'This Is Why:' Man Takes Chevy to Shop for Alignment. Then They Refuse to Do the Work

A man with an ancient Chevrolet truck takes it to the shop for an alignment, but the mechanics refuse the work. Some viewers think the shop had a good reason to decline.

Matt McKinzie is the proud owner of a Chevrolet truck that is so old he refers to it using colorful language. In a video posted to Facebook last week, he explains that he took the Chevy in for an alignment, but the shop declined. "The shop refused to do the alignment on the [expletive] Chevy, and I kid you not," he says, "this is why."

McKinzie shows viewers the car’s undercarriage and explains what he’s talking about. "So the bolts on the control arms go this way and the nut is in the center," he says, pointing to the area in question. "They want us to take those bolts out and flip them around so they can get to the nut with an impact so they don’t have to use a wrench."

Gallery: Chevy C/K Square Body Truck

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Viewers React to the Shop’s Decision to Refuse Alignment Job

In the comments section, viewers weighed in on the shop’s decision to refuse service in this case. More than a minority said they think the shop made the right choice.

"If I saw your truck and didn’t want to do it, I would say my alignment machine is down," joked one viewer. 

"Most shops won’t work on vehicles that have been altered from factory specifications," said a second person. "Too much of a liability."

Others said the shop was correct in saying that the bolts are backwards. "Bolts are in fact backwards," said one person. "Until corrected, a proper alignment cannot be done."

"If you had to do alignments for a living you would understand," said another person. "Bolts are backwards so trying to adjust and tighten down at the same time would be an absolute nightmare."

What Is a Control Arm and What Does It Have to Do With Alignment?

The truck’s control arms are the components of the suspension system that hold the wheels on. Control arms are bolted to the truck’s frame with a part called control arm bushings. Due to wear and tear over time, these parts will need to be replaced, and the vehicle will generally require an alignment to make sure the suspension system is running smoothly.

About a year ago, a Reddit user posted to r/MechanicAdvice after replacing the upper control arms on his 2015 Silverado and accidentally putting a bolt in backwards. When the technician who was about to do his alignment noticed the error, he recommended a control arm replacement, suggesting that the mistake damaged the part.

"I drove it a total of five miles to get [to the tire shop]," the person wrote. "Are they just trying to scam me?" A commenter replied, "No, he’s telling you the truth. The upper control arm bolts have alignment cams on them. These are necessary for proper alignment."

Motor1 contacted McKinzie via email for comment.

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