A service tech and automotive instructor freind of mine recommended me to a shop today when I asked who in my area was to be trusted for an alignment. I thought it was going to be a good transaction. Well...

I explained to the idiot on the phone that I wanted to bring the car in for a four-wheel alignment because a) the steering wheel is not centered when going straight down the road and b) if I hold the wheel straight under acceleration the car goes one way, and goes the other way when coasting down in gear. The way I reason, if I have a bad bushing the alignment tech will find it when they go to align the car, saving me some hassle and headache. And if it is truly just a matter of alignment it will be fixed when all four corners are brought to spec. The tech had different ideas...

He reasoned that it was likely engine or transmission mounts going bad. In my head I'm thinking WTF is he smoking, but I make the appointment anyways because I need the problem fixed. It's in two days...

My question for you is; does his assumption stand to reason, and why? I, for one, cannot deduce how in the heck a bad motor/trans mount can have ANY effect on thrust angle or a pull to one direction or both. Am I not seeing something and this guy could be legit, or should I go smack my freind around for referring me to this particular shop?

 

Wheel non-straight is definitely alignment, however pulling one way and then another under decel could be as simple as tire pressure.

Are both tires equal PSI in the rear?