Taking your vehicle to a tire shop for new tires and an alignment should be a relatively straightforward experience, especially when you’re trusting professionals to handle the work. Unfortunately, one customer recently discovered that their visit to Mavis Discount Tire might have left them with a bigger problem than they originally anticipated after finding a broken suspension bolt.
The customer took to Reddit’s r/Justrolledintotheshop community on October 22 to share a photograph of the damage discovered underneath their vehicle. According to the post, they had visited Mavis for new tires and a wheel alignment, only to be informed that corrosion prevented technicians from completing the alignment.
Although the alignment couldn’t be performed, employees assured the customer that the tire installation was complete and the vehicle was ready to be picked up. However, the owner later noticed that the eccentric bolt responsible for adjusting the rear suspension’s toe alignment had broken, something they claim the shop never mentioned.
The discovery left the customer questioning why employees would release the vehicle without explaining what had happened to an important suspension component. While the exact circumstances surrounding the broken bolt haven’t been independently established, the incident sparked considerable discussion about repair-shop communication, mechanical responsibility, and vehicle safety.
Mavis Customer Discovers Broken Rear Suspension Bolt After Failed Alignment
Embedded Reddit post follows; please give it a moment to load completely.
Mavis Tire broke a bolt then decided it wasn’t their problem
by
u/whipple00 in
Justrolledintotheshop
According to the Reddit post, the customer initially believed the dealership-style explanation that corrosion had prevented the alignment from being completed. However, a subsequent inspection revealed that the eccentric bolt used to adjust rear toe had snapped, suggesting that a technician had attempted to adjust it and abandoned the procedure.
Eccentric bolts are commonly used in suspension systems to make precise alignment adjustments, helping control how a vehicle’s wheels are positioned relative to the road. When these components become seized because of corrosion, attempting to loosen or rotate them can sometimes cause the hardware to break, potentially requiring replacement parts before the alignment can be completed.
The customer was particularly frustrated that nobody mentioned the broken component before allowing them to leave with the vehicle. Although seized suspension hardware can create legitimate complications during an alignment, the owner’s primary concern was that the shop had failed to communicate a problem that could require additional repairs and a professional safety assessment.
Comments and Reactions to Mavis Tire’s Broken Suspension Bolt
Several Reddit users were shocked by the customer’s discovery, especially because the vehicle was released without any apparent warning about the damaged suspension hardware. One commenter wrote, “That is INSANE! They broke a control arm bolt, and didn’t even mention it?!”, while another encouraged the owner to contact Mavis management and document the damage before pursuing repairs.
Others shared frustrating experiences with tire shops, including one commenter who claimed a Mavis location tried to charge them for a tire-pressure monitoring sensor damaged during service. The commenter explained that the shop eventually agreed to replace the sensor after they revealed their previous experience working in the automotive industry.
Interestingly, not everyone agreed that the broken bolt automatically meant the vehicle was unsafe to drive, with one commenter explaining that seized alignment hardware is common in regions where road salt accelerates corrosion. Nevertheless, even those defending the possibility of an accidental break acknowledged that the customer should have been informed, highlighting why clear communication can be just as important as the repair itself.