Alignment Cost WTF

[dustyoldfart]

'94 FSB 6" Lift NEW Wrangler (35 12.5 15'zz)
always have aligned myself with a 2 X 4 and a couple of Nails
35z wore out correctly about 45K
put the new Wranglers on (1200.00) and thought it would be good to get a PRO alignment
3 shops want $70-$90 for alignment
one wants $180.00 !!!!! (because its lifted and raised)
are they SPECIAL or am I missing something?????
why would lifted and raised have anything to do with Aligning front end ?????

[defcon5]

Because they can. That is a good price as well.

[BigBlue&Goldie]

They have to pay for the expensive alignment system, the guy doing the alignment, the lights in the shop, and still put some money in the owners pocket. The price isn't bad at all. Personally, I would get a lifetime alignment deal if you plan on sticking with the TTB.

[Saltlife]

Take it to a mom and pop shop that still aligns with mirrors and lights. If you take it to a shop with these new machines they will try to put you to stock and that is not what you are. Lift and tires do make a difference. Have you replaced your adjustment bushings?

[BroncoAL95]

Yeah mom and pop. Cost was 49 dollars. Not bad i think compared to tire kdom 79.

[Seattle FSB]

Originally Posted by Saltlife

Take it to a mom and pop shop that still aligns with mirrors and lights. If you take it to a shop with these new machines they will try to put you to stock and that is not what you are. Lift and tires do make a difference. Have you replaced your adjustment bushings?

This^^^ Aligned to the lifted vehicle, not to factory spec. Many commercial alignment shops cannot do this.

[wdford]

Those are average prices. We get $150 and go up from there, euro cars mostly. The rack alone is 35k then there's the actual alignment equipment, maintenance and software updates. To do it right as a shop owner is not cheap.

However a lifted truck with big tires doesn't need millimeter precision either. At the racetrack we use toe plates and a manual camber tool.

[GetBent4x4]

some of the commercial idiots want two or three times what you were quoted OP. Make sure they are doing toe AND CASTER AND CAMBER. You need the adjustable bushings for caster/camber. you won't know what degree you need to till they try and adjust the caster/camber. You can always buys the bushings off rockauto and then come back in a 2nd time and let them do the caster/camber.

[KTO17]

WOW! You guys are on the wrong coast!

My local Mom & Pop in the city is $40 all day long, lifted TTB or stock 350 solid axle. Only time it was more was when they had to change out the bushings to get it right the first time. That was $20 and that only covered the parts.

Make sure they are not trying to charge you for a four wheel alignment. Only time I got a qoute somewhere else they tried that. I asked the guy to show me how they would adjust the rear and he walked away!

[bossind]

Toe is easy and cheap to do, but if they have to get into camber and caster - its a huge job! I wouldn't do it for 200 bucks!

[Kingfish999]

ive taken it to many shops that say 70-90$. then they call me saying you need your camber bushings replaced and that will be an hour of labor each side plus 20$ for the new bushings. 75$ alignment + 20$ bushings + 180$ labor (90$ an hour) = EXPENSIVE jsut to find out they couldnt get it alligned properly.

thats y i do it halfway myself. get adjsutable alignemtn bushings, get them at Nuetral (0*/0*) and put them in. take it somewhere that will give alignment check free and get the handout that shows how bad the alignment is. adjsut the bushings to where it needs to be. put bushings back in and adjsut the toe with the tape measurer or take it and get the toe profeshiopnally done. cant get the alignment any better than that.

[wdford]

Originally Posted by bossind

Toe is easy and cheap to do, but if they have to get into camber and caster - its a huge job! I wouldn't do it for 200 bucks!

^^^
this

It ought to be a toe and go - anything over that and it's time and materials!

[bossind]

Originally Posted by Kingfish999

ive taken it to many shops that say 70-90$. then they call me saying you need your camber bushings replaced and that will be an hour of labor each side plus 20$ for the new bushings. 75$ alignment + 20$ bushings + 180$ labor (90$ an hour) = EXPENSIVE jsut to find out they couldnt get it alligned properly.

thats y i do it halfway myself. get adjsutable alignemtn bushings, get them at Nuetral (0*/0*) and put them in. take it somewhere that will give alignment check free and get the handout that shows how bad the alignment is. adjsut the bushings to where it needs to be. put bushings back in and adjsut the toe with the tape measurer or take it and get the toe profeshiopnally done. cant get the alignment any better than that.

Problem with this is as you turn it to get camber right you throw off caster, its why they make the bushings in a range of degrees.

[Kingfish999]

not if you do it right. with the handout form the alignment check it says how much the camber and caster is off. the adjustable alignment bushings inclued a chart so you can adjsut for both to be perfect. well as lnog as your alignment isnt too far out that is. after i do my part ofthe alignment sometimes i go and get the toe set and they always wonder how i got the alignment pretty much perfect

[bossind]

Originally Posted by Kingfish999

not if you do it right. with the handout form the alignment check it says how much the camber and caster is off. the adjustable alignment bushings inclued a chart so you can adjsut for both to be perfect. well as lnog as your alignment isnt too far out that is. after i do my part ofthe alignment sometimes i go and get the toe set and they always wonder how i got the alignment pretty much perfect

To do it right you need an assortment of camber/casting bushings.

[Kingfish999]

not with adjsutable alignment bushings.

http://www.supermotors.net/registry/24917/80108
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...ings-pair.html

[bossind]

Originally Posted by Kingfish999

not with adjsutable alignment bushings.

http://www.supermotors.net/registry/24917/80108
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...ings-pair.html

Again, as you turn them they throw off caster or camber - depending on what your going for.

[Kingfish999]

you must have never seen a double axis adjsutable bushing before. you can adjsut BOTH camber and caster seperatly. they give you a chart to know what position to set it.
1. you use the chart to find how which set of letters you use so you have the correct amount of camber and caster.
2. you adjsut the top part of the bushing
3. you install the bushing so the bottom part is in the correct position
4. adjsut toe
5. ????
6. PROFIT

[bossind]

Originally Posted by Kingfish999

you must have never seen a double axis adjsutable bushing before. you can adjsut BOTH camber and caster seperatly. they give you a chart to know what position to set it.
1. you use the chart to find how which set of letters you use so you have the correct amount of camber and caster.
2. you adjsut the top part of the bushing
3. you install the bushing so the bottom part is in the correct position
4. adjsut toe
5. ????
6. PROFIT

Actually I have some and an alignment rack.

[GetBent4x4]

Originally Posted by bossind

Actually I have some and an alignment rack.

hmm if it's so hard how do the shops do it then?