If you were to count the number of threads showing and make sure the length of the new tie-rod end is the same length as what your replacing and install the new one so the same number of threads are showing would it still need aligned? If so, why? I'm not a mechanic and would love to hear other people's insight. Mechanics or not.

 

You are supposed to thread count just to have the car drivable and them get it fine tuned on a rack.

 

This. I guess you don't have too, if you don't want to but it would be smart to get it done.


In my opinon, there is no reason to risk it.

 

It's always beyond me why Honda guys in particular never get alignments lol. It's not that expensive and chances are, if you think you can change a tie-rod and not need an alignment, your car is probably terribly misaligned. If it has anything to do with this, since you asked, I was a mechanic from 2003-2006 and still regularly work on cars and align all of them every 2-3 track days even when I don't change any parts.

 

I agree. lol A couple of my buddys have yet to get their cars aligned. One is pushings a year sense he lowered it. Hasn't gone threw tires yet, but he's close.

Lifetime alignment here! Well worth it!

I am going back!!

 

I was just curious. I guess I thought if you could put things back the way they were then it wouldn't need aligned but I do agree every so often you should definitely get it aligned. Now, when I changed my struts I took it to get aligned and they could not make any adjustments w/o a camber kit. Or at least this is what I was told. The bolts and holes that are part of the knuckle have no way to be adjusted. Is this true on other Honda models or are they adjustable like other manufacturers with oblong holes are bolts that are adjustable. Maybe I'll post the variance when I change my tie rod ends and have it aligned.

 

"could not make any adjustments w/o a camber kit."

Toe!

 

Yes, you can't adjust camber without a kit. HOWEVER, all you need to do is set the TOE

If they said they cannot align the car without a camber kit, they are full of ****. Find a new alignment shop.

 

the more accurate way to change tie rods and have your alignment as close to where you had it before was to do one side at a time.

say if your alignment was straight to begin with, after changing one side, you can drive the car down the street and see how it drives. then you adjust that one side until its back to where it was before.

then repeat for the second side. and it should be nearly as straight as before.

but thats really JUST to get you to the alignment shop anyway. it needs to be done accurately and quantitatively.

as for not having any adjustment, well the shop isnt communicating to you very well, or just dont want your business. of course toe is the major and most important thing to align and possible directly thru the tie rods. so to say theres no adjustment available, thats just nonsense.

theres no camber adjustment and not an easy way to adjust caster, stock. but thats not important if the suspension and chassis are in good shape.

 

It was '03 when I put a Ground Control coil over on it and yeah I do believe they said the same thing. Toe could be adjusted just not camber. It was 7 years at least so you'll have to forgive my poor memory. Alignment is something I lack experience. So is there camber adjustment on other Hondas or do they require camber kits as well?

 

I can't think of any hondas that have adjustable camber. Not at least from the 90's.

Good chassis shouldn't need it

Camber wear is a myth perpetuated by magazines over the years. Likely by skunk2.

 

I thought if your car is lower then a certain height , "slammed", then you need cambers? My brother's ek coupe is very low and the shop that was recommended which does alignment with no cambers told him they cant do it unless he has cambers.

 

Unless he's running more than 4 degrees of camber he really doesn't. If he's got < 3* camber you really don't need camber kits. Just proper tire rotation.

 

No because the part can (and often will) still be a different length even though the number of threads is the same.