steering wheel center after mid perch mod

[Rickoo]

Wish you were around here. I'd have you work on my truck. Not that interested in doing the perch mod, but when I bought my truck (had 6k miles on it) the steering wheel wasn't straight. Been wanting to get it taken care of and wondered if this sort of thing would be a warranty issue?

If so, I'll let the dealer have a shot at straightening it. If not, I'll find a good alignment shop.

 

[TheJoker]

I completely agree Dave. The steering wheel is clamped "straight" before the toe adjustment. With most vehicles if the wheel is not straight you would notice it. But, with a 50k Raptor with a big red strip at 12 O clock every notices it. When the tech test drives it after the alignment and doesn't see a problem with the strip being an inch off... It's time for a new shop.

I had this happen after I did my mid perch adjustment. I told them (Ford dealership) how important the alignment was to me, and that I was willing to pay full price for the extra attention (I had a coupon). They said that it wouldn't be nessarary that they would take care of it. Long story stort, my wife thought that I should take it back and have them re-do the alignment. My thought... F-that. I now go to a different shop.

 

[SVTscott]

Khcdave I wish I lived closer to where your at to have my work performed.

 

[khcdave]

I completely agree Dave. The steering wheel is clamped "straight" before the toe adjustment. With most vehicles if the wheel is not straight you would notice it. But, with a 50k Raptor with a big red strip at 12 O clock every notices it. When the tech test drives it after the alignment and doesn't see a problem with the strip being an inch off... It's time for a new shop.

I had this happen after I did my mid perch adjustment. I told them (Ford dealership) how important the alignment was to me, and that I was willing to pay full price for the extra attention (I had a coupon). They said that it wouldn't be nessarary that they would take care of it. Long story stort, my wife thought that I should take it back and have them re-do the alignment. My thought... F-that. I now go to a different shop.

I have heard this same story so many times. Bottom line is all some dealers care about is sales not service imo. They also hate working on raptors and know very little about them which is a whole other issue. Such a simple thing and they have a 60k+ alignment machine to help them do it perfect and still cant get it right then think its just fine sending the customer home with a crooked steering wheel. If they treated service like some of the other manufacturers they would have more customer loyalty I think. I would never by a car from a dealer that treated my truck this way.

 

[R@pt0r]

My cars only got to the shop for alignments and tire mounting, and they manage to mess them up every time without fail. Take it back, make them fix it, period. I've done it so many times that the shop knows me and know I'll bring it back. The last time I had the miata aligned the tech test drove and re-aligned it three times before handing it back. I've had them do everything from over torquing the lug nuts, which I made them pay for after the ford dealer had to fix it by using a lug nut remover on the locking nut because we broke two lug keys trying to get it off; to actually making the car worse after alignment, the tech kept telling me that the lights were green whatever the hell that means, the freaking alignment sheet said different; to scratching the wheels on my Raptor. I absolutely cannot stand anyone else touching my cars.

 

[pirate air]

I really have a hard time understanding why some dealerships (the ones I have delt with) have no concern for quality service. We are are talking about a 50k truck that deserves high quality service just like a bmw or mercedes. Do you thing a 40k bmw 3series ever comes out of the shop with a crooked steering wheel. I had my rack done a couple months back. I really didnt want to bring it to the dealer but I had to. We even know the service people here. I asked them not to align it because I had to put my tierods back on anyway and I really didnt want to get more agrivated since they gave me shit about my bumper and didnt know how to loosen it but they insisted saying dont worry it will be perfect. Picked it up and there was greasy had prints all over the front of the truck, power steering fluid all over the place since they must have over filled it and big surprise the steering wheel is an inch off and it drove like shit. And keep in mind the stock tie rods make really easy to adjust the toe. And we know these people. Total ******** in my book. So the tech drove the truck and said "yup, its good to go"??? Is his steering wheel crooked also???? That must be why he didnt care about my truck that I work my ass off to pay for....... Just saying....

Perch mods take 2 hours and that includes aligning it. The trucks dont leave until the wheel is dead straight and it drives perfect. I really dont understand why this is so difficult. Sorry to vent a little guys...

Why does service suck at dealers? Because the pay and conditions are lousy. Most techs that have any sense leave the field after a few years. The old timers that have stuck it out over the years are hitting retirement. Even the tech schools are struggling to recruit quality students, or even enough warm bodies to fill a class room at that. What's mostly left in the dealer mechanic world are individuals that can't find a better job because they are either A, not smart enough, or B, cant pass a drug test, or C, don't have the means to restart another career so they sit there disgruntled all day long. I said mostly because there are a few techs still around that are worth a shit..

The whole warranty flat rate pay structure needs a overhaul before anything is going to change. I know I would never go back.

 

[showerfan]

wait, why is everyone doing this stuff at the dealer? is it a warranty issue?

i was planning on just taking my truck to dave to do the mid perch (and wheel mounting and new springs and bump stops and new tie rods and bumpers and radar and audio upgrades.

is there a reason i would go to the dealer to do this stuff? really rather have an expert do it.

 

[pirate air]

Take it to whoever you feel comfortable doing the work. Perch mod is a reason to void the warranty on front end components no matter who does the work.

 

[showerfan]

...all the more reason to replace the front end.

 

[khcdave]

changing to mid perch should have no affect on warranty- if ford didnt want adjustable hieght settings they shouldnt have had fox build the shocks for them with adjustments. Even if alteration technically voids warranty almost every dealer wont even notice- but then again why are some dealers willing to do the perch mod. I wouldnt worry about warranty issues with this mod. Just my .02