Chicagoland - LIFETIME ALIGNMENT?!?!?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Chicagoland - LIFETIME ALIGNMENT?!?!?
Welp, after an off track excusrion I need to get the chevy aligned.... again. And during my search I found out that Firestone does Lifetime alignments for 149.00. 
Proper alignment makes a ton of difference on the way the car handles. If you are going to take your ride on a road course I would highly reccomend it.
If they do a solid job I will let everyone know, likewise if they blow I will tell you all to steer clear.
Later,
S
Proper alignment makes a ton of difference on the way the car handles. If you are going to take your ride on a road course I would highly reccomend it.
If they do a solid job I will let everyone know, likewise if they blow I will tell you all to steer clear.
Later,
S
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
As promised here is the follow up:
They did a god job. Took care of the car and had it done in 2 hours.
The bummer is that because I set the car to non-factory alignment specs they said no dice for the lifetime deal. I was kind of bummed but I understand their point completely. If I am going to be changing things every week they cannot cover that.
So I got a one time alignment for roughly $75.00 and called it good.
When, not if, I manage to knock the car out of alignment again I may see if they will do the lifetime alignment on Z06 specs.
Hope this helps someone. I know I had a heck of a time finding someone to do a 4 wheel alignment.
Later,
S.
They did a god job. Took care of the car and had it done in 2 hours.
The bummer is that because I set the car to non-factory alignment specs they said no dice for the lifetime deal. I was kind of bummed but I understand their point completely. If I am going to be changing things every week they cannot cover that.
So I got a one time alignment for roughly $75.00 and called it good.
When, not if, I manage to knock the car out of alignment again I may see if they will do the lifetime alignment on Z06 specs.
Hope this helps someone. I know I had a heck of a time finding someone to do a 4 wheel alignment.
Later,
S.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: Palatine IL
Originally Posted by The Kid
As promised here is the follow up:
They did a god job. Took care of the car and had it done in 2 hours.
The bummer is that because I set the car to non-factory alignment specs they said no dice for the lifetime deal. I was kind of bummed but I understand their point completely. If I am going to be changing things every week they cannot cover that.
So I got a one time alignment for roughly $75.00 and called it good.
When, not if, I manage to knock the car out of alignment again I may see if they will do the lifetime alignment on Z06 specs.
Hope this helps someone. I know I had a heck of a time finding someone to do a 4 wheel alignment.
Later,
S.
They did a god job. Took care of the car and had it done in 2 hours.
The bummer is that because I set the car to non-factory alignment specs they said no dice for the lifetime deal. I was kind of bummed but I understand their point completely. If I am going to be changing things every week they cannot cover that.
So I got a one time alignment for roughly $75.00 and called it good.
When, not if, I manage to knock the car out of alignment again I may see if they will do the lifetime alignment on Z06 specs.
Hope this helps someone. I know I had a heck of a time finding someone to do a 4 wheel alignment.
Later,
S.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by SpankyC-5
What kind of alignment did they do? Just a front end? A full 4 wheel alignment for a Corvette takes at least 2.5 hours to do.
They did all four wheels and gave me a print out of before and after results.
My Left front was really outta wack because I clipped a the curb at turn 11 at Gingerman. I had missed a braking point and ended up with two wheels off.
The right side may not have needed as much work. It was really just my left front that was off.
I dropped the car off at 5:45 and they called at 7:45 and told me the car was done.
I was suprised that it was only 75 dollars for a four wheel alignment. When I called for the estimate they had said it would take 2.5 hours.
Hope this clears up any confusion.
S.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Originally Posted by The Kid
They did all four wheels and gave me a print out of before and after results.
My Left front was really outta wack because I clipped a the curb at turn 11 at Gingerman. I had missed a braking point and ended up with two wheels off.
The right side may not have needed as much work. It was really just my left front that was off.
I dropped the car off at 5:45 and they called at 7:45 and told me the car was done.
I was suprised that it was only 75 dollars for a four wheel alignment. When I called for the estimate they had said it would take 2.5 hours.
Hope this clears up any confusion.
S.
My Left front was really outta wack because I clipped a the curb at turn 11 at Gingerman. I had missed a braking point and ended up with two wheels off.
The right side may not have needed as much work. It was really just my left front that was off.
I dropped the car off at 5:45 and they called at 7:45 and told me the car was done.
