I just dropped my 2002 Honda Accord FR 2.1 RR 1.7 I was just wondering if I really needed to get an alignment? Because when I drive it the car is not pulling to any side of the road nor do the wheels look like they have negative camber. Actually nothing seems to be out of an ordinary besides that the car is lowered.

So if I need an alignment please explain why?

 

You do because your toe is going to be screwy. You can't really just eyeball the suspension alignment.

Toe eats tires like mad. get an alignment.

 

If you don't want to get an alignment, expect to replace your tires frequently.

 

As I am aware, lowering cars will only affect CAMBER, not TOE...

 

Lowering changes the suspension geometry. Different cars/suspensions systems will react differently to a change in ride height. You need to get an alignment to correct the change. Toe is affected when you go lower, It may not seem significant but if you want your tires to wear as even as possible, its needed. Generally its a good idea to let your new springs settle for about 1-2 weeks, then get the alignment.

 

its not nessesary if you like to replace tires alot

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AspectIndustries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As I am aware, lowering cars will only affect CAMBER, not TOE...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well you're not aware enough. Been registered since 03 and have 3k posts and you didn't know this?

....

 

But if my alignment was off shouldn't my steering wheel be a little off and the whole car would not drive straight, pull to the right or left?

And also how much do you guys think is a fair price for an alignment ?

 

if you lower the car everything changes. when the car is lowered equally from left to right there is not going to be unequal toe changes so its still gonna drive straight as if nothing changed. Take it from me get the alignment. hondas dont have factory camber adjustment parts so invest in some camber kits for the front and rear before you align it cause its part of an alignment to fix the camber as long as you tell them its adjustable. Normally alignments run about 60 to 100 bucks. Depends on the shop and the machine that they use. I align cars every day monday through friday and let me tell you any time a vehicle changes in height its thrown out of alignment. You know how when you get a brand new car its kinda jacked up some but after a few days it settles down just a little bit?? well guess what the alignment is off and will cause outter tire wear (usually on the outside) Dud save the tires get the alignment.

 

OK. I guess I will get an alignment. But as far as the camber kit goes many people say that if you set the toe to zero than the wheel should be straight and I should have no uneven tire wear.

 

The alignment is affected ANY time you change the ride height, NO EXCEPTIONS. You MUST have the wheels aligned EVERY time you change the ride height to reset the toe - unless you want uneven tire wear, possibly severe enough that you'll be chewing new expensive tires to shreds in a matter of only a few hundred miles. Slightly uneven wear is acceptable; severely reducing the useful life of the tire is not. A $100 alignment is cheaper than $400 of wasted tires.

Alignment specs also play a huge role in the handling of the car and must not be overlooked as a tuning tool. Alignment is just as important as tire pressure. Maximizing grip and achieving a good balance is all about maintaining the ideal contact patch of the tire to the ground at all times.

A straight steering wheel isn't necessarily an indicator of the alignment being in spec, just as a crooked steering wheel is not necessarily an indicator of being out of spec. They are related, but not directly.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AspectIndustries &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As I am aware, lowering cars will only affect CAMBER, not TOE...</TD></TR></TABLE>
In a complicated modern independent suspension, the toe is dynamic, just as the camber is. Any time you change camber, toe changes with it - which is why, when aligning a car with adjusters for both specs, you always set the camber first and then the toe.