Alignment Post Lift

[Aonarch]

I read your related post recently. I’m sorry your experience was less than satisfactory. The service experiences have made me consider other brands as well, but I do really enjoy the Bronco and so does my family.

On a separate note, your build thread aided with my decision to take the plunge on the Ford Performance lift. What a huge difference from stock. Rides great, and even the wifey noticed (which was surprising, lol).

Great to hear!

The Bronco is definitely unique, and a fun vehicle.

I'm hoping the 2025 will be more polished.

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[JJHTX]

My brother used to live there by the golf course. My Dad was just talking yesterday that Baytown Ford has a good service center, he needs to get his truck looked at.

I’ve yet to visit that one, so will be next choice if I have to go back to a dealer.

 

[JJHTX]

Maybe you just need the steering wheel centered? I have had more than a good many alignments that the steering wheel was not centered and yet the vehicle tracked perfectly straight after an alignment. It's the tech not taking the time to center and hold the wheel straight while they make the adjustments. They even make or should have a tool to keep the wheel straight. When this happens I simply adjust the tie rod ends to make the wheels move ever so slightly in the same direction to re-center the wheel. You have to determine which way the wheel is cocked when the vehicle is going perfectly straight on a flat surface (not crowned), then adjust the tie rods in that direction. In other words if your wheel is cocked to the right, when you hold it straight it goes left, so you adjust to the right. Works like a charm every time for me. I had to do it on my Bronco when it was brand new LOL. Just an ever so slight adjustment.

Thanks for the advice. Currently - steering wheel is slightly tilted right and the truck pulling to the left.

 

[Fordified1]

Thanks for the advice. Currently - steering wheel is slightly tilted right and the truck pulling to the left.

The tech is supposed to drive the vehicle to confirm the wheel is centered and driving well after the alignment. And it shouldn’t pull one way or the other even if the steering wheel isn’t centered.
Luckily my son does alignments at his job and did mine. He also provided a printout of exactly what specs it was aligned to.

 

[JJHTX]

The tech is supposed to drive the vehicle to confirm the wheel is centered and driving well after the alignment. And it shouldn’t pull one way or the other even if the steering wheel isn’t centered.
Luckily my son does alignments at his job and did mine. He also provided a printout of exactly what specs it was aligned to.

That’s my expectation of the tech as well. The invoice says tech drove the vehicle and denotes it with an “ok”. I have a hard time believing any self respecting alignment tech drove it for a reasonable distance and concluded alignment was good.

 

[wjtinfwb]

Thanks. I’m debating whether going back through dealership is worth the effort. I’m generally a patient and reasonable person, but I’m about fed up with the shotty service. That’s the only part that’s been consistent about my experience with Ford - the service is shitty where I’m located.

Most dealers either refuse or require several waivers to work on modified vehicles. They’re really not equipped to understand the myriad of different specs and features of aftermarket components and how they interact with the OEM products they’re trained on. Since you bought the Ford Performance lift kit, why didn’t you use the dealer to install it or did they refuse? Regardless, at this point you need to forget the dealer and find a good independent Frame and Alignment shop to take a look and do the work. Dealer service departments are becoming nothing but warranty centers for the cars they sell, when you go aftermarket you really need a great Indy shop, and they are scarce in some markets.

 

[JJHTX]

Most dealers either refuse or require several waivers to work on modified vehicles. They’re really not equipped to understand the myriad of different specs and features of aftermarket components and how they interact with the OEM products they’re trained on. Since you bought the Ford Performance lift kit, why didn’t you use the dealer to install it or did they refuse? Regardless, at this point you need to forget the dealer and find a good independent Frame and Alignment shop to take a look and do the work. Dealer service departments are becoming nothing but warranty centers for the cars they sell, when you go aftermarket you really need a great Indy shop, and they are scarce in some markets.

I actually was going to get the lift installed at the dealership initially; had an appointment set up and everything, but they cancelled because their guy had an unexpected emergency and offered to reschedule to a different week. I guess they only have one guy that knows how to do that work, which isn’t comforting. Actually glad I didn’t have it done there; they probably would have messed that up too. Agreed about forgetting the dealers.

