Thread: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help

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  1. #1 Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
    Lifer h0wl0ngcanitbe's Avatar
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    So I finally got around to to my alignment, 89 bucks not bad. Got the typical call from Les Schwab and they want to do a ton of work, what can I do what should I have them do. No way im shelling out 900 bones to Les Schwab ive been hosed in the past from those guys. Where are my suspension guys at, mods in my sig




    2001 4dr Black GTP Stock and staying that was... maybe

    1997 2dr Black GTP Open Cone, GXP Rims, Black Headlights, ZZP Headers, ZZP Cat Back, Bunch of suspension parts from ZZP, ZZP 10.5MM plug wires, Autolite 605s, Overkill Tune
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  2. #2 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    You say they have hosed you before. But you went back again ?
    1997 Red GTP 182000 miles stock
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  3. #3 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
    GXP Level Member coolone's Avatar
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    If you got hosed by them before, why would you go back?
    Overkill BBC Cam, YT 1.8 RR's, Rhodes Lifters, STGII Heads, GenV, Pacesetters, 3" Exh to Tips, TEP Trans. N*, ID 75# injectors/E85 coming soon
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  4. #4 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    wheel bearings and tie rods are easy to change, then go to a firestone or some place for a alignment.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  5. #5 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    You can do it a lot cheaper also. They are both easy to do, he** even I did them .
    1997 Red GTP 182000 miles stock
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  6. #6 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    Get everything checked by a real mechanic before you start replacing stuff. Wheel bearings whine and grind when they are going bad. Have you heard anything different going down the road?

    If the bearing hub assembly does need replaced, doing so is within the capabilities of the average home mechanic with access to an air compressor, a decent range of sockets and whatnot, and a fair amount of patience (or friends with beer). Tie rod sleeve is pretty easy to see if it needs replaced. Got a hole or tear in it? Replace it. If not, leave it the heck alone.

    Don't go back there. Look like a bunch of useless rip off artists to me. If you were around me, I'd send you to my alignment guy. He only complains about tires......
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  7. #7 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    Quote Originally Posted by h0wl0ngcanitbe View Post
    Where are my suspension guys at, mods in my sig

    Only thing in your Sig:
    Bunch of suspension parts from ZZP

    that doesnt help much..


    By the way, lots of these places will never not find something wrong when you come in for an alignment if you know what I'm saying.
    2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT : Stock and slow and SOLD.
    2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP Special Edition
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  8. #8 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    find a different shop
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  9. #9 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
    Lifer h0wl0ngcanitbe's Avatar
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    Heh well I would never have them do this work but as far as alignments go I figured it was all the same. So I went with them just cause of location. After I got the call I figured I would look into doing the work myself, nothing has been acting up as of late I just figured since I lowered the car I should get a new alighnment.

    Suspension is as follow, AGX KYB, SSC Springs, GMPP Front and Rear Sway, ZZP Trailing arms

    2001 4dr Black GTP Stock and staying that was... maybe

    1997 2dr Black GTP Open Cone, GXP Rims, Black Headlights, ZZP Headers, ZZP Cat Back, Bunch of suspension parts from ZZP, ZZP 10.5MM plug wires, Autolite 605s, Overkill Tune
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  10. #10 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
    I live here. 02NavyBlue's Avatar
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    I'd just go somewhere else. The only reason they would want to replace two front wheel bearings and one tie rod end would because they have play in them. If I were you I'd check that myself first to save me the trouble of taking it there, then having to bring it back, replace parts, and bring it back again.

    And I have no clue why they're mentioning installing Cam bolts? Does that mean camshaft or something else? I doubt that's what it is.
    2006 Grand Prix GT S/C 109k - Modded Transgo Shift Kit, Gutted Airbox, Dash Cam, and Inlays. Retros soon to come.
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  11. #11 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    Quote Originally Posted by 02NavyBlue View Post
    I'd just go somewhere else. The only reason they would want to replace two front wheel bearings and one tie rod end would because they have play in them. If I were you I'd check that myself first to save me the trouble of taking it there, then having to bring it back, replace parts, and bring it back again.

