Front End Alignment
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
Front End Alignment
Would you trust an average run of the mill front end alignment shop to do an alignment on a C5 Corvette or take it to a GM Dealership? Front tires wearing on inside.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
Nope! I don't even trust GM. You should look for an alignment place that caters to the performance car and racing crowd. That would be your best bet. What does your local Corvette club recommend? They may have a place they trust.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,866
Likes: 768
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
I went to a place that buys ad space in our club newsletter. Then I asked them about different specs for the type of driving I do and the tire wear I want.
If the tech looks at you dumbfounded, move on. Even if YOU don't know much about settings, you should be able to tell if it seems they know what they are talking about for some variables.
This place did a perfect job in my opinion and the car quit tramlining and the tire wear seems good so far.
And....actually, sometimes the "run of the mill" places can have some well seasoned people that know what they are doing and are the type that doesn't want to work under the bs that a dealership can put on them.
Good luck....ask around.
If the tech looks at you dumbfounded, move on. Even if YOU don't know much about settings, you should be able to tell if it seems they know what they are talking about for some variables.
This place did a perfect job in my opinion and the car quit tramlining and the tire wear seems good so far.
And....actually, sometimes the "run of the mill" places can have some well seasoned people that know what they are doing and are the type that doesn't want to work under the bs that a dealership can put on them.
Good luck....ask around.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
It's not that it takes special tools to do an alignment on the car. It just takes someone willing to take the time to out the car into proper specs rather than someone who sees the numbers are in the "green" or within tolerances and just let's it go.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,866
Likes: 768
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 804
Likes: 4
Depends on your driving habits. If you drive aggressively than I would look foe a good shop specializing in performance cars. If it's just a weekend cruiser and all you want is best tire wear than I would say any shop is as good as another. For a lowered car talk to the tech and get a feeling if he will take good care of it and is careful loading the car on the machine. Like someone said it's only a Chevy and unless you want 4 corner balance with custom settings don't waste your money on fancy alignment, you will never notice the difference unless you push your car.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 698
Likes: 20
From: Md
shop?
There was also a 25 yr old kid doing alignments who I wouldn't want touching my lawnmower.
It's not always the name of the restaurant, but who the chef is that night.
Ask around.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 19,864
Likes: 146
From: South East TN
I asked a local shop if they'd done any Z06 alignments. He asked me what a Z06 was. Then he said " An alignment is an alignment but it shouldn't be much different from a truck" I left, never to return.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
Well you might not want to hear this but technically it's not. You loosen a nut turn the eccentric to get the numbers needed and tighten the nut down. Its just a matter of quality work as with any other kind of work. You can the types of vehicles I work on by looking at my instagram page www.instagram.com/tredalign
I've worked on as small as a John deer turf truckster to a 5 axle 4 steer crane. As well as quite a few Corvettes locally.
I've worked on as small as a John deer turf truckster to a 5 axle 4 steer crane. As well as quite a few Corvettes locally.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 608
Likes: 17
From: South Lyon, MI
belle tire has nice drive on ramps for lower cars such as ours and their alignment system is pretty nice too. At the end of the day if you want oem spec alignment its not hard to do at any of these shops. Your enter the vehicle vin/info in the alignment computer then adjust until everything is green
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR
I noticed when I had my right front replaced last weekend (nail in the sidewall) that the inside was quite warn. I know where to take my bike, but have no idea where to take my car yet. I'm sure Portland has a few places.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
belle tire has nice drive on ramps for lower cars such as ours and their alignment system is pretty nice too. At the end of the day if you want oem spec alignment its not hard to do at any of these shops. Your enter the vehicle vin/info in the alignment computer then adjust until everything is green
So who do you want working on your car? The guy that says it's in the green so shouldn't be wearing tires or the guy that says even though it is in the green let's make it where it should be.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,866
Likes: 768
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Jim Bacon's Tire Factory on Canyon did mine. No complaints. They used to advertise in RCC's news letter.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR