Well, after noticing some positive camber wear on my front tires , I plan to take my 94 coupe to a Chevrolet dealership and let them do a 4-way alignment with their high-tech laser system. I used to work at a suspension shop, so I know a good deal about it the terms and how to do it, but I can't imagine being able to beat the laser systems out now.

What do you guys do on your cars? Or do you have better suggestions in San Diego other than an overpriced dealership? I'm assuming to leave the dealership around $300 if I go that route.

 

There is an alignment shop local to me that I have been using for years. They are second generation now, still owned by the same family. They charge $100 for a 4 wheel alignment. The owner told me he doesn't like the laser system (he has one) and does all the important alignments with the old tools. He only uses the laser system for mini vans and similar cars or if the car owner requests it.

 

I'm pretty much with Cliff here and I'd likely avoid some of the "newer" technology. More important maybe is if the shop of choice has the correct shims required for the upper A-arm adjustments. I'm quite sure there's newer dealers that DO NOT.

I'd find a well established shop and have a discussion first. If you worked in a suspension shop and understand you should be able to ask the correct questions. I believe a quality alignment should certainly be closer to the $100 number than your thoughts.

To compete in the market-place a shop needs to be able to display the "high-tech laser equipment" signage but that doesn't mean "tool of choice".

 

You guys are paying big bucks for 4 wheel alignments..We have at least 5 shops within 20 miles that do alignments, and not one is over $65.00 to have it done. Two of those shops have laser...WW

 

California rates are higher than WV . When I used to live in NY it was more than $100. In Florida where I now reside it is less expensive here.

 

A good 4 wheel alignment takes some labor and equipment.....
The best alignment shop in Missouri charges over $100 depending on the vehicle and far the vehicle is out of alignment...you should always be provided a "before and after " sheet as well. An alignment shop worth their salt can charge less, I understand but I go to who I know and trust and pay for quality.

 

4-wheel alignment in SoCal runs in the $100's. I go to a place in Temecula, but the best alignment done was by an A1 Shop in Las Vegas. They use the bubble (old school) method, and that was the greatest alignment I've got.

 

Where abouts in Temecula? I am in Miramar and don't mind the drive. The mom unit can meet me around there for some lunch or something.

 

Although I am new to corvettes, I am not new to the suspension systems as I was a collector of Fiero's. The 1988 in particular. I have also been installing, servicing, repairing, and calibrating alignment systems for several years. Some of the things posted in this thread are very troubling. I would like to give my professional opinion.

There is no such thing as a "new laser alignment system". They have been around for more than 20 years. A tech who does not or will not use one is a BAD tech. These are the same guys who won't use a modern torque wrench because the old bar style wrench they got at Montgomery Ward in the late 60's "has never let them down". As with any tool, there are better brands and lesser brands but the new technology is sound.

Now, that being said, an angle is an angle is an angle. It does't really matter if you measure it with laser, a ruler, a sun dial, or a sensor. In alignments accuracy of your measuring device is key. There is little doubt that a mediocre laser/camera based alignment system is FAR more accurate than a 30 year old mechanical sensor with a ton of moving parts that has been dropped a million times. Of importance as well is the quality/type of rack being used for the alignment. If there are no rear slip plates or they don't move... it's essentially the same as doing the alignment on the floor. The suspension will not relax.

Corvettes specifically present alignment challenges not posed by other cars. Namely the complexity of the rear suspension. If you are paying $100 for an alignment, that tech is most likely not touching the rear of the car. A quality alignment by a tech who knows what he is getting into will not be the $89.95 special they advertise but will be charged at "shop time". The other thing about Corvettes is that they tend to have very nice wheels. The sensor systems and the older camera/laser systems were designed during the steel wheel era. They are clamped to the rim with metal hooks. A smart tech who uses these systems keeps sharpies on hand to hide the scratches on your rims so you don't go ballistic when you see your rims after the alignment. The newer camera systems use a target that rests against your rim with a soft face and hooks to the tread of the tires to avoid damaging rims. Also, the old systems cannot reset you on-board systems like steering angle, ACC, lane departure systems to match your new alignment.

So, if you really trust your super reliable tech who doesn't trust new aligners, cell phones, electric windows, banks, or computers and you don't care about your rims getting all scratched up... Good News! Anyone can do your alignment! Just find someone with a pair of pliers and a tape measure they really trust and let them have at your car!

Just so you all don't think I am out of touch, I also realize a Great Tech with Crappy Tools has a much higher probability of good results than a Crappy Tech with Great Tools.....

 

Well, ya did reply to a thread that's been dormant for over 4 years. :-)

 

It popped up as brand new for me.... This forum format is not what I am used to. Thanks for the heads up!

 

To funny.

Back to the topic. I do my own alignments now after buying the longacre kits and a couple of alignment plates to let everything move appropriately. The problem with alignments shops is they just adjust till the light turns green on their computer but they pay no attention to the overall state of things. If some things are just barely in spec it can still be crap and that is what I was getting most of the time.

I don't buy the, "complexity of the rear" at all. Out of the 5 cars I currently own, the C4 is stupid easy to set up. The only bad part about the rear was the way the camber was done but with the rear adjustable strut rods installed it's a breeze. And that was only bad because my car is lowered.

 

Other bit those "expert" alignment techs ignore is the old advice. Set the thing, then drive it around the block once or twice and check it again. Much easier to do without the laser table thingy, takes forever to get the car mounted on those.

 

(it's an older thread but since it's been revived...why not post)
my thoughts are...if you have a "Tires Plus" go there and pay a little bit extra for "LIFETIME Alignments". yup, pay one fee and get alignments for the life of the car, even if your tinkering causes it to go out...it's covered. sure they are a shop with kid-workers but they have updated equipment. what could possibly go wrong?!?!



it's a risk vs. reward thing (i did it on one of my 95' and it turned out fine)

 

Had a slight thrust angle in the rear that I got fixed and i am much more confident spinnig the tires in a straight line after i got the alignment.

before the alignment it would wanna go sideways during wheelspin

 

my 86 goes nuts side to side when I nail it, at a stop

 

It’s a bad mo fo gho!!! No alignment will hold it back bro!!

 

But still relevant....