Went for alignment...guess what they found.

[KPC1.8TQuat]

Some of you may have read my previous posts about my horrible below average gas mileage as compared to earlier this year. Well, I brought my B6 to a NTB today for an alignment. Half way through the job, the technician comes out and tells me he can't complete the job because my front passenger tie-rod is shot. He quoted me $500-600 to get it fixed...Well fuck that, I'm taking it to my boys at eastcoast european.

But the point, is that would a failing tie-rod cause excess drag on wheels resulting in worse gas economy?

Discuss...

[gotboost]

500-600, damn thats a rip off

[02SILVANT]

Oh wow, my local les Schwab charged me like $115 to do both sides parts and labor!

oh and he re adjusted my alignment too!

[Arclight]

Cost sounds a bit excessive for the tie rod...

IMHO, a bad alignment will cause greater rolling resistance (as the car is in effect dragging a tire along) which will reduce gas mileage.

I guess this has already been raised (ad nauseum), but, gas mileage always seems to go down in the winter...

[KPC1.8TQuat]

500-600, damn thats a rip off

Obviously, which is why I said I'm taking it to my tuners instead of having a chain franchise like NTB do it.

[vinny.dtw]

Rip off, tie rods are NOT that expensive.

[Papachristou]

Rip off, tie rods are NOT that expensive.

x2

my dealer wanted $300 to install my stern ACAs... did it myself in less than two hours with a six pack

[KPC1.8TQuat]

Yo Vin, what's the deal with the link in your sig?

[Splinter]

Yo Vin, what's the deal with the link in your sig?

x2 haha

[ziggituning]

not only is there a drag issue, but it can also lead to premature bearing failiure caused by the stress of the off angle.

[vinny.dtw]

x2 haha

Just giving Mere a hard time.

[VAG_4ever]

yaaaaaaaaa real funny..........


good luck with the car kurt

[Maverick]

if i were you, Iwould replace the whole front end suspension components while you are at it.
get the kit from PureMS but you pm Mike Hood about it

[KPC1.8TQuat]

if i were you, Iwould replace the whole front end suspension components while you are at it.
get the kit from PureMS but you pm Mike Hood about it

I'm planning on doing a Stasis Streetsport coilover kit next month. I'm just waiting for ECS to send me my porsche brake upgrade (backordered?!)

I'm gonna call the boys at east coast european when I leave the hospital, see what's up for tie-rods.

[B6Lovin]

500-600, damn thats a rip off

LMFAO i can't believe that ANYONE would try and charge that for a tie rod.

you sure they weren't quoting you labor for the entire fucking steering rack?? jesus christ.

the bud those guys must've been smokin..... dayum

[B6Lovin]

I'm planning on doing a Stasis Streetsport coilover kit next month. I'm just waiting for ECS to send me my porsche brake upgrade (backordered?!)

I'm gonna call the boys at east coast european when I leave the hospital, see what's up for tie-rods.

if you're doing your whole suspension next month don't bother on an alignment right now - AND don't ever go back to that NTB.

NTB is usually pretty good, but that's some b.s. they tried to pull on you... i'd be doubtful that the tie rod is even shot. you'd feel something like that in the steering as a bad shake. it won't just "drag" - it'll chatter around.

sounds like that AT had no idea what the hell he was doing or talking about, or they're desperate for sales (or that guy's commission check has been raping him lately and he's trying to score some extra cash on what he thinks is a dumb customer)

[A4monkey]

From what i know, tie rods are a common problem with our cars. For one reason or another they freeze up and make the alignment impossible to do. I had the same problem, couldn't do an alignment on my driver front wheel cause of a frozen tie rod.

I'd even consider the possibility that the technician damaged your tie rod trying to loosen the bolt, and then just said it was broken from the start.

[B6Lovin]

shot and frozen are two different things..

and if it's "frozen" they probably just didn't have the right tools to get it loose. ask me how i know. (i'm an alignment tech... lol)

[KPC1.8TQuat]

if you're doing your whole suspension next month don't bother on an alignment right now - AND don't ever go back to that NTB.

NTB is usually pretty good, but that's some b.s. they tried to pull on you... i'd be doubtful that the tie rod is even shot. you'd feel something like that in the steering as a bad shake. it won't just "drag" - it'll chatter around.

sounds like that AT had no idea what the hell he was doing or talking about, or they're desperate for sales (or that guy's commission check has been raping him lately and he's trying to score some extra cash on what he thinks is a dumb customer)

Well, here is the thing, NTB is running a special where if you pay an extra $40 for the alignment you can bring the car in anytime in the next 12 months and they will realign the car for free. Kind of like a guarantee thing. And knowing that I'm doing a Stasis coilover setup, I figured that would save me money, so thats what I went for. But, now I have to deal with them and this tie-rod scenario. I'm waiting to hear back from my guys at east coast.

I'll update on their findings.

[03 silverbullet]

im not positive but i dont think the drag would be enough to notice a loss in gas mileage.

[KPC1.8TQuat]

Well, regardless the alignment had to be done. My car was pulling hard to the right.

[aaronz]

any update on this?

