Alignment - Fed a Line

[lonkelm]

I had my recently lifted truck in for alignment (MOOG FJ springs +5100s on 0.85).

They were able to adjust toe into spec but claimed they needed new specs from the lift manufacturer to adjust anything else.

I'm thinking that was a line of crap to get out of doing a good alignment.

From those knowledgeable around alignments, is this a true statement or are the factor specs valid for a lift?

With the lift I have, what would be the recommended ranges?

 

[Jeremy556]

Yea, it's BS. Toe is the easy part.

You want as much caster as you can get while keeping camber close to 0

 

[BlackWorksInc]

It could be possible that some lift kits/companies have new specifications after you install their product. But so far most everything in the 2~3" suspension lift range for our vehicles does perfectly fine with factory specifications (if anything I would say that instead of the 2~3-ish degrees of Caster that the factory specifies, you want closer to the 3~4 range.)

So I'd just tell them align it to factory, but try to get the Caster in the 3~4* range. If they give you more BS, just take your business else where.

 

[morphious]

I agree with others, they just want to charge you for a toe and go or don't know that caster affects camber on our trucks and don't know how to align to that. As others said tell them you want factory specs.

 

[OkiSurf1996]

It could be possible that some lift kits/companies have new specifications after you install their product. But so far most everything in the 2~3" suspension lift range for our vehicles does perfectly fine with factory specifications (if anything I would say that instead of the 2~3-ish degrees of Caster that the factory specifies, you want closer to the 3~4 range.)

So I'd just tell them align it to factory, but try to get the Caster in the 3~4* range. If they give you more BS, just take your business else where.

Listen to BlackWorks.

 

[Sungod]

I don't know of any lift manufacturer that makes new specs. They may say that you may not be able to maintain factory specs after lifting and you have to live with what you have. That is why you have to buy things like new control arms or ball joints to maintain those angles.

Did they give you a print out? It is possible for instance if you went with a 3" spacer lift that caster will max out in the low 2 range. This would be an indication that you would either live with it or start changing parts.

A lot of mechanics have the mindset that if you can't get it right, they are not going to waste their time getting it close. My guess is that could be what you are dealing with.

 

[1950884]

I just went through this headache with Toyota. I paid $75 for an alignment. All they adjusted was the toe. Caster was 0.2 degrees at the start and the end.

Of course the explanation they shared was that due to the "lift" they couldn't get anymore positive caster without taking my camber out of spec. They didn't even put a wrench on the lca bolts! The bolts were dirty. If they put a wrench on it the corners of the bolt would have been shinny. The "lazy tech" strikes again. He sure gets around. Last week somebody told me he was in Florida, screwing up alignments there.

 

[Sungod]

I will never understand this trend in auto repair marketing that they have one price for alignments. I don't think it is good for the customer or the mechanics. In the old days you paid for what you received. Now everything is billed as a 4 wheel alignment which is nonsense. Unless they are getting a torch out, you are not adjusting anything on a solid rear axle, but you pay the same price as person with the Camry. I know it makes it less confusing because 99% of the population has no clue, but for those that do, it is an insult.

It also makes it hard on the techs. They know they are getting paid the same no matter what. The only visual indication that there is something wrong with an alignment is tire wear so they really only focus on setting the toe. Naturally they are going to do what makes them the most money.

The biggest scam is these long term alignment warranties. There is nothing different done under the hood to make a 1 year warranty any better than a 5 year warranty. I am really shocked that there haven't been law suits against that marketing ploy. Imagine if some tire had a 5K mile warranty, but if you paid triple that they would make it a 50k mile warranty. People would scream at something like that.

 

[ChaosStarter]

The biggest scam is these long term alignment warranties. There is nothing different done under the hood to make a 1 year warranty any better than a 5 year warranty. I am really shocked that there haven't been law suits against that marketing ploy. Imagine if some tire had a 5K mile warranty, but if you paid triple that they would make it a 50k mile warranty. People would scream at something like that.

People dont scream about batteries and they're priced just the same.

 

[lonkelm]

They didn't put a wrench on anything but toe. I need an inspection next month so will pay a trustworthy local shop that has a good alignment machine T&M to do it right.

 

[morphious]

They didn't put a wrench on anything but toe. I need an inspection next month so will pay a trustworthy local shop that has a good alignment machine T&M to do it right.

Most don't, that is why it is called a "TOE and GO". The place I go charges me less than a 4 wheel alignment, because he knows he can't do one, but has no fear cranking all the bolts to get the alignment as close to factory in the front as he can. Yes, new UCA's will totally factory spec my truck, but it drives fine and he even says "Swap them out if you go higher".

 

[Sungod]

People dont scream about batteries and they're priced just the same.

Batteries are not the same. They have prorated warranties and are not adjustments. With alignments, there is no way you can guarantee the work for a specific period of time. It is something that is either done right or not. Once the vehicle leaves the shop, it doesn't matter how good the adjustments were. If they hit a curb or pothole, the alignment may be off. That has nothing to do with the mechanic. Now you are expecting that tech to adjust it again, this time there is no revenue. What are the chances you will get quality work?