    And I have no clue why they're mentioning installing Cam bolts? Does that mean camshaft or something else? I doubt that's what it is.
    Camber
    2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT : Stock and slow and SOLD.
    2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP Special Edition
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  12. #12 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
    I live here. 02NavyBlue's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by codyAK View Post
    Camber
    Ahh. Well camber is adjusted by the bolts holding the strut to the knuckle. Why would they want to replace the bolts?
    2006 Grand Prix GT S/C 109k - Modded Transgo Shift Kit, Gutted Airbox, Dash Cam, and Inlays. Retros soon to come.
    2002 Grand Prix GT N/A 127k - Same as 06 Plus: Trans Cooler, DIY Aux Input, LED lighting, Suspension Upgrades, Tint, Retrofits.
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  13. #13 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    Quote Originally Posted by 02NavyBlue View Post
    Ahh. Well camber is adjusted by the bolts holding the strut to the knuckle. Why would they want to replace the bolts?
    It's the "sucker" up-sell...ya gotta be a sucker to fall for it...
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  14. #14 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    Quote Originally Posted by 02NavyBlue View Post
    Ahh. Well camber is adjusted by the bolts holding the strut to the knuckle. Why would they want to replace the bolts?
    They are wanting to install camber bolts to adjust the camber to counter for being lowered.
    2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT : Stock and slow and SOLD.
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  15. #15 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    Quote Originally Posted by codyAK View Post
    They are wanting to install camber bolts to adjust the camber to counter for being lowered.
    If the lowering was done right, the camber would have been adjusted already. No need to install bolts just for a realignment unless the bolts are shot. It's a sucker charge, I'm tellin' ya! Find an honest shop, leave these clowns in the dust!
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  16. #16 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    Is your car in need of new parts? If so, replace and align. If no, then find another shop.

    Just have the toe adjusted. That amount of camber won't do anything, the toe out is what's going to ruin your tires.

    Quote Originally Posted by brsims View Post
    If the lowering was done right, the camber would have been adjusted already
    How?

    How do you adjust camber when using stock mounts?

    The "right" way to lower is drop spindles. But no one here wants to get into any of that. You'd still gain camber as that's how a well designed suspension works. Get lower, gain camber, up until a certain point.
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  17. #17 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    Quote Originally Posted by matt5112 View Post
    Is your car in need of new parts? If so, replace and align. If no, then find another shop.

    Just have the toe adjusted. That amount of camber won't do anything, the toe out is what's going to ruin your tires.



    How?

    How do you adjust camber when using stock mounts?
    How do I adjust camber? I take it to my alignment guy, the same one I've been using for 21 years.....he takes care of aligning the whole car, plus making sure the steering wheel is set in the proper position. And he only points out things that actually need replacing, like worn out tires (his biggest complaint with everybody) or leaking shocks or weak struts....never once screwed me over on needing unnecessary repairs or replacements. Alignments are unfortunately something I cannot do in my sad little excuse of a garage.....
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  18. #18 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
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    That's not at all what I'm asking.

    What I'm asking is how lowering a car correctly would have the camber adjusted differently.

    You state that you would not need camber bolts unless the factory bolts are somehow worn out.

    So to get the camber back into factory spec, you'll need camber bolts, which are a cam like bolt, unlike the factory bolt which are standard bolts. Camber bolts are eccentric. If you wanted to run more than factory camber, then yes, you don't need camber bolts. I think that anything under 2* for a W body will be fine with proper tire pressure and rotations every oil change or two.

    However to have your alignment "correct" and thus lower the car "correctly", you'd need to bring camber back within factory specs. The "right" way to do it is all dependent on your view, and mostly how deep your pockets are.

    Arguably, enlarging one hole of the strut is sufficient. Arguably, that can shift over time, and an eccentric bolt is preferred. Arguably, that too can shift with a sudden jolt. Arguably, camber plates are the only way to hold reliable and measurable camber and caster adjustments. Arguably, camber plates are too pricey and sometimes not worth the metal they're made of depending on how it was designed.

    Arguably, camber under 2* doesn't matter anyways. Toe is what you should focus on.
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  19. #19 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
    I live here. stealthee's Avatar
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    As Matt has pointed out when lowering you need ADDITIONAL adjustment that you can't get out of factory hardware.

    It's like on my Stealth. I put coilovers on it and dropped it significantly from the factory height. I had enough play to get the front camber right, but the factory rear control arms do not have enough adjustment to get the camber back into spec. It's not a sucker upsell, its necessary equipment.


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  20. #20 Re: Went to Les Schwab for an alignment.... need your guys help 
    Lifer h0wl0ngcanitbe's Avatar
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    Whats the easiest way to test my hubs myself? I was already planning on replacing my LCAs here in the near future. Might as well just go ahead and do em now right?

    2001 4dr Black GTP Stock and staying that was... maybe

    1997 2dr Black GTP Open Cone, GXP Rims, Black Headlights, ZZP Headers, ZZP Cat Back, Bunch of suspension parts from ZZP, ZZP 10.5MM plug wires, Autolite 605s, Overkill Tune
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