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Got burned by a bad alignment rack calibration, now I double check everything
The dealership I used to work at in Columbus had a Hunter rack that was reading 2 degrees off on the driver side camber. Nobody caught it for weeks because we all trusted the machine. Finally a customer came back complaining about tire wear on a 2019 Civic and I started digging. I put my own digital level on the hub and saw the numbers didnt match the screen. Now I check the rack calibration with a known good car every Monday morning before I start. It adds maybe 20 minutes but it has saved me from handing back a car that pulls right. I know some guys say you just trust the machine and move on, but after that mess I would rather be slow and right. Has anyone else dealt with a rack that was off and how did you find out?
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oliviabutler13d ago
That calibration check is honestly the kind of habit every shop should have, but almost nobody does until they get burned exactly like you did. The scary part is how confident the machine makes you feel, like you stop double checking your own work because the screen says its good. I bet theres a ton of cars rolling out of shops right now with bad alignment numbers just because nobody thought to verify the rack itself. Your Monday morning routine is smart but it also points to a bigger issue, machines need love too and most shops treat them like theyre always right. Maybe techs should be doing a quick sanity check with a level or a known straight car way more often than just when something feels off. Once you lose trust in the equipment, every single job takes longer because you second guess everything, so catching it early saves way more than 20 minutes a week.
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