front end alignment
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 21
From: east taunton ma
front end alignment
Hey guys, I had my 98 coupe aligned for the first time yesterday. It was way out of spec after I lowered it. I was really impressed how the guys took there time to get it right and how through they were. Of course that all comes with a big price tag. My question is what is the most anyone has paid for a alignment?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
189 for a 4 wheel job, This place has lazer lights pointing everywhere, Never seen anything like it before.
What do you call big price tag?
What do you call big price tag?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 2,587
From: Del Boca Vista FL
I paid $185 for a four wheel alignment at a tire and wheel specialty shop utilizing the latest in Hunter laser equipment. Car drove quite well following alignment, thrust angle was less than 1/4. Then I had the differential replaced as well as rear control arms. As the work required complete disassembly of the rear suspension I had the car realigned following the work by the shop that performed the work. They have older equipment but a really experienced tech. Thrust angle is zero, car drives in absolute neutral steer. Flat surface goes straight. Crowned surface will drift slowly to low side of crown. $89.95. Guess where I am going from now on?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
You guys who are paying $185 and $250, are you getting specific alignments for road racing or something? That just sounds really high. I haven't had my car aligned yet since the suspension upgrades so I'm just wondering if that's par for the course pricewise. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 21
From: east taunton ma
I guess my "big price tag" wasn't that bad. I paid $235. they also tighten all my exhaust bolts that I asked them to go over from my header install and let me right in the shop area while they had it on the rack. 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I had all four wheels aligned last year at a local shop that road races Corvettes. They also installed adjustable end links on my rear sway bar. The total cost for everything was $400. The difference is unbelievable. It's like driving a totally different car. 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
most firestones have a hunter laser rack. the lifetime alignment is like 180 and you can have it done again whenever you want.
as long as you walk the tech through how to do it correctly you can get some great numbers. i typically sit in the car while it's being done in order to get the toe spot on
the other thing is to know what specs you want to run before you go in
if you just ask for "an alignment" who knows what you'll get
as long as you walk the tech through how to do it correctly you can get some great numbers. i typically sit in the car while it's being done in order to get the toe spot on
the other thing is to know what specs you want to run before you go in
if you just ask for "an alignment" who knows what you'll get
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 3
From: Lompoc Ca
Took it to the dealership because I was worried about them lifting it properly. $159. Still pulled to the right. I called them and they said that's because the front tires are cupped.
Took it to the tire shop after installing leave in pucks and got front tires. They checked the alignment and gave me a printout showing it was way off. Took it back to the dealer and they re-aligned it and gave me a printout all in the green and its runs down the road like a straight arrow now. Just wish they had told me about the tires up front.
Took it to the tire shop after installing leave in pucks and got front tires. They checked the alignment and gave me a printout showing it was way off. Took it back to the dealer and they re-aligned it and gave me a printout all in the green and its runs down the road like a straight arrow now. Just wish they had told me about the tires up front.
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From: Western NY
Took it to the dealership because I was worried about them lifting it properly. $159. Still pulled to the right. I called them and they said that's because the front tires are cupped. Took it to the tire shop after installing leave in pucks and got front tires. They checked the alignment and gave me a printout showing it was way off. Took it back to the dealer and they re-aligned it and gave me a printout all in the green and its runs down the road like a straight arrow now. Just wish they had told me about the tires up front.
Took it to the tire shop after installing leave in pucks and got front tires. They checked the alignment and gave me a printout showing it was way off. Took it back to the dealer and they re-aligned it and gave me a printout all in the green and its runs down the road like a straight arrow now. Just wish they had told me about the tires up front.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
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From: oregon
need to know what you want the car to do
popular c5 street alignment is neg .8 camber in the front, neg .5 in the rear and 1/16th total toe in the front and the back
if there is something the tech should work on it's making sure that the 1/16th of toe is .03 on each side and not .05 on one side and .01 on the other which would still show as green on the screen. car would also pull slightly setup this way
which is also why the best alignment is done with you in the car. toe and camber change as weight is added and subtracted
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 3
From: Lompoc Ca
the green area on most modern machines aren't necessarily the be all and end all.
need to know what you want the car to do
popular c5 street alignment is neg .8 camber in the front, neg .5 in the rear and 1/16th total toe in the front and the back
if there is something the tech should work on it's making sure that the 1/16th of toe is .03 on each side and not .05 on one side and .01 on the other which would still show as green on the screen. car would also pull slightly setup this way
which is also why the best alignment is done with you in the car. toe and camber change as weight is added and subtracted
need to know what you want the car to do
popular c5 street alignment is neg .8 camber in the front, neg .5 in the rear and 1/16th total toe in the front and the back
if there is something the tech should work on it's making sure that the 1/16th of toe is .03 on each side and not .05 on one side and .01 on the other which would still show as green on the screen. car would also pull slightly setup this way
which is also why the best alignment is done with you in the car. toe and camber change as weight is added and subtracted
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I paid a 100 bucks at the chevy dealer here. Or something real close to it. I had just replaced my rear outer tie rod ends. I wasn't expecting to notice a difference but wow, drives like a new car.