 

[BadlandsA51]

I just had a nightmare experience with one of my local dealers as well. They tried scamming me, commiting fraud for a warranty repair, by trying to make me pay thousands of dollars for something stupid simple, and again, covered by the warranty.

It made me want to go back to a Lexus, which I might in a year.

My daily driver is a leased Volvo, and the service experience and warranty support has always been spectacular. I've had many cars over my life, the "High line" dealers are usually very good.

The issue is these domestic and value brands are the same money as the high line brands. Broncos are what $55k+ for a Sasquatch, up to $100k or so for a Raptor? Yet you are getting treated like you own a 96 Civic

Shitty service experiences should not be normal at Ford, yet it is across the country.

Farley is kind of screwed, they don't really have the power over the franchised dealers.

With my issue, Ford corporate told me, if the dealer denied a warranty repair, Ford cannot overturn it. That is insane to me.

Slightly off topic, but Farley was trying to get away from the franchised model with the new EV models, but I don't think that worked at all. He was trying to make the EVs their own separate entity, so he could get around the existing dealer network.

Ford can choose to cover a dealer denied repair under warranty if they see fit to do so. They steer clear of getting in the middle of controversy over modified vehicles. Warranty only covers defects in materials and workmanship on Ford’s part, if someone else has worked on it and put somebody else’s parts on it, Ford has no obligation or desire to get involved. That’s pretty much all manufacturers’ stand, understandably.

And comparing this situation to experience in a Volvo dealership is kinda apples to oranges, I don’t recall seeing a Volvo with a 4” lift and 37s on it or one on a mountain pass trail.

 

[Aonarch]

Ford can choose to cover a dealer denied repair under warranty if they see fit to do lso. They steer clear of getting in the middle of controversy over modified vehicles. Warranty only covers defects in materials and workmanship on Ford’s part, if someone else has worked on it and put somebody else’s parts on it, Ford has no obligation or desire to get involved. That’s pretty much all manufacturers’ stand, understandably.

And comparing this situation to experience in a Volvo dealership is kinda apples to oranges, I don’t recall seeing a Volvo with a 4” lift and 37s on it or one on a mountain pass trail.

My warranty repair wasn't due to anything modified.

I've owned new Fords for over 20 years now, my first brand new Ford was a 2005 Mustang GT, before that I had a hand me down Explorer. Ever since then, I've had subpar dealer experiences and warranty experiences on completely stock vehicles as well. I've completely written off two dealers due to really bad experiences.

My comparison was absolutely not apples and oranges.

 

[BRONCO_MARC]

Thanks. I’m debating whether going back through dealership is worth the effort. I’m generally a patient and reasonable person, but I’m about fed up with the shotty service. That’s the only part that’s been consistent about my experience with Ford - the service is shitty where I’m located.

The difference between dealerships is so huge (and beyond Ford's power or interest to control), so I would not trust my vehicle to that particular one again. I can forgive somebody for doing the wrong thing once, provided they own the mistake and make it right at no additional charge. However, getting the job wrong and threatening the customer with additional charges is unacceptable in my book. If you paid credit, get your card's customer service to refund your money and take your issues to another dealer.

 

[BadlandsA51]

My warranty repair wasn't due to anything modified.

I've owned new Fords for over 20 years now, my first brand new Ford was a 2005 Mustang GT, before that I had a hand me down Explorer. Every since then, I've had subpar dealer experiences and warranty experiences on completely stock vehicles as well. I've completely written off two dealers do to

My warranty repair wasn't due to anything modified.

I've owned new Fords for over 20 years now, my first brand new Ford was a 2005 Mustang GT, before that I had a hand me down Explorer. Every since then, I've had subpar dealer experiences and warranty experiences on completely stock vehicles as well. I've completely written off two dealers do to really bad experiences.

My comparison was absolutely not apples and oranges.

really bad experiences.

My comparison was absolutely not apples and oranges.

I apologize, I thought I was replying to the first message in this thread. I definitely agree that dealer service experiences can be negative, it varies from dealer to dealer and, often, between different advisors at the same dealer.

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