Conflicting Info about lift

[cowaggon]

I have a 3/2 toytec spacer lift I'm about to get installed.

I've talked to 2 separate companies that I'm quoting to install my lift. 1 company tells me that I need to let the suspension set over a few days before I go get an alignment. The other company tells me I need an alignment immediately. The company that told me to let it settle doesn't do alignments; however, the company that said I needed an immediate alignment will do the alignment in house but his cost for alignment is $150 (seems a little high to me for an alignment) The same guy also told me that even though I have the differential drop I'm still going to eat CVs. He said he installed a toytec lift and differential drop for a guy in a tacoma and had to replace the axle within a week. Same guy also says if I get the lift without the alignment immediately I will eat my tires bad within days.

Any thoughts or advice?

 

[Semper4Runner]

$150 does seem really high, but I've seen on these forums that some people go with the lifetime alignment deal with pep boys (I think). It's something like $140, but it's a lifetime thing. If you go that route, get one right after the install and one after it "settles".

 

[cowaggon]

Yeah, I've heard of that. I asked him if it was a lifetime alignment where he proceeded to tell me it was a 1 time thing. He also told me that with a spacer lift I'm not going to get much settle if any at all. I just hate that much conflicting info, but it kind of sounds like he was trying to get more money out of me.

 

[BatangSMB]

Got a 5 year unlimited alignment deal at NTB for $200.While you're at it, have them look at you UCAs ball joint clearance since you have a 3 inch lift in the front.just my .02

 

[ltdrose]

I have a 3/2 toytec spacer lift I'm about to get installed.

I've talked to 2 separate companies that I'm quoting to install my lift. 1 company tells me that I need to let the suspension set over a few days before I go get an alignment. The other company tells me I need an alignment immediately. The company that told me to let it settle doesn't do alignments; however, the company that said I needed an immediate alignment will do the alignment in house but his cost for alignment is $150 (seems a little high to me for an alignment) The same guy also told me that even though I have the differential drop I'm still going to eat CVs. He said he installed a toytec lift and differential drop for a guy in a tacoma and had to replace the axle within a week. Same guy also says if I get the lift without the alignment immediately I will eat my tires bad within days.

Any thoughts or advice?

I put on ow kit and drove the truck a few hundred miles before the initial alignment but I also put on uca's which pushed my alignment way out of wack and had no effect on the tires. It did drive better after the alignment but I'm really letting it set in before my next alignment. The Toyota guys that did my alignment said it would be no problem aligning with the uca's but they were way over there heads still looking for a good alignment shop in Washington state (anybody help).

 

[cowaggon]

I think I'm just going to take it to the auto hobby shop on the air force base here. I can rent a full lift bay for a day for 30 bucks and they have all the tools I need to do everything except the alignment. I should be able to get the alignment done that afternoon or Monday morning. I hate feeling like I'm getting scammed but I'm not trusting any of these guys right now.

 

[Ducmonsta]

$150 for a one time alignment is not bad. It will depend on your location in the US. The labor rates drastically change from heavily populated metro areas to the farm towns of the Midwest. It could vary from$120/hr to $60/hr respectively. I would pay a reputable shop $150 once than let someone at a national tire store do it several times incorrectly. That doesn't mean that every alignment tech at NTB does not have the capability, but most likely will not be experienced with lifted alignments. Needless to say, our lifted trucks benefit severely from alignments that are closer to the far end of the spectrum (4* + caster) than a stock truck would at only 2.5*. But if an alignment tech only got your truck to 2.5*, he did nothing wrong. It is within factory specifications. But some of our trucks are no longer factory.
Bottom line, find some one or some shop that specializes in lifted vehicles that can align your truck. It's your investment, protect it.

 

[lmoody003]

$150 for a one time alignment is not bad. It will depend on your location in the US. The labor rates drastically change from heavily populated metro areas to the farm towns of the Midwest. It could vary from$120/hr to $60/hr respectively. I would pay a reputable shop $150 once than let someone at a national tire store do it several times incorrectly. That doesn't mean that every alignment tech at NTB does not have the capability, but most likely will not be experienced with lifted alignments. Needless to say, our lifted trucks benefit severely from alignments that are closer to the far end of the spectrum (4* + caster) than a stock truck would at only 2.5*. But if an alignment tech only got your truck to 2.5*, he did nothing wrong. It is within factory specifications. But some of our trucks are no longer factory.
Bottom line, find some one or some shop that specializes in lifted vehicles that can align your truck. It's your investment, protect it.

dito-go to a lifted shop that specializes in this sort of stuff

 

[cowaggon]

I got the quote from a "4x4" offroad shop. I don't mind paying 150 for an alignment but it does seem high. I live in AR and the cost of living here is pretty low. Prices for things are usually lower than most places I've lived before. I think my plan is to do my lift myself and get the wheels and tires mounted and balanced, drive it over the weekend and mull over who to take it to on Monday for an alignment. The lifetime alignment deals sound like a great option but I'm still not sure about taking it to chain.

 

[mgrande]

Wow 150 sounds ridiculous to me. My guy who specializes in trucks charges 80. Any chain place will be 40-60, but I guess my area is cheap. Normally it would be ideal to let your suspension settle before an alignment, but I'm not sure about spacer lifts. The guy may be right, since the spring is already broken in and all your doing is compressing it more, I would think it really wouldnt settle.