I hate taking my truck in for inspection

Are there any good mechanics any more? Took my Tacoma in for PA state inspection and they sent me down the road with a wobbly wheel that wasn’t seated right. I noticed it within a quarter mile and turned around to take it back in. They reseated it and said it was fine. I don’t trust them so I removed the wheel when I got home and noticed it must have been rubbing against the upper control arm (slight tire rub marks) and there were metal shavings on the wheel hub. Am I looking at any long term issues from this?

 

PA takes the wheels off for a state inspection?

WTF???

 

What don’t they do. It’s such bs. And every damn year.

 

Aluminum wheels your lucky ,They usually torque to 1000 ftp,s and you have to heat then with a torch just to get them started.

 

Prob to check brake pads and rotors. You'd be surprised how often those are utterly shot and people have no idea.

 

At least 2 wheels, LF/RR or RF/LR... op that sucks. Nobody got hurt but the trust you have in that shop. Glad you were able to make it back and advise them of there mistake.... it is hard to trust anyone with our vehicles.... as a tech myself I had bought a Jeep for the mrs. and was taken back for the same oil leak 4 times to the dealer..... so from that point on I now understand the customers end of it when “shit” happens..... I tell all the youngsters the same shit... put yourself in our customers shoes and see if you like it when you’re on the short end of the stick.

 

I would go back and tell them you want a new wheel. Tell them since there is obvious damage to the wheel, you are concerned that the wheel could fall off. Remind them that for the life of the truck, they will be liable for property damage and loss of life if the wheel falls off.

 

Fuck that.
While the whole government inspection thing is a big scam, a basic safety inspection, I can see. Taking parts off the vehicle is not what a government entity needs to do. and yes, I know it is a private company conducting most inspections-they become a government entity the second they perform a function for the government.

Considering that government contracted company modified the OP's vehicle, who is going to pay the OP's insurance if he crashes the second he drives out of the lot?

 

Ask them to inspect the wheel, tire, hub and UCA. Then put it in writing that all components are 100% within factory working condition.

 

All of this and push it to the state level that requires the wheel removal for an inspection. fucking big brother nanny states fuckwits. Fuck them.

 

Hard to tell the damage on the wheel.... sometimes it’s corrosion that’s built up between the hub and the wheel and sometimes makes the wheel a bitch to get off.... mallet helps in those times.... just as long as the lug holes aren’t oblong, the wheel probably be fine

 

Here is a undamaged wheel that I removed as well. Should help to point out the fresh shaved metal on the damaged wheel.

 

Did you take the OTHER side off to compare? This will help you determine what they did vs what's always been there...
Tacoma brakes can be inspected without removing the wheel by looking from behind with a flashlight and dental mirror...I inspect my brakes and spin the pins on the calipers every time i change the oil...I'm not dealing with a seized caliper pin ever again!


HA!
EDIT...as I was posting

 

Good pic of the the good wheel... if the angle could be like that on the damaged wheel...? Only way to make this right for you would be to take it back to the shop and have you and the manager look at the damage together and come up with a solution to help this situation ....

 

Yep they are supposed to check 1 front and 1 back (brakes)

 

States that do inspection are the states I won’t live in. Sorry OP - I know you may not be able to move but that’s messed up & they did not put you safely back on the road. That’s the bottom line. Also ask which tech did it. Gotta call that sucker out

 

I used to feel the same way about inspections until I started doing them for a living. I am now glad that our state requires them every year. Some people will not fix their vehicles unless you force them. I had an suv drive in for inspection with a broken lower ball joint. One pothole away from a possible fatal accident.
OP I hope you find a good shop with mechanics you can trust. Good luck.

 

Yep, and also the corrosion can prevent the wheel from torquing down properly when it goes back on. I always clean and lube the hub lip and wheel center if the wheel doesn't slip on and off freely

 

I get "free inspections for life" from the dealership when I bought my Tacoma. I take it as my mission to get through every inspection without any "dings." That forces me to be very proactive with my servicing. But heck, I've always been very proactive with my servicing...this just prevents me from kicking the can down the road on minor things like air filters...lol

And no, air filters are not on the state inspection checklist. Since the dealership is giving away free inspections, they look at everything to try to sell me service...lol

 

I don't get the state inspection hate. I lived in Mississippi for 9 years and they did not have vehicle inspections (well they did, but it was more of a $5 tax collection sticker) and the amount of junk on the roads was astonishing. I don't mind the inspection process here in PA at all, and I'll usually have them pull all 4 wheels to look at it extra good incase I've missed something. There is some junk on the roads here, but not too much. Most of those go to Joe's Uncle Brother's sticker slap service