Joined Nov 2005
L10: Grand Master
Forum Thread
Tire mounting
September 24, 2012 at
09:05 AM
in
Autos
I got in on the DTD deal a couple weeks ago as my car will need new tires by the winter. So now I have 4 tires sitting in my garage waiting to be installed.
I'm looking for a place to mount/balance them and to my surprise, a couple shops have refused. Their excuse is "if we tear it, then we owe you a new tire" .... Uh OK. I understand that some shops could refuse on principle (e.g. they want you to buy the tires from them for profit), but work is work - if it takes a tech 1 hour to mount and balance 4 tires and you pay him $20 and charge $100 - that's $80 in your pocket. I'm also looking for a 4 wheel alignment, which is pure profit. I can understand perhaps turning down this business when your shop is packed (better to sell tires at a profit, too), but why do it when you're not busy?
Has anyone seen this excuse before?
I'm looking for a place to mount/balance them and to my surprise, a couple shops have refused. Their excuse is "if we tear it, then we owe you a new tire" .... Uh OK. I understand that some shops could refuse on principle (e.g. they want you to buy the tires from them for profit), but work is work - if it takes a tech 1 hour to mount and balance 4 tires and you pay him $20 and charge $100 - that's $80 in your pocket. I'm also looking for a 4 wheel alignment, which is pure profit. I can understand perhaps turning down this business when your shop is packed (better to sell tires at a profit, too), but why do it when you're not busy?
Has anyone seen this excuse before?
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One acceptable alternative is to use torque limiting extensions on the impact:
Each on is rated for a specific torque amount an won't over-tighten no matter how much you hammer on them with the impact. I've always been a little skeptical as to their accuracy but supposedly they work pretty well.
To me it is always worth the few extra minutes to do it right. Unfortunately greed or laziness makes the most common practice to just tighten them with an impact and give them a little extra to make sure they are tight.
One acceptable alternative is to use torque limiting extensions on the impact:
Each on is rated for a specific torque amount an won't over-tighten no matter how much you hammer on them with the impact. I've always been a little skeptical as to their accuracy but supposedly they work pretty well.
To me it is always worth the few extra minutes to do it right. Unfortunately greed or laziness makes the most common practice to just tighten them with an impact and give them a little extra to make sure they are tight.
Some shops apparently think the purpose of using an air wrench on lug nuts is to warp the rotors.
Then you have your vehicle at the wrong shop, if they are warping your rotors
Also, if a shop supplies the part, and the part fails; it's on them for the labor if it's a "come back" as a result of a failed part; or at least it is with us. There is always the chance of a bad part coming through hopefully we catch it before the vehicle leaves the shop.
I always figured the extension ones would be more versatile but the ones with the sockets built in would be more precise. I never did end up buying either before I got out of collision repair and just stuck with using the torque wrench and doing it by hand. It wasn't like we did a lot of jobs where we took the tires off anyway.
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btw, make sure you actually need a 4-wheel alignment before paying for one. My 2000 Mountaineer has never needed the rear wheels aligned, though the front ones need frequent alignment. My 2009 Mazda with 80K miles hasn't needed an alignment yet.
I always figured the extension ones would be more versatile but the ones with the sockets built in would be more precise. I never did end up buying either before I got out of collision repair and just stuck with using the torque wrench and doing it by hand. It wasn't like we did a lot of jobs where we took the tires off anyway.
Like the one's you have pictured, and as I said we call them "Torque Sticks".
With every Inspection; every tire is removed to check the brakes; and for most people; they want their tires rotated as well.
Could you imagine doing this with a "lug wrench"
Might that be because Alaska, like Hawaii, everything is shipped in special; therefore, they know it's not like you got it from "Joe Blow" down the street. Both States are entirely different than the rest of the States; whereas the other States, you are able to purchase parts just about anywhere from AutoZone to any Supply House. Shipping to Alaska and/or Hawaii is not cheap; therefore I am able to understand them doing this
Someone else stated in a different thread about Alaska and vehicles being totaled; that they have to base the value ONLY on vehicles located in Alaska. Much different than in other States; where they have a wider base to work from.
I haven't lived in Michigan in almost 10 years, but I remember my Dad bring parts into the local shop. It's just the different in locations. Alaska is very laid back/easy going and I have nothing nice to say about shops here in Nevada so I won't say anything...other than tires in the lower 48 should NOT cost more than in Alaska for the same exact product.
I haven't lived in Michigan in almost 10 years, but I remember my Dad bring parts into the local shop. It's just the different in locations. Alaska is very laid back/easy going and I have nothing nice to say about shops here in Nevada so I won't say anything...other than tires in the lower 48 should NOT cost more than in Alaska for the same exact product.
Shops will dispose of your old oil, as many shops use your old oil to heat their shops with an oil burner that they have running, using the old oil as a source of "fuel".
Prices for tires may vary by volume on where your purchase them; and depending on the size of the Shop; depends on the discount you get when you purchase them. Same goes for any type of business when they purchase supplies at any business; they are given a discount based on their "volume" at that particular business, is the norm.
Alaska and Hawaii have higher shipping costs to move product to both of these states - therefore, the cost of purchasing items there is higher. Having been to Hawaii, we priced out items there; it is higher there for almost everything. I would suspect that the cost of goods in Alaska is the same. From what my son tells me, he has a friend who works both in Alaska and in Michigan; and he flys back to Alaska goods from Michigan, as it is cheaper to do so; than purchasing said items in Alaska. Tell me that prices in Alaska are the same as in Nevada or other states.
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