[mattman]

Hey kurt which porsche brake upgrade are you doing?

[B6driver]

If I recall correctly, the B6 can upgrade to S4 tie rods. I might be confusing this with something else though.. someone verify

[KPC1.8TQuat]

Hey kurt which porsche brake upgrade are you doing?

Hey guys, sorry, I haven't updated in a bit.

The brake upgrade I'm doing is the ECS tuning stage 2 version 2. It's porsche boxster calipers, ECS slotted/drilled rotors, and they include pads, stainless steel lines, and fluid. I think it's the biggest you can go on 17" rims, without needing spacers.

The guys at eastcoast european are about 2 weeks out for appointments so I should be dropping it off sometime soon for them to do the brakes and replace the tierods.

The car has been running fine, driving fine as well, but I really want to get this sorted, and get the alignment that I paid for.

[mattman]

Hey guys, sorry, I haven't updated in a bit.

The brake upgrade I'm doing is the ECS tuning stage 2 version 2. It's porsche boxster calipers, ECS slotted/drilled rotors, and they include pads, stainless steel lines, and fluid. I think it's the biggest you can go on 17" rims, without needing spacers.

The guys at eastcoast european are about 2 weeks out for appointments so I should be dropping it off sometime soon for them to do the brakes and replace the tierods.

The car has been running fine, driving fine as well, but I really want to get this sorted, and get the alignment that I paid for.

let us know how the brakes turn out...i was interested in buying these in a few months, but still deciding.
i'm done threadjacking now.

[Papachristou]

Keep waiting on ECS.. I waited three months for my rotors.. Better off to pony up for stoptechs...

[KPC1.8TQuat]

Keep waiting on ECS.. I waited three months for my rotors.. Better off to pony up for stoptechs...

Already have the brakes, they are at my tuner's shop. Got them during the last batch in December.

[kdall82]

I changed the tie rods myself very easy. 500 dollars is a total rip off. You should get the heavier tie rod ends when you replace them. If you plan on getting coilovers you might want to check and see if NTB will align the car for you because the one in Md would not besides I wouldn't have them do anything to my car.

[KPC1.8TQuat]

I changed the tie rods myself very easy. 500 dollars is a total rip off. You should get the heavier tie rod ends when you replace them. If you plan on getting coilovers you might want to check and see if NTB will align the car for you because the one in Md would not besides I wouldn't have them do anything to my car.

I already checked about the coilovers, and they said they could do the alignment after I installed them. Which is why I paid extra for there 1 year guarantee, although they couldn't complete the alignment the first time. According to the what I paid for, supposedly, I can bring the car to them whenever I want in the next 12 months and they will do the alignment for free.

[EBG 18T]

i wouldn't be suprized if the guys at NTB couldn't get the tie rod from being unfrozen and figured it would be easier to replace it, vs dealing with breaking it loose. these tie rods seem to seize up pretty quick here in new england with all the salt and crap.

mine froze (rusted/corrosion) on me last winter and the first alignment guys said the same thing and tried to get me to buy new ones. I took it to another place and they just broke 'em loose and re-aligned the car.

[koolade9]

If I recall correctly, the B6 can upgrade to S4 tie rods. I might be confusing this with something else though.. someone verify

Can someone else confirm this?? Are any of the other control arms bigger/beefier on the S4?

[SilverGator]

shot and frozen are two different things..

and if it's "frozen" they probably just didn't have the right tools to get it loose. ask me how i know. (i'm an alignment tech... lol)

Dude funniest post in a while.. i just finished with an aligment tech and i tried to make the same point (he didnt have to right stuff).. i ended up leaving.. but anyway the post made me laugh. you rock

[A4Triple Blk]

KCP could you tell us how u like the brakes and how they are performance wise ? I'm looking to up grade brakes as well ... nothing crazy just a little better/bigger than stock

[BlaQ_B6]

My friend has a similar problem on his subie and his gas mileage was shot too. Hopefully this fixes your problem, it did for my friend

[diagnosticator]

Well, regardless the alignment had to be done. My car was pulling hard to the right.

If that is the case, then that would increase fuel consumption noticeably.

[yung turbo]

not to thread jack but how would you know if your tie-rod is going bad? a while back i was told my driver side was going bad when i was getting an alignment but i thought they was tryna jerk me for more money.

[dpoor3ch]

I recently replaced all upper and lower control arms, tie rods, etc and parts and labor were $1300. I was amazed at the number of linkages in there, I think there are 6 or so rods on each side but I don't remember. I figured if I was in there for a lower arm, why go back in another year and have to do more when the others start to go. Now I feel I am set for another 70K miles. Added bonus, the replacement units are beefier.

[BARRY]

inners and outers? if its inners and outers for both sides it might be a tad pricey but still near the range. one side outer? thats major butthole rippage.

[Greedo]

I recently replaced all upper and lower control arms, tie rods, etc and parts and labor were $1300.

That's steep. There may be a lot of pieces in the suspension, but if you need to replace any of the uppers you have to pull all of the lowers anyway. A full parts kit from ECS or PureEMS is around $500 which leaves you another $800 in labor which is absurd.

Just saying.