Wheel Alignment troubles
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I've seen a number of posts in this thread that say aligned to GM specs... Is that what most of you are doing?
Based on previous CF advice I have been using the "Advanced Street" specs from VBP.
Any comments?
http://www.vbandp.com/instructions/h...ruct/align.htm
Based on previous CF advice I have been using the "Advanced Street" specs from VBP.
Any comments?
http://www.vbandp.com/instructions/h...ruct/align.htm
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
Likes: 4
From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by Frizlefrak
There's a little mom and pop shop here call Hughley's that I take my Vette to for alignments. The place has been there for over 40 years, and has an excellent reputation.
They charge me $75 every time....even after I replaced all my front and rear suspension bushings with polyurethane, which put it way out of spec. They always have it done in less than an hour.
I wouldn't go anyplace else. I can take my 84 to over 100 mph on a level road, and it tracks straight as an arrow.
I strongly suggest you find just such a shop where you live. Talk to friends and co-workers and get recommendations.
I've had my entire suspension off my car, in my own garage, so I feel very confident making this statement: There is absolutely NOTHING mysterious about a C4's suspension. It's actually quite simple. Given an alignment rack and an hour or so, I could do it myself. In fact, a lot of folks set up their own alignment jigs in their garages and do their own alignments.
"Shim aligned"? How did they define this? The only place shims are used are on the front upper control arms to adjust caster and camber. And it just involves loosening two nuts, inserting or removing the appropriate shims, and retorquing the nuts. Same procedure as with most vehicles.
The rear uses two cams to adjust camber, and two tie rod ends to adjust toe....that's it. They simply back the car onto the rack, and set the toe reverse of the front.
If you pay more than $75-$85, IMHO, you are being hosed. You are justified in informing this shop that they are little short of criminals, and you will pass this information on to the tight knit Corvette community, with the advice to avoid their facility.
I'm quite sorry....you've fallen victim to the infamous "Corvette Tax"
They charge me $75 every time....even after I replaced all my front and rear suspension bushings with polyurethane, which put it way out of spec. They always have it done in less than an hour.
I wouldn't go anyplace else. I can take my 84 to over 100 mph on a level road, and it tracks straight as an arrow.
I strongly suggest you find just such a shop where you live. Talk to friends and co-workers and get recommendations.
I've had my entire suspension off my car, in my own garage, so I feel very confident making this statement: There is absolutely NOTHING mysterious about a C4's suspension. It's actually quite simple. Given an alignment rack and an hour or so, I could do it myself. In fact, a lot of folks set up their own alignment jigs in their garages and do their own alignments.
"Shim aligned"? How did they define this? The only place shims are used are on the front upper control arms to adjust caster and camber. And it just involves loosening two nuts, inserting or removing the appropriate shims, and retorquing the nuts. Same procedure as with most vehicles.
The rear uses two cams to adjust camber, and two tie rod ends to adjust toe....that's it. They simply back the car onto the rack, and set the toe reverse of the front.
If you pay more than $75-$85, IMHO, you are being hosed. You are justified in informing this shop that they are little short of criminals, and you will pass this information on to the tight knit Corvette community, with the advice to avoid their facility.
I'm quite sorry....you've fallen victim to the infamous "Corvette Tax"
Thanks again!!!
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Beach Cities SoCal
I purchased tires through TireRack and found that the Recommended Installer for my area had fair price. I went back and had him install shocks brakes rotors and 4 wheel alignment. The alignment was less than $80 for me.
You may want to try the TireRack Installation button at the bottom of this page: http://www.tirerack.com/installer/index.jsp
It will list shops in your area after inputting your ZIP.
I'd interview them with the info you've learned about price and take a good look at the shop to see that they have the computer alignment machine and that they don't appear to be a hack shop.
Good Luck,
Frank.
You may want to try the TireRack Installation button at the bottom of this page: http://www.tirerack.com/installer/index.jsp
It will list shops in your area after inputting your ZIP.
I'd interview them with the info you've learned about price and take a good look at the shop to see that they have the computer alignment machine and that they don't appear to be a hack shop.
Good Luck,
Frank.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: CA
Originally Posted by Ivory90
I purchased tires through TireRack and found that the Recommended Installer for my area had fair price. I went back and had him install shocks brakes rotors and 4 wheel alignment. The alignment was less than $80 for me.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
I'm getting my alignment done tomorrow by a friend at a dealership. We'll see just what extra costs there may be. Of course I'll be standing there watching them do the whole thing because I want to see how it works.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Originally Posted by eschoendorff
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!!
The only time an alignment should exceed $85 or so is if parts (not shims) are needed.....ie bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, etc.
When I first got my 84, the suspension was all original and worn out. I had never torn into a C4's suspension before, but I read the Helms manual and took it apart.
For the front, I replaced upper and lower control arm bushings, ball joints, steering rack, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, and sway bar bushings. I did it one side at a time, and was amazed at how simple it really is.
The back looked more complicated, but again, was amazingly simple. Control arm bushings, strut rod bushings, sway bar, wheel bearings, center link & tie rods, spring bushings, & that's it. And it did the half shaft u joints while I was in there. All done in just my spare time, one side at a time.
