Where to go for Wheel Alignment?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
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From: SoCal
Where to go for Wheel Alignment?
Getting lowered in a couple of weeks.
Where should I go for wheel alignment and how soon after the lowering should I wait????
Do I need to know any specs to bring with me?????
Is SEARS ok? My son has a friend who works the auto section...so I know they will do the best job possible......but will that be good enough?
Where should I go for wheel alignment and how soon after the lowering should I wait????
Do I need to know any specs to bring with me?????
Is SEARS ok? My son has a friend who works the auto section...so I know they will do the best job possible......but will that be good enough?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
take the car to a place that will be able to get your car on their hoist and mainly a place that you feel confident with.
When it come to expensive things I try to avoid a friend incase something goes wrong. that way your friend ship remains in tact
When it come to expensive things I try to avoid a friend incase something goes wrong. that way your friend ship remains in tact
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 18,682
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by Zilla
take the car to a place that will be able to get your car on their hoist and mainly a place that you feel confident with.
When it come to expensive things I try to avoid a friend incase something goes wrong. that way your friend ship remains in tact
When it come to expensive things I try to avoid a friend incase something goes wrong. that way your friend ship remains in tact
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Macinamouth
Is SEARS ok?
SEARS !?????
Yeah, bring your $50 grand car to a place
where some high school kids can have OJT
on it ! That's very community minded of
you
Didn't Sears reach a settlement with the
FTC a few years back regarding phony repairs
they were pushing on consumers who bought
their cars to them ?
If you do bring your car there, please let
us know how it turned out
You're better off finding a specialty shop &
pay a bit more knowing the job was done
right.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 377
Likes: 2
From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
I brought my wife’s Maxima to sears after I did the struts. Big mistake, the car handled lousy, then had it redone by a specialty shop and found that sears did not have the car within specs. Got my $$$ back from sears with the before and after computer printout from the new place.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Sears had nothing to do with friendship. My sons friend is there...so I would get the best job possible...but guess that won't be good enough......this is why I asked!!
Tire Rack recommendation sounds like a good idea...thanks!
Tire Rack recommendation sounds like a good idea...thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 3
From: Ventura, CA Fight On Forever
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
Howie,
How can you possibly expect to soar with the Eagles when you indulge yourself with ................ service by Sears??
You should know by now that the guy's setup you envy, has done everything you're contemplating. I have the shop and the specs you want, but because you're so vain, I'm not going to give it too you until you show evidence of season tickets for................Trojan Football.....2005.
You can get there the easy way, or you can get there by trial and error. You'll get there faster and have a lot more fun my way.......... Best to your family and your girl friend in the Holiday Spirit,
mtv
How can you possibly expect to soar with the Eagles when you indulge yourself with ................ service by Sears??
You should know by now that the guy's setup you envy, has done everything you're contemplating. I have the shop and the specs you want, but because you're so vain, I'm not going to give it too you until you show evidence of season tickets for................Trojan Football.....2005.
You can get there the easy way, or you can get there by trial and error. You'll get there faster and have a lot more fun my way.......... Best to your family and your girl friend in the Holiday Spirit,
mtv
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Hey there.
I waited a good 4 -6 weeks. You have stock suspension?
I got a guy off Baldwin Ave. & the 10 Fwy ...have used him for years ... always happy with his work. King's Tires in El Monte / Arcadia ... Ask for Sam.
Just had mine done about a month ago.
Dave Q.
I waited a good 4 -6 weeks. You have stock suspension?
I got a guy off Baldwin Ave. & the 10 Fwy ...have used him for years ... always happy with his work. King's Tires in El Monte / Arcadia ... Ask for Sam.
Just had mine done about a month ago.
Dave Q.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by MTV
Howie,
How can you possibly expect to soar with the Eagles when you indulge yourself with ................ service by Sears??
You should know by now that the guy's setup you envy, has done everything you're contemplating. I have the shop and the specs you want, but because you're so vain, I'm not going to give it too you until you show evidence of season tickets for................Trojan Football.....2005.
You can get there the easy way, or you can get there by trial and error. You'll get there faster and have a lot more fun my way.......... Best to your family and your girl friend in the Holiday Spirit,
mtv
How can you possibly expect to soar with the Eagles when you indulge yourself with ................ service by Sears??
