[Fassi]

Thanks for weighing in, Chuck.

A) That's right, he suggested the corner balance was unnecessary.

B) Yes, they are in fact Elephant Racing bushings. I raised the issue of the proprietary tools with him at least three times (once at the outset) and alerted him to the fact that it was probably impossible to properly install the Elephant racing bushings without them.

On 10/6 I wrote:

"Here is the installation video I mentioned before. I'm somewhat
concerned because Elephant told me it was impossible to install the
control arm bushing without using their tools. In fact you'll see in the
video that he says that "these tools are critical to the successful installation.
You can't do it without it."

Again in the product comparison video he insists it's "impossible" to
install an OEM spec bushing without the tools and make a point of
saying that the competing product was altered (less compressed;
significantly larger inside diameter) to permit tool-less
installation.

I apologize for belaboring the point, but could you please confirm
that the Elephant Racing control arm bushings were not somehow
modified to get them to seat? Please don't misinterpret my question, I
have faith in you, but I'm a bit confused about how we got it
done"

His response suggested that the claim the job couldn't be done without the tool was made only to sell the tool, and his experience made them unnecessary:

"No problem,,how else are they going to sell there tool they probably made a thousand of?....Don't miss understand ,however I have been doing this for 20 years and the "tool" was not available then and I just as soon do it the way I know works to keep the process In motion.."

C) Since the bushings were installed, he has blamed them for the misalignment. Today I was told that rubber bushings are difficult to work with precisely because they need to be broken in.

D) I was not provided with them. In all fairness, I didn't ask for them either.

E). I went back and looked at it. The total for the bushings alone was exactly $1728. That included the four wheel alignment and ride height adjustment. I also paid an additional $268 for miscellaneous work unrelated to the bushings.

The tire is not rubbing; the wheel just feels loose somehow.

I don't know the exact ride height offhand. The wheel arches are about 3/4 inch above the tires (205/245).