Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 10:08:02 -0700
Reply-To: Rich Blake <blake@OAKHARBOR.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rich Blake <blake@OAKHARBOR.NET>
Subject: Re: Anyone use Les Schwab for tires?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Les Schwab is very hit and miss when it comes to consistent and QUALITY
service. I have used them in the past and due to various negative
experiences will not use them again. You have to realize that L.S. is high
volume low quality, they hire high school kids to do the work on your prized
vehicle.
Here is an example: I have a 88 Jetta with Borbet C replica rims. I had
the car aligned and wheels balanced by L.S. When I got the car back, (at
record speed no less) the steering wheel was cocked over 20 degrees when
going straight and the car vibrated like hell at highway speeds. Not a
satisfied customer.
I took the car back and they "re-balanced" my wheels. Again same symptoms
on the road. I went back AGAIN and asked about the possibility that these
rims may need hubcentric adapters. Most of the guys looked at me like I was
talking Portuguese. (Oh yeah, if you ask a remotely technical question,
expect to be referred to at least 5 different guys before you get an
answer - and not necessarily the right one.) The one guy that did know what
I was talking about said that those should not affect the alignment or
driveability. He also said that if I needed some for this particular
vehicle, I would have to go to a machine shop to get them made. I wondered
about this as L.S. is ALWAYS full up on cars and tires, very busy these guys
are all the time. I figured they MIGHT have dealt with aftermarket rims and
hubcentric adapters more than once. But I guess I was wrong.
Anyway, dudes looked at the Jetta again and couldn't find anything wrong
with it and promptly told me that it "should" work ok. So, now rather
pissed I went home (car still vibrating) to investigate the problem myself.
After getting my reefed lug bolts off (impact wrench does wonders to
aluminum rims). I measured out the rims. The bore was 60mm and the hubs
are 57.1mm. I found my original hubcentric adapters pushed all the way into
the bore of the rim. Placing them correctly on the hub and remounting the
rims with a TORQUE WRENCH (something L.S. has never heard of). My vibration
problems went away. I also removed my steering wheel and recentered it
properly.
So, if you want lackies working on your vehicle go to Les Schwab or Wal-mart
or Costco, etc. If you want someone who gives a poo about you and your
vehicle shop around and take it to a local shop you trust. If you can find
a shop that does alignments by HAND then you are looking at high quality.
You will pay more but it is worth it if you have someone you can TRUST. And
that is the key.
Rich Blake
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of patrice b
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 3:41 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Anyone use Les Schwab for tires?
Anyone in the Northwest USA use Les Schwab for their vanagon tires?
(Besides me, that is) ...just wondering how what they carry rates against
other tires. I have to admit that I like the free service and unlimited
switching off of summer and winter tires, etc. when I have their tires (and
I tend to only travel in the area where their chain has stores anyway.)
--Patrice
85GL "VanaBlue"