (Aust.) VICE PRESIDENT
'99 Grace Green "Kelly"
MCA #42017, OZTEAM VOODOO
TEAM GRANDPA
http://www.mx5.com.au/nsw/index.html



-----Original Message-----
From: miked@reporters.net <miked@reporters.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <miata@list.miata.net>
Date: Tuesday, 2 February 1999 08:58
Subject: botched alignment?


>fellow miataphiles,
>i'm having the first trouble with my '96 since i bought it new and was
>hoping somebody with more mechanical knowledge could help me out.
>i finally replaced the factory rubber with four new tires - dunlop d60s -
>and got a balance and alignment. the shop quoted me the price, plus $10
>"for the rear wheel alignment, since it's a front wheel drive car"(??) i
>told the genius at the shop that it was not front wheel drive, that mazda
>does not recommend doing a rear wheel alignment (that's what the dealership
>here told me) and to only do the front. i picked up the car and, sure
>enough, they had thrust aligned the rear wheels. the car pulled strongly to
>the right and the ride felt a lot more nervous and darty; i sent it back
>and now it more or less tracks straight, but still feels jittery.
>did they mess this car up? is there anything they could have messed up by
>aligning the rear end? or am i just feeling the difference in the h-rated
>tires and their stiffer sidewalls? if it lines up correctly on the
>alignment rack, is everything okay? i'm afraid that if it's messed up, by
>the time i start shredding these tires it will be too late to go after them
>for it.
>if anybody has any ideas, i'd appreciate hearing from them.
>mike davis
>nashville
>
>