Central Tire & Auto Repair

12/18/10--These guys are the typical dishonest auto repair shop. I have spent many hours working on cars (including old collectors cars), so it's usually easy for me to smell a rat (unfortunately most auto mechanics and dealer repair departments). They market themselves as a Goodyear Tire Dealer specialising as a tire and alignment shop, so there's no excuse for thier statements to me.-- I took my Mazda to them for a front end alignment. They showed me a printout indicating that my front suspension had the incorrect caster angle on one side and the incorrect camber angle on the other, but stated that the only adjustment was for the toe-in; and that therefore the car needed new front struts (quoted for about $500). They, also, agreed that they could find no wear in any of the suspension parts. So I paid them a $25 charge for checking the alignment, and went home to read the shop manual for the car; to discover that there is a simple and easy way to adjust the front camber and caster angles. Even if they were not a tire shop with sophisticated alignment equipment, any mechanic would have known what I easily discovered. Since they offer every type of car maintenance (typical red flag), I'm sure that their theivery goes far beyong suspension work. My guess is that everyone who goes there for tires is sold substantial, unessessary repairs.--JIM A