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Amen to the value of codgers. In fact even some young mechanics can fall into that classification if they're suitably picky and understand the principles of alignment. Being eccentric or ill-tempered doesn't hurt either...
I had my 240 aligned at a Canadian Tire garage a few years back after replacing a tie rod. I was given a computer printout of the before and after values of each measurement. The job was awful - I'd set alignment with a tape measure & string before driving in, and it felt fine. Drove out, it felt like crap. I figured the tires might have been worn differently from the way they were now contacting the road, drove it a few hundred miles to see if it'd settle down as the tires wore in to the new alignment. Well one wore the shoulder down to the wire in that time. I took it back in, they put it back on the rack, again gave me a printout saying it was fine and tried to charge me again. After a spirited discussion with the service writer, the mechanic, and service manager (none of whom were aware that the machine needed to be calibrated regularly!!) I gave up and re-aligned it myself using my trusty tape measure. That was 4 years ago, no sign of scuffing or feathering since. Moral: find someone who knows how to use that machine properly!
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Chris, Dartmouth NS Canada 70 M-B 280SE, 83 245DL, 84 244 turbo, 90 780 turbo, 92 VW Golf, 90 740 Rex/Regina
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