I was suprised that it was only 75 dollars for a four wheel alignment. When I called for the estimate they had said it would take 2.5 hours.
Hope this clears up any confusion.
S.
Just curious did you bend something? I'm thinking if you hit something something had to be tweaked to change the alignment.... what numbers were off compared to what they had been set to before the incident?
-=Rick
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by VetteTech81
Just curious did you bend something? I'm thinking if you hit something something had to be tweaked to change the alignment.... what numbers were off compared to what they had been set to before the incident?
-=Rick
-=Rick
The original spec for the wheel was Camber of -.8 after the wack -.92.
Not a huge change but enough to through the steering wheel off.
S.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by The Kid
As promised here is the follow up:
They did a god job. Took care of the car and had it done in 2 hours.
The bummer is that because I set the car to non-factory alignment specs they said no dice for the lifetime deal. I was kind of bummed but I understand their point completely. If I am going to be changing things every week they cannot cover that.
They did a god job. Took care of the car and had it done in 2 hours.
The bummer is that because I set the car to non-factory alignment specs they said no dice for the lifetime deal. I was kind of bummed but I understand their point completely. If I am going to be changing things every week they cannot cover that.
I just had my car aligned by Firestone Lifetime program. They told me that it was way out of spec on their computer for what I wanted. I asked them to use the Z06 specs and viola The Z06 specs are more aggressive and worked with their system. -1 front camber, -.5 rear camber, 1/16" rear toe in, zero front toe, max caster. I like to think of it a "racer's all-you-can-eat buffet." I'll have at least two helpings a year.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
I'm visiting in the Chicago area now and am considering having an alignment done on my 86 while here.
Can you post the brand alignment machine that Firestone uses.
I'd also like to know what the exact specs are that they use and if they hit the specs "Right On" OR use a tolerance range.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Jake
Can you post the brand alignment machine that Firestone uses.
I'd also like to know what the exact specs are that they use and if they hit the specs "Right On" OR use a tolerance range.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Jake
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by JAKE
I'm visiting in the Chicago area now and am considering having an alignment done on my 86 while here.
Can you post the brand alignment machine that Firestone uses.
I'd also like to know what the exact specs are that they use and if they hit the specs "Right On" OR use a tolerance range.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Jake
Can you post the brand alignment machine that Firestone uses.
I'd also like to know what the exact specs are that they use and if they hit the specs "Right On" OR use a tolerance range.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Jake
I have no idea what equipment they use. The unit does have programmed specs with ranges that they can work within. That said, I told them what I wanted and they set it just as I requested and I have the printout for ref.
The Z06 alignment ranges are:
Front
Camber -1.2 to -0.2
Caster 6.4 to 7.4
Toe -0.6 to 0.14
Rear
Camber -1.2 to -0.2
Toe -0.11 to 0.09
If you want something outside of that, they would have to use some math to compensate.
Give them a call. I used the Naperville shop.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Originally Posted by IM QUIKR
Jake,
I have no idea what equipment they use. The unit does have programmed specs with ranges that they can work within. That said, I told them what I wanted and they set it just as I requested and I have the printout for ref.
The Z06 alignment ranges are:
Front
Camber -1.2 to -0.2
Caster 6.4 to 7.4
Toe -0.6 to 0.14
Rear
Camber -1.2 to -0.2
Toe -0.11 to 0.09
If you want something outside of that, they would have to use some math to compensate.
Give them a call. I used the Naperville shop.
I have no idea what equipment they use. The unit does have programmed specs with ranges that they can work within. That said, I told them what I wanted and they set it just as I requested and I have the printout for ref.
The Z06 alignment ranges are:
Front
Camber -1.2 to -0.2
Caster 6.4 to 7.4
Toe -0.6 to 0.14
Rear
Camber -1.2 to -0.2
Toe -0.11 to 0.09
If you want something outside of that, they would have to use some math to compensate.
Give them a call. I used the Naperville shop.
Thanks for that info.
Earlier this year I played around with different camber settings and I KNOW that negative camber settings make a dramatic difference in the handling of my car.
My car turns like it's on "rails" when the camber is set of slightly NEGATIVE. So based on how the car has been handling with the camber set to negative, I'd gladly trade a little positive caster in order to get negative camber.
I'll take your advice on the phone call, too.
Thanks again.
Jake