car has been at a garage for 3 weeks and work has not started.

[slack]

I tried to have my car aligned once. Got it back and it drove funny. I looked at the printout and saw that only the toe was adjusted. Caster and camber were the same before and after, and nowhere near spec. I brought the book along when I went back to complain about it and he said "those numbers in the book don't mean anything". I took my business elsewhere.

I've had the same exact issue with getting alignments with my car. I took it to three different places and only the last one did anything besides toe in/out. The first two said that caster/camber was not adjustable on my car. I told them, I replaced the bushings in the control arms, I know there's room for adjustment on the mounting bolts of the top arm. They just got pissy at that point and I left.

Alignment STILL isn't as good as it should be. Still pulls to one side. At this point though, I can't be bothered. I've wasted so much time and money trying to find a shop to do it right at this point in time, I'm defeated.

Every steering, suspension and brake component in the front of my car is brand new. There's no reason the shops can't handle this. (It's not like things are rusted solid)

Sorry... end of rant.

[Toploader]

Tom I am blessed with three different repair shops that have folks my age (65) working there, and as such still remember how to fix the "old ones".....once they retire all bets are off.......I have had to take an active part in the repair of my Avanti with all three shops........simply because even back 45 years ago, very few Studes rolled into their respective shops.

I think you did the right thing to take the car out of the shop. Good mechanics are very hard to find. As soon as you find one that is good at one thing, he may not be good at something else. After eight years here, I still do not have one mechanic to do most things right. I have to put up with 2nd,3rd or whatever best. I hate it ! Can't argue with anyone either. Can't show them facts in the shop manual because now I am the bad know it all person. Got to pay for their "time" though. Paint and body shops are the same. If they have not started a job within a week, take it out. They will put it off and off and off. Each time the quality goes down.
Best way is your way if at all possible.

[Toploader]

Slack! one of the last places that align old cars is Capital Tire on Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook, Long Island!! Steve has been doing front ends there for about 50 years now!!........he is one of the very few people who know how to align a front end with king pins like my Studebaker!!

I've had the same exact issue with getting alignments with my car. I took it to three different places and only the last one did anything besides toe in/out. The first two said that caster/camber was not adjustable on my car. I told them, I replaced the bushings in the control arms, I know there's room for adjustment on the mounting bolts of the top arm. They just got pissy at that point and I left.

Alignment STILL isn't as good as it should be. Still pulls to one side. At this point though, I can't be bothered. I've wasted so much time and money trying to find a shop to do it right at this point in time, I'm defeated.

Every steering, suspension and brake component in the front of my car is brand new. There's no reason the shops can't handle this. (It's not like things are rusted solid)

Sorry... end of rant.