Well i thought i would ask this question since i took a new rim with a new tire to be mounted and balanced and the cost was 42.00 now i know i am old. So in Florida what should the estimated cost be for a 4 wheel alignment I am sitting down...


Thanks Mark

 

Probably about $250. More if rear toe-in needs adjustment.

Larry

 

$42.00 for a single mount and balance. Did they provide the KY Jelly? I had a 4wh alignment on a AWD Hyundai for $85.00, four new tires installed and the balance was $60.00. You need to find another place for related work.
What condition do you think your suspension is in? Any issues, worn components etc will make a big difference. Dennis

 

This past June I had my 65 four wheel aligned along with the correct shims installed correctly. Took about four hours and cost me $350. The car now drives like it should. What a difference! - Fred

 

Had my front aligned in Virginia by a reputable man for $85. Rear depends on your shims.

 

I had four old tires removed and disposed, new tires mounted and balanced with new valve stems this morning for $60 in central Alabama. The wheels were not on the car. I've done my own alignments for years, so no price to compare here.

 

I've owned five C2s over 56 years and never had the rear aligned. Front end done here in Texas about fifty bucks.

 

No idea what that costs around here. Gonna need to find out soon as I'm getting ready to overhaul the suspension on my '69.

Do you have an alignment rack? Or do you do it the old-fashioned way?

 

I had the 65 done on all 4 wheels. $79.00 on the HUNTER Alignment machine. Just needed a rear Strut rod in out adjustment for Camber. And a slight adjustment on the front. If you need the toe set on the rear. That Is a BIG PITA..!! I think the Toe call out for the rear is 1/32" !! Correct me if I'm wrong. That was done back in 2007 over 1 hour just to get that 1/32 perfect.

Problem is taking shims in and out and resetting the machine again. Some one check me on the rear toe for a 65.....

 

I have an inexpensive caster tool, a pair of wheel alignment plates plus string and a tape measure. . . . My Cheetah tribute has a custom frame with modified C4 suspension that I installed myself. I used my DIY method to set the front and rear alignments. When I was done I paid a shop $30 to simply measure and share all the alignment numbers so I could check my work. The only thing that required a slight adjustment was the front toe in, which I changed myself.

 

Rebuilt rear trailing arms with a lot of other work and yes it is hard to tell on the rear if it needs any shims but by eye sight it does so i was figuring to pay 300-350 for the alignment. Never asked about cost to mount the tire on the new rim so it is on me i had to pay but in Florida this is normal to over pay for a job of any sorts.

 

Number 1 Find a shop that has long time experience with the old cars and an older alignment rack that can be custom configured. Have them check all your bushings, rear trailing arms and front-end parts for wear. A 4-wheel alignment will cost about 200-300.00. A start from scratch after a restoration may cost 300.00 and up. I had my car done here in Ohio last spring after a full tear down. A start from scratch alignment, 3 hours shop time and the cost was 300.00 and the owner and I have a long relationship...(-: I was informed that my front upper A arm bushings will need replaced soon but would be fine for awhile until I can replace them. So, they will get replaced this winter during down time and a fresh front end alignment in the spring. Big-K

Just getting started, car is on stands

 

You probably already know this, but just in case:
1. No matter where you get the alignment done, talk to the technician or manager and assure they have the knowledge of the front and rear alignment for these old relics.
Most new cars that they deal with have struts and thus the adjustments are not even close to the correct adjustments for a C1 or C2.
2. They also depend on their computerized data of the machine for the alignment specifications. If you have changed from bias ply tires to radials, everything is completely different (caster, camber, and toe-in) and you need to provide them with the specifications they need to use. If they tell you they cannot change what the computer tells them, RUN FOREST RUN. Do a search here on the forum for the correct specifications.
3. You may want to take the shims for the trailing arms in with you as they probably don't stock them. They may not have shims for the front either.

I also do my own alignment using the string method, homemade tools and plates and a camber gauge and plumb bob. Over 10,000 miles and the tires are wearing perfect. The tread wear is flat and even. It is hard to tell the front tires from the rear when rotating them. Alignment to .001 in. is great, but you can obtain acceptable results to 1/32" or so. It is a real task the first time and took me a lot longer than a professional as I don't have a drive on rack and did it setting on the floor.

 

When it comes to picking a shop to do the alignment work, any well equipped shop can quickly read your existing alignment settings. As was already mentioned, the hard part is in getting someone who understands how it is adjusted on these old cars. My preference is to look for a shop that sees race cars (e.g., local dirt track, ovals, even dragsters). If the owner or some of the technicians are into racing, they will know a lot more about how to set up the suspension on something other than modern cars. They will also be more concerned about the care of a classic. I had a shop like that help me when I rebuilt my Corvette about twenty years ago. I'd drop off a box of donuts when I needed help and they'd do anything and let me watch/help while they did it.

 

The above-described old school alignment shop.... anybody know of one near the Seminole area in Pinellas County Fl.?
I have to replace strut bushings in the near future and will have to have it re-aligned afterwards.
Tamp Jerry?
Thanks,
Marshal

 

I just had my 59 aligned at Seminole Goodyear (just north of Park Blvd on Seminole Blvd).

 

I know exactly where that is
Thanks