You should know by now that the guy's setup you envy, has done everything you're contemplating. I have the shop and the specs you want, but because you're so vain, I'm not going to give it too you until you show evidence of season tickets for................Trojan Football.....2005.
You can get there the easy way, or you can get there by trial and error. You'll get there faster and have a lot more fun my way.......... Best to your family and your girl friend in the Holiday Spirit,
mtv
You are right....I should have thought to ask you. You are my fountain of knowledge and experience. I humbly beg your pardon and prey you will bestow on me the venue and specs I will need after my next visit with Andy (Jan 8, Saturday.....incase you are around...I will order pizza)
I don't have time in my life for the Trojan tickets but there is a permanantly reserved spot in my heart.
Best to you and your too....
Your friend, Howard
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by Macinamouth
Where should I go for wheel alignment and how soon after the lowering should I wait????
Do I need to know any specs to bring with me?????
Is SEARS ok?
Do I need to know any specs to bring with me?????
Is SEARS ok?
I don't think there is any set amount of time to wait after lowering - you just have to wait until the car fully settles. However, this raises a follow-up question in my mind. I have always had alignment performed on every car I have ever owned after replacing tires. Since you can't replace tires on a C5 w/o raising the suspension (which means another period of settling), does this mean I should not do my alignment at that time? Have you heard, or can someone else chime in?
You don't need to bring or specify alignment specs. They will automatically apply C5 specs to your C5 (unless you specify Z06 alignment specs, which improve corner handling but increase tire wear).
Can't say either way regarding Sears. If you are comfortable with their facilities and competence, go with it. IMO, the best place to go is one of those bling-bling wheel shops that cater to Mercedes, Jags, etc. They will most likely have a fully equipped alignment facility, treat your car right, and be used to the demands of fussy owners. Talking to the mechanic and promising a good tip for a job well done might not hurt either.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by BW1
Since you can't replace tires on a C5 w/o raising the suspension (which means another period of settling), does this mean I should not do my alignment at that time? Have you heard, or can someone else chime in?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by MyVetteDream
After the body initial drop, it does not subsequently take as long to settle after being lifted. However, you may want to wait at least a few days, depending on how much driving you do and so forth, before you get the alignment. I hope that's what you were asking.
P.S. Sorry to hijack your thread Howard, but hopefully this info is useful for you also.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Talk to some of the local racers. I found a good shop, possibly the only good shop, in town by talking to racers. The place I go to often has Formula Vees on their lifts getting alignments, and does all the Miata's for Rent2Race, so they're good enough for me too. One good thing I noticed during the alignment was the mechanic would make changes, then drive the car back and forth to get rid of any binding, then repeat the process a few times. Check into getting your car corner weighted if the shop is good enough to do it. Not totally necessary, but it makes the car more predictable to handle.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by BW1
Yes, that's what I meant... but I'm still unclear if it's okay to have the alignment done immediately after having the tires mounted. It is probably less than 50' from the work lift to the alignment pit.
P.S. Sorry to hijack your thread Howard, but hopefully this info is useful for you also.
P.S. Sorry to hijack your thread Howard, but hopefully this info is useful for you also.
I have been told by several sources that alignment is not necessary with wheel/tire changes. Nor when I did sway bars. Only necessary after lowering!!
Seems like most say to wait a few days of driving before doing the alignment....especially since settling may necessitate adjustments in the lowering!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by Macinamouth
I have been told by several sources that alignment is not necessary with wheel/tire changes.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Get the fixed alignment plates from Hardbar or PFYC, then your alignment settings won't change unless you bend something. The stock camber plates don't take much hit before they shift. Can't do anything about the tires tho.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Originally Posted by BW1
Are these the plates you are referring to?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
did you know that sears and wall mart are the same now?
i use a fix it auto repair off the 57 frwy, anaheim for mine, hes got the latest equip and excellent with it. hes done my track and street cars.
if you want more info email me.
don
i use a fix it auto repair off the 57 frwy, anaheim for mine, hes got the latest equip and excellent with it. hes done my track and street cars.
if you want more info email me.
don