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To Align or not to Align?

Bills1997GTP

Bills1997GTP

New member
Some time soon this week or weekend coming up, I'm gonna be going to be installing new sway links, Tie-rods, and a hub .. Now I know I'm gonna need an alignment after so, but my question is if I should put back on my aftermarket rims before I get it aligned or can I leave my factory rims on to get it aligned then swap them off when I get home ?

Reason I'm asking is because I don't wanna cause any extra wear on my good aftermarket rims and tires if I can help it. So my plan was to leave the factory's on the front, get it aligned then put my aftermarkets back on .

As she sits now
8a3eja8a.jpg



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You're fine

As long as the overall diameter of the tires isn't much different you can get it aligned as is.

I do anywhere from 10 to 15 alignments per day at work. You're factory equipment only allows for Toe adjustments. If you need camber adjusted the shop will have to install after market Eccentric cam bolts in the struts. Unless they're willing to file out the strut to spindle bolt holes which I'm very leery of doing.

When I had my GTP I picked up a set of bolts from NAPA for a pretty good price. It'll also save you money if you preinstall the bolts yourself rather than pay the labor to have them installed. Very easy to do.
 
leave the lock nut for the tie rod in place, put the new tie rod right up to the old lock nut. this will make it as close as possible till you get to the shop.

id get it aligned with what ever tires and wheels your gonna use.
 
Scottydoggs said:
leave the lock nut for the tie rod in place, put the new tie rod right up to the old lock nut. this will make it as close as possible till you get to the shop.

id get it aligned with what ever tires and wheels your gonna use.
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I would but my alignments already shot to hell lol when I changed the rack I bought a used one and the tie rods were busted so I put on one from my old rack and it killed the alignment .. The tires in the front are kinda like
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put the new rods on, the side you know is off you can eye ball back into the ball part to drive it to the shop.

put it all back together, but leave the lock nut loose for that tie rod, put the wheel back on then put the gar back on the ground, then turn the inner tie rod, this will move the wheel in or out.

lock the steering wheel dead straight when you do this.

or toss the new tires in the back seat and take them with you. i just had 4 tire and wheels once again in my back seat yesterday, fits nice.
 
I always recommend a 4 tire alignment. Rear tires can be destroyed by being out of spec just as quick as the fronts.

Hell we won't even do a front end alignment unless it's on a truck or other vehicle with no rear adjustments
 
Scottydoggs said:
put the new rods on, the side you know is off you can eye ball back into the ball part to drive it to the shop.

put it all back together, but leave the lock nut loose for that tie rod, put the wheel back on then put the gar back on the ground, then turn the inner tie rod, this will move the wheel in or out.

lock the steering wheel dead straight when you do this.

or toss the new tires in the back seat and take them with you. i just had 4 tire and wheels once again in my back seat yesterday, fits nice.
Click to expand...

Will do thanks


benner said:
I always recommend a 4 tire alignment. Rear tires can be destroyed by being out of spec just as quick as the fronts.

Hell we won't even do a front end alignment unless it's on a truck or other vehicle with no rear adjustments
Click to expand...

Does a 4 wheel alignment cost more? Not that it's an issue I just want to know what to expect.


dsmuts said:
Factory tires are 225/55/17
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My tires are a bit smaller on my factory's than they should be I knew they were smaller but I wasn't gonna change them till they wore out, the specs I posted were straight off the tire.



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4 wheel cost the same as just the front at most shops. i recommend going to one that does a 4 wheel pc alignment. like firestone, they run about 75 with a 6 month warranty, or 150 ish for life time. you can have it checked out every 6,000 miles with the life time deal.
 


^ Fuq Firestone! They are horrible, i have had nothing but bad experiences there... first they ripped a 6" gash in the sidewall of a almost brand new tire, claming it ws my "tire shine" that made it slip off the machine.. i got a new tire from discount and had Firestone reimburse me.. second time i went was about a week ago to get one of their alignment specials, also 2 new tires put on.... said it would be about an hour... 2 hours later i get a call saying its all done. Drive up there for them to tell me oh we couldnt do the alignment bc we couldnt get your car on the rack bc its too low! Haha so wont ever be going back to those shmucks lol

/rant lol
 
Pull the front bumper off broham I had that issue before. I usually just either drive 45 mins to the other Firestone where I know the guy better and he's a lot more careful and can do it without the bumper coming off.
 
Pull the sub frame too? Lol... i usually go to my regular guy but unfortunatly his shop closed down 6 month ago, so i had to find somewhere, you wouldnt believe how hard it is to find a shop that does alignments around where i live haha its crazy... i drove by firestone and saw their alignment special so i said hmm i will give them another chance, bad mistake lol.

But i eventually found a performance shop near me that does great work. Charged me 75 for an alignment and 85 for the camber adjustments... not bad at all. I will be going back to to them once i get them bags on :th_biggrin2:
 
Yup pull the subframe lol. The local Firestone here sucks I went there before years ago with a cobalt and they did a terrible job plus the place looks rundown. So nowadays I either stick locally and go with Goodyear or something or I'll drive 35-45 minute into the next town and go to the firestone over there. They're the go to for lowered cars especially around here and couldn't beat there kind of deals.
 
Ya its funny was talking to the dude at the shop i went to, he actually worked for firestone for like 15 years up in NJ. Before he opened up this shop, he was a store manager and said when he moved down here they wanted him to go to that store but he said no bc its ranked like 300 somthing for the worst firestone in the nation lol
 


We usually do our alignments for $79 and they have 1 year warranty. Highly suggest using shop that uses the Hunter Elite machines.
 
For alignments, find a shop that is recommended for alignments as well as corner weighting.

You should be able to request settings, and get them as well as receive recommended settings above and beyond the factory recommended settings.
 
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