When I was done, I did a "redneck alignment" with a bubble level and a measuring tape so I could drive it to the alignment shop. $75 and an hour later, it steered like a new car. I was pleasantly surprised at how little there really is to adjust to align it.
Anyhow, didn't mean to hijack the thread. Tire rack is an excellent resource for local shops that can help you out, and a great place for tires....got my Kumhos there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Originally Posted by Frizlefrak
c4cruiser....incorrect. No shims are used on the rear.
Jake...on the rear, they loosen the bolts that secure the two cams (mounted on the rear end carrier) that control the strut rods, set the camber, and tighten the bolts. That's it. No shims are used on the rear. Then they just adjust the tie rod ends to set the toe. Finished.
Jake...on the rear, they loosen the bolts that secure the two cams (mounted on the rear end carrier) that control the strut rods, set the camber, and tighten the bolts. That's it. No shims are used on the rear. Then they just adjust the tie rod ends to set the toe. Finished.
Just wanted to be sure that old age hadn't dimmed my vision THAT much.
Thanks,
Jake
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 198
From: Southern CA
I agree w/ Friz, I pay $65-$75 for alignment to MY specs (autox), sit in the car, 90 day warranty (which is unusual when you supply the specs)..
Find a new alignment shop. Vettes are NOT special so far as alignment is concerned.
Find a new alignment shop. Vettes are NOT special so far as alignment is concerned.
Originally Posted by Frizlefrak
There's a little mom and pop shop here call Hughley's that I take my Vette to for alignments. The place has been there for over 40 years, and has an excellent reputation.
They charge me $75 every time....even after I replaced all my front and rear suspension bushings with polyurethane, which put it way out of spec. They always have it done in less than an hour.
I wouldn't go anyplace else. I can take my 84 to over 100 mph on a level road, and it tracks straight as an arrow.
I strongly suggest you find just such a shop where you live. Talk to friends and co-workers and get recommendations.
I've had my entire suspension off my car, in my own garage, so I feel very confident making this statement: There is absolutely NOTHING mysterious about a C4's suspension. It's actually quite simple. Given an alignment rack and an hour or so, I could do it myself. In fact, a lot of folks set up their own alignment jigs in their garages and do their own alignments.
"Shim aligned"? How did they define this? The only place shims are used are on the front upper control arms to adjust caster and camber. And it just involves loosening two nuts, inserting or removing the appropriate shims, and retorquing the nuts. Same procedure as with most vehicles.
The rear uses two cams to adjust camber, and two tie rod ends to adjust toe....that's it. They simply back the car onto the rack, and set the toe reverse of the front.
If you pay more than $75-$85, IMHO, you are being hosed. You are justified in informing this shop that they are little short of criminals, and you will pass this information on to the tight knit Corvette community, with the advice to avoid their facility.
I'm quite sorry....you've fallen victim to the infamous "Corvette Tax"
They charge me $75 every time....even after I replaced all my front and rear suspension bushings with polyurethane, which put it way out of spec. They always have it done in less than an hour.
I wouldn't go anyplace else. I can take my 84 to over 100 mph on a level road, and it tracks straight as an arrow.
I strongly suggest you find just such a shop where you live. Talk to friends and co-workers and get recommendations.
I've had my entire suspension off my car, in my own garage, so I feel very confident making this statement: There is absolutely NOTHING mysterious about a C4's suspension. It's actually quite simple. Given an alignment rack and an hour or so, I could do it myself. In fact, a lot of folks set up their own alignment jigs in their garages and do their own alignments.
"Shim aligned"? How did they define this? The only place shims are used are on the front upper control arms to adjust caster and camber. And it just involves loosening two nuts, inserting or removing the appropriate shims, and retorquing the nuts. Same procedure as with most vehicles.
The rear uses two cams to adjust camber, and two tie rod ends to adjust toe....that's it. They simply back the car onto the rack, and set the toe reverse of the front.
If you pay more than $75-$85, IMHO, you are being hosed. You are justified in informing this shop that they are little short of criminals, and you will pass this information on to the tight knit Corvette community, with the advice to avoid their facility.
I'm quite sorry....you've fallen victim to the infamous "Corvette Tax"
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa CA
My alignment cost me $125.00.
I took the specs from an issue of 'Vette Magazine that were supposedly taken from the TPS website. This among other things, included a 1.1 degrees of front negative camber. IMO, this is necessary for getting maximum patch and proper tire wear when running 315/35-17 Michelin Pilot Sports on all four with 9.5" wheels.
They got me for another $100.00 for mounting and balancing those tires however.
FWIW,
BIG JIM
I took the specs from an issue of 'Vette Magazine that were supposedly taken from the TPS website. This among other things, included a 1.1 degrees of front negative camber. IMO, this is necessary for getting maximum patch and proper tire wear when running 315/35-17 Michelin Pilot Sports on all four with 9.5" wheels.
They got me for another $100.00 for mounting and balancing those tires however.
FWIW,
BIG JIM
