Attention: TDR Forum Junkies It has been over 6 weeks now since we got T-boned by a teenager running a red light. The Tundra is still in the shop. Aside from the cosmetic body damage, there was also damage done to the rear axle.
When we had the truck towed to the shop, we told the shop there was a problem with the rear axle because I could look in the rear-view mirror and see the tire wobble when I drove it home. This was Day 1. After 3 days, I called to ask what they had found wrong. They had no idea what I was talking about. They had not even looked at the rear end yet. They told me they had to get the body work all done and put back on the truck before they could put it on the alignment rack to check alignment. Long story short, 3 weeks later they finally put it on the alignment rack and lo and behold... ... things didn't line up
They tore it apart and found a bent axle and some broken bearings. Then they proceeded to order the parts for the axle. Two more weeks go by and they finally call and say it is ready. When I drove it home, the first thing I did was call the shop and tell them to come get the truck. It was nowhere near ready. Bad vibration at 60+ mph, rear end howl, and the brakes barely worked. They are still trying to find a noise in the rear end.
Now... here is my question. Why couldn't they have been working on the rear end before the body work was done? I can understand that body panels will change the weight distribution of the truck and affect the fine tuning of an alignment, but when a tire visibly wobbles, why not start tearing it apart and see what is going on? Put in the new axle and bearings, then put it on the alignment rack.
Could someone who knows the system please explain it to me? I am not a mechanic, but I did grow up on a farm and have torn a few things apart and put them back together again. The way they did things does not make sense to me at all. We are getting very PO'd over the whole situation.
Thanks for your time... .
Steve
When we had the truck towed to the shop, we told the shop there was a problem with the rear axle because I could look in the rear-view mirror and see the tire wobble when I drove it home. This was Day 1. After 3 days, I called to ask what they had found wrong. They had no idea what I was talking about. They had not even looked at the rear end yet. They told me they had to get the body work all done and put back on the truck before they could put it on the alignment rack to check alignment. Long story short, 3 weeks later they finally put it on the alignment rack and lo and behold... ... things didn't line up
They tore it apart and found a bent axle and some broken bearings. Then they proceeded to order the parts for the axle. Two more weeks go by and they finally call and say it is ready. When I drove it home, the first thing I did was call the shop and tell them to come get the truck. It was nowhere near ready. Bad vibration at 60+ mph, rear end howl, and the brakes barely worked. They are still trying to find a noise in the rear end. Now... here is my question. Why couldn't they have been working on the rear end before the body work was done? I can understand that body panels will change the weight distribution of the truck and affect the fine tuning of an alignment, but when a tire visibly wobbles, why not start tearing it apart and see what is going on? Put in the new axle and bearings, then put it on the alignment rack.
Could someone who knows the system please explain it to me? I am not a mechanic, but I did grow up on a farm and have torn a few things apart and put them back together again. The way they did things does not make sense to me at all. We are getting very PO'd over the whole situation.
Thanks for your time... .
Steve
