So I wore through a lot of tire last year (inner edge), so I know my toe is off. My question is, who should I trust with the alignment? I've heard poor things about NTB and Firestone. I'm not looking for a perfect, complete alignment as I am changing my setup this summer. Would I get ripped off at the dealer?

 

I'd go to a race shop. The price, most likely, will be comparable to a generic alignment shop, but you'll get a much more precise alignment.

 

I have used firestone a couple times, they did a good job listening to what I wanted.

 

Thanks, for now I'll go to firestone. I wish I knew of a race shop in northeast ohio for the future.

 

i haven't had any problems with shops that specialize in alignments, you could look into those. but firestone should be fine if your car isn't dropped.

 

hmmm...it's this low:

Think they could get it on the lift?


The problem is, I don't know of any alignment shops around let alone a good one.

 

Both mine and my fiancee's cars are lowered and they were able to get it on the lifts. They even set her camber to what I asked for, She has a camber kit.

 

Awesome. Thanks guys.

 

take the bumper off. makes it easier. call around and see if they are willing to work with camber kits, lowered cars, custom specs etc. and the price is ok.

 

This. When I went to firestone they told me they couldn't get my car up on a lift and recommended another place that had a pit. I googled my last alignment lol.

 

Hmph. I'll call, and I'll go no bumper if it's dicey.

 

Im sure its different from place to place but firestone here does a horse **** job with alignments. I have used goodyear and had good luck with them.

 

Depending on the type of alignment machine they use, you might have to lose the bumper anyway for the lasers to be able to see each other in front of the tires.

 

go there expecting to take your bumper off...not only because its hard to get a car on the lift with the bumper but it gets in the way of the separate sensors trying to communicate with eachother and the computer. do you have a camber kit? adjustable toe links? if you just have spring/shock and none of that crap just tell the shop to do the toe and not camber, they'll be happy with that. if you have other adjustable pieces its just going to frustrate them and make the price go up.

 

some shops will say they can't do the alignment unless you have a camber kit, which is of course a load of BS you should immediately leave if they say such nonsense.

 

Yeah I read the sticky and gained a lot of info . I have no camber, just coil overs. Thanks for all the advice...I'll bring some tools

 

i called up various firestone locations and they said as long as it can fit on the lift they dont care if your lowered...lifetime alignments are $169.99 and you can download a $15 off coupon from their website...!!!

 

Wow thats spendy, firestone and goodyear here only charge like $60-80 for alignments.

 

i wouuld never ever pay 170+ for an alignment, no matter if its life time or not. les swaub by me will not even touch my car unless i put a full camber and toe kit on it. called a performance shop, owner ( i know him) said 60 bucks from what i have noticed any where between 60-90 is what they run, what patrickgsr94 said is true, my friend had to take his off for them to do it,

most shops tell you need a camber kit because they think you wont know what your taking about and hope you will buy and pay them to install it.

 

wow, they want you to put on a "toe kit" when toe is already adjustable from the factory.

Why would you not want to pay $170 for an alignment when you can come back as often as you like? After 3 alignments they're basically free, and you should be getting an alignment twice a year anyway, especially if you're lowered with negative camber.

 

hense the word lifetime
some people are smarter than others...unlike myself i dont have the DIY knowledge to do it myself and $169.99 for lifetime is cheaper than replacing a set of tires a year

 

Or if you keep changing suspension set-ups every 3 months like me! Haha.

 

Yup, thats the first thing I asked when I called the place I last went too. it's shops that are always trying to make a quick buck that you should stay away from.

 

good info

 

It's always good to have friends who work at place where alignments are done. Plus I wouldn't want somebody I didn't know driving my car.