Alignment & Corner Balancing

Nine9six · Nine9six's Garage

Is it me, or does $350 sound expensive for the above mentioned subject?
Any other recommendations on who to take the car to for this service...I am in the East Bay area.
Thanks,
Paul

MotoSook · 05-24-2005, 02:52 PM

That doesn't sound bad....if it's done right. It's not a one hour job that's for sure....I think a fellow "bastard" paid $500+ in the Chicago burb.

ZOA NOM · ZOA NOM's Garage

$350 sounds reasonable. Try it yourself once and you'll agree. I had the fortune to be allowed the use of my wrench's rack and equipment on a Saturday to do it myself. He did that just to let me see the value of a thorough alignment. To do it right takes more than just a couple of hours.

ttweed · ttweed's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Souk
I think a fellow "bastard" paid $500+ in the Chicago burb.

That's the going rate here in San Diego, one of the 5 least affordable cities in the country.

TT

MotoSook · 05-24-2005, 03:01 PM

Tom, If you can line up enough work for me, I'll move to SD and bring all my tools

Cory M · 05-24-2005, 03:05 PM

You'd have to sell all of your cars to be able to afford a down-payment, on an 800 sq ft "condo", an hour away from downtown....

MotoSook · 05-24-2005, 03:07 PM

I know Cory..that's why the "enough work" clause

I couldn't move there unless I hit the lotto

cbeers · 05-24-2005, 03:10 PM

Sounds like Paul had a good weekend!?!?!

That's about the right price Paul, I use Custom Alignment in Mountain View, so you may want to call them for a price check. I know that Custom really knows their stuff

-Chris

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

I had my car balanced and aligned last Tuesday for $250.00. That was in Charlotte, NC. They spent quite a bit of time on it, so I thought the cost was fair. Applying the left-coast-cost-index, I'd say $350 sounds like a smokin' deal. Better than I paid.

HarryD · 05-24-2005, 07:42 PM

Sounds sorta inexpensive.

I just had mine done (including lowering) for much more. But then again, what do I know, I let Jeff in Tualatin do it.

Jeff Alton · 05-24-2005, 07:58 PM

I paid 400cdn to have a reputable shop attempt to dial in my alignmnet after the install of the coilovers and 935 style bits. Still not right becuase they don't listen too well!! Still have to go back and get it right. Not sure I trust them to do a corner balance! I think I am going to get scales and start doing it myself.

Jeff

450knotOffice · 450knotOffice's Garage

nine9six,

I just paid about $475 for a alignment and corner balance from one of the best in the business and it literally took him ALL day to do it right.

Here's what he got me:

LF - 501
RF - 504
LR - 814
RR - 814

So it was well worth the money.

david c. · 05-24-2005, 10:59 PM

Scott,

Where did you have the work done (Steve A?) and what are your thoughts now that you've got a before/after opinion?

Dave

fuelie600 · 05-25-2005, 04:31 AM

How about if I get it really close using the Scruggs home alignment and the tripod methods? If I re-index the torsion bars and center the adjusters the full alignment and CB should be a quick process.

Right? What do you think?

livi · 05-25-2005, 04:56 AM

Thats funny. Here in Sweden I have been quoted same price as for my Jeep which is about 100 of your money and one hours work.

Sounds a bit fishy to you, does it ??

Zeke · 05-25-2005, 06:28 AM

$250 to $350 is very fair. I'm sure it can vary from car to car depending on what the survey shows. Mine is all new under there and no frozen nuts and bolts. I would hate to work on an original car for a flat rate. One bolt can slow you down considerably. Things break or get stripped when they are old and frozen.

Mike Bonkalski · 05-25-2005, 06:32 AM

Milt is right! We had a car in for an alignment that was missing an eccentric bolt. Some one just put a standard bolt in it's place! No wonder the guy had all sorts of positive camber. Lots of things can slow down the process.

PeteBrown · 05-25-2005, 06:37 AM

After completing my suspension upgrade of 22/29 t-bars, bilstein sports, turbo tie rods, PG/neatrix bushings, I just paid $200 for an alignment alone plus $40 to adjust loose wheel bearings. I set my ride height at 24.5" front/ 24" rear and given the height and toe (out) he wanted the mechanic could not get less than -2.44 of rear camber. My alignment is:
0.09 front toe in
-1.19 left front camber
-1.19 right front camber
0.02 rear toe out
-2.44 left rear camber
-2.44 right rear camber.
I'm excited to see how she handles in two+ weeks at Beaverun (6/11-12).

MotoSook · 05-25-2005, 06:43 AM

Pete, I'm surprise that you couldn't get less camber than that in the rear. Usually it's the front. The eccentric bolts like to turn in a certain way....they don't like to turn 360 degrees...if your wrench doesn't understand how the eccentric makes the wheel tilt...he might haev had trouble making it tilt out more...maybe it's not the case, but ... you don't want to out rule anything...

and yep...a rusted car or rusted parts is a beotch! It's difficult to accurately esitmate hours for that reason...sure there are ways to deal with broken bolts, studs, etc... but it adds time...sometimes customers understand...sometimes they don't.