I had the bad luck to be behind a truck that lost a load of concrete and rocks. I had one rear tire blow out and another sustain some damage. The event resulted in closure of the freeway as big rigs crashed at the shoulder and people got stuck all over the place, but I was lucky enough to make it up onto a ramp. Got the blowout fixed roadside and then had to drive to the tire shop to replace the second damaged tire, and my vehicle (1991 E350 7.3L IDI short school bus) was pulling first to one side and then the other, a figure "s".
The shop said my tires were fine but I needed a tie rod end. I wouldn't have thought this would cause such a dramatic "figure s" but maybe. I called my newly discovered mechanic. I told him what was happening and he told me to drop it off.
It took 5 DAYS to get anything out of him (fleets contracts always get in front of me in line), and he said there was absolutely nothing wrong with my front end, but my tires were "junk". I told him that didn't seem right, I mean, it is precarious driving this thing and It sure seems like more than tires, I can hear clunking. Plus they'd told me already I needed a tie rod end so I was figuring that at least. He accused the TIRE SHOP of trying to upsell me - though it's not a garage, they can't DO a tie rod end, and they made no effort to sell me front tires, saying mine were good. But I decided to trust him and I ordered two good tires from a different branch of the same tire company (Sullivan Tire).
When I went to get the tires, the guy jacked up the bus and looked at me funny, then he said, "You're replacing THESE?" This was the first time I really examined the tires myself and, at least at that point, they were absolutely fine. A very little bit of wear on the inside, but that's it. Forget upsell, they didn't even want to sell me the tires they ordered for me, because mine were still so good.
While it was on the jack, I had the service guy jiggle the tire and shot this video. I only shot one side but BOTH sides have this much play, and it's not just 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock, it's also 12 to 6 (though slightly less).
I can't see how anyone could see this movement and say the front end has "absolutely nothing wrong" and I also can't see how anyone could say the tires are"junk." I guess he was just too busy to look at it and it was easier to lie than tell me that, after a five day wait.
Any thoughts on what might REALLY be wrong? Would tie rod ends cause a "figure s" - veering from one side to the other? I have to drive the bus about 20 miles to a suspension shop in a few hours, where it might end up sitting for days and days yet again.
The shop said my tires were fine but I needed a tie rod end. I wouldn't have thought this would cause such a dramatic "figure s" but maybe. I called my newly discovered mechanic. I told him what was happening and he told me to drop it off.
It took 5 DAYS to get anything out of him (fleets contracts always get in front of me in line), and he said there was absolutely nothing wrong with my front end, but my tires were "junk". I told him that didn't seem right, I mean, it is precarious driving this thing and It sure seems like more than tires, I can hear clunking. Plus they'd told me already I needed a tie rod end so I was figuring that at least. He accused the TIRE SHOP of trying to upsell me - though it's not a garage, they can't DO a tie rod end, and they made no effort to sell me front tires, saying mine were good. But I decided to trust him and I ordered two good tires from a different branch of the same tire company (Sullivan Tire).
When I went to get the tires, the guy jacked up the bus and looked at me funny, then he said, "You're replacing THESE?" This was the first time I really examined the tires myself and, at least at that point, they were absolutely fine. A very little bit of wear on the inside, but that's it. Forget upsell, they didn't even want to sell me the tires they ordered for me, because mine were still so good.
While it was on the jack, I had the service guy jiggle the tire and shot this video. I only shot one side but BOTH sides have this much play, and it's not just 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock, it's also 12 to 6 (though slightly less).
I can't see how anyone could see this movement and say the front end has "absolutely nothing wrong" and I also can't see how anyone could say the tires are"junk." I guess he was just too busy to look at it and it was easier to lie than tell me that, after a five day wait.
Any thoughts on what might REALLY be wrong? Would tie rod ends cause a "figure s" - veering from one side to the other? I have to drive the bus about 20 miles to a suspension shop in a few hours, where it might end up sitting for days and days yet again.
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How am I ever going to l earn how to fix my truck if I can't post on the forum right?!
