98 integra

Yesterday I took my car to Wal-Mart for a tire rotation.... after 2.5 hours and four new tires I realized that my car had some how been damaged.... once on the interstate my car started rocking up and down with every bump, it felt as though the front of my car was making contact with the road... to say that it was a ruff ride home is an understatement. Once we were home my husband checked and adjusted the tire pressure and took it out for a test drive... the ride was no better.

This afternoon we took the car back to Wal-Mart and informed them of the problem... they recommended performance tires and changed them out... Certain that the problem was resolved, I continued back onto the interstate only to discover the same ruff ride... I'm wondering if my front struts may have been damaged during the lift of the car for the tire change.... Has anyone else ever had this happen or do y'all have any ideas of what could have happened?

I just can't understand it or figure it out...

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

Welcome, it sounds like they've messed something up. It sounds like your shock absorbers have gone kaput. When you brake does the front end dive towards the gound then bounce up when you come to a stop? Please try to give as many details as you can about the symptoms and how the occur and under what conditions, this will help us get an Idea of what your problem could be.

98 integra

No it rides fine, breaks fine, but I feel every bump in the road.... It is as if the front end is making contact with the road, but only the mud flaps are... I did not have a problem before the tire change at Wal- Mart. They said that they noticed some tire damage to a rear tire, but nothing about the front tires.... Maybe that is just where I am feeling it. Something happed yesterday while my car was at Wal-Mart, that I am certain of.

98 integra

Oh and thank you for the warm welcome.... and the reply!

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

can you describe the noise? is it a scraping/dragging sound? Or is it more of a thunk noise? Does it sound like metal on metal, or rubber dragging on cement?

its kind of hard to guess what they messed up lol, replacing tires is pretty hard to mess up. I guess it's possible that when they removed the car from the ground the suspension extended fully and an already existing problem was exacerbated by it. A leaking absorber might have fully extended and now has become seized or something along those lines.

I think your best bet is to go into Wal-Mart and complain in a nice fashion, yelling won't get you anywhere. I would push for a refund for any labor charges and take my car to a honda/acura/import specialist. It could be many things at this point.

Is your car a 98 integra btw?

01tl4tl

the mud flaps drag- are you serious?
Is this car dropped/lowered big time or what?
How many miles- original shocks- aftermarket shocks?

Kamrt wont know what to do with a car like that, could have had a spring come off its perch mount, could have a few things wrong
Go to a real alignment shop- you were going to get it aligned with the new tires right?
ask them to inspect and advise, take a ride around the block with you etc

Go90go

HAHAHA!! Do you even HAVE springs anymore?! Sounds like you're riding on shocks only! Are bumps hard? Does the car make a loud knocking noise even when you drive over a bottle cap?

Man, NEVER go to those places for anything but cheap cups.

~Cheers~

phee

iTrader: (5)

post pics of that sick drop!! but seriously. maybe some pics of the side of the car will help

98 integra

Hmmmmmmm....... Yes it's a 98 Integra and this car has struts. No I don't know much about cars, I just know when something is not right with mine..... Wal-Mart screwed something up, but as already posted by the Dougler, I suspect that there was already a minor problem.

We're checking the struts right now. I guess the reason for my post was mostly to find if anyone else ever ran into a problem of this sort and if there were any other thoughts as to what could be the problem. I know that the car is getting old, but it has been very good to me and I am not ready to part with it just yet....

01tl4tl

are those original struts?
do they show any leaks of oil from them
If you bounce the corner of the car does it keep bouncing?
What does a real alignment shop have to say about it
What tires did you try first and now?

Wipeout97

I have seen a similar problem develope when a car "walked" its way off a lift and crashed into one tire. There is typically a slight bend near the lift support. Check the car closely for scratches around the door closest to where the problem developed. It may be in your best interest to offer a walmart employee 20 bucks if they tell you the truth about what happened....

/Walmart is like a volunteer fire department. Sure they can mostly do the same job as the pro's but there training, skills, and TERRIBLE percentage of f*** ups makes them unreliable and a shop to be avoided. I got my hands on one of there training manuals........wow........who thought it took 3 pages to describe removing lug nuts........

Go90go

I wasn't implying that it was like a 1G Integ and used torsion bars. I just thought that maybe some disgruntled WalMart employee stole your springs, haha.

WTF? Are you serious about the three pages?! Jeebus...

~Cheers~

forevermemorable

I know this is a really old topic, but I had the same thing happen to me. I took my 1996 Honda Odyssey into American Tire Depot for "4" brand new tires and a complete alignment done on the entire car. As soon as I left and went over a speed bump, my car bottom out really bad. It was a crunch, crunch noise, as if my wheels were hitting the wheel well. It sounded really bad. I have own the car for 3 years and it has never done that once...never, never, never. I took the car back the next day, explained the situation and an employee went along with me for a ride in my vehicle. I went over a speed bump gradually and the noise and crunch was very evident. Then, I went over a second speed bump slower...very slow, and the same crunch noise. As the van goes over the speed bump it raises some and than comes crashing down. It sounds really bad and does not look good.

Of course, the employee had the same assessment as anyone with a great brain would have...struts are bad. But I tell you, that I never had the problem before I took my car in and now it exists. Manager denies any wrong doing or intentional doing. I told him that I didn't believe in intentional harm to my car, but accidents do happen.

Manager wants to put two new struts and strut mounts on the front of my car for $475 (all parts and labor). I say forget that, because I don't trust this place any more.

Is it possible for struts to be destroyed in wheel replacement via change, car lift, car alignment?

bigwerm187

No one works on my car... just me my dad and my buddy... only time my car goes to a shop is for tires an alignment and smog of coures... But i never leave my car untended.... I always stay with my car at all times to make sure nothing happens. While its at the shop... And so for nothing has happened...

omega1911

^ Word