My alignment is screwed big time> (Fixed. does the readings look okay?)

Twista · Sep 24, 2010

Sorry, this is a copy and paste. Enjoy the name, EPI.

So, i made the big mistake of going to a regular car repair place to get my car aligned. Now my cars steering is screwed up big time.

- When i hit bumps the car jumps

- When i drive on a uneven road it feels whobbly.

- When i brake it sounds like its rubbing something.

I was around Epi's job so i took my car there and EPI said the guy who did my alignment didn't do the correct one for a lowered car with aftermarket caster camber plates. So im guessing the guy just did a plain jane alignment without touching my casters which is my fault for not knowing in the 1st place.

Now i went to firestone and they said they can do it, but will charge a-little extra because of the aftermarket stuff which is okay for me. He said a regular alignment would cost $69.00 and because of the caster it might be $170 if he has to replace caster bolts.

Now this is where im lost. Do you guys think Firestone can fix my car? EPI recommend i take it to local sponsor performance shop which is a GREAT idea, but i can't drive it there because of distance. I can however drive it to firestone which is VERY close to my house. ''

Can firestone fix this problem or do i need to take it to a place that deals with our type of cars?

http://www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/repair/alignment.jsp

2slo95fiveoh · Sep 24, 2010

Re: My alignment is screwed big time> Need advice

I work for Firestone, and the rare times that we do get a Mustang with aftermarket Camber/Caster plates, we do not charge any extra.
$170 seems a little steep.. You might have to pay a little extra, like an extra half hour labor ($45) making the total around $125, but an extra
hour labor seems a little steep. Camber/Caster plates are easy as hell to align, I don't think it's any harder than factory GM trucks
that have cams in the upper control arm, and we don't charge any extra for those... If i was closer to you I would do it for regular price,
but I'm not, so I suggest you talk to them a little. Sometimes if you pull one of the techs on the side, and explain how the C/C plates work,
he won't have a problem doing it for regular, or an extra half hour.. If they don't agree to align your car for 1.7 hours flag time (reg +$45 labor)
then, I hate to admit, but I would take it elsewhere.

Twista · Sep 25, 2010

Re: My alignment is screwed big time> Need advice

Firestone wouldnt even do it. Said the car was to low to get on there ramps....

duff daddy · Sep 25, 2010

Re: My alignment is screwed big time> Need advice

we have had full road race BMW's, vettes and a ton of Porsche's in and we have to build our alignment rack up with 2x4's to get the front bumper to clear. The one z06 (newest style) barely fit because of the location of the front wheel slide plates and the front of the rack... it was about 1/8" above the lip

DropTopPony · Sep 25, 2010

Re: My alignment is screwed big time> Need advice

I had mine done at a local chain type place and as long as the tech is competent then it really doesn't matter where you go.
I bring several 2x4 pieces in my trunk when I know I will be getting some type of service.

DropTopPony · Sep 25, 2010

Re: My alignment is screwed big time> Need advice

And if they can't get it on even with some lift from 2x4 etc find out where the local corvettes guys go.

Twista · Sep 25, 2010

Re: My alignment is screwed big time> Need advice

Went to NTB and it was full of young kids that like to drive customers cars fast in the parking lot and into the service bay. Luckily, i got a dude that was more layed back and mature. He fixed everything up. And yes i said NTB... They had 2 ramps and the 1st one they tried my bumper hit asap.

The second ramp worked with some of clutch slippage. My alignment was screwed the hell up!. Ill post the receipt readings

The 1st shop did my alignment all by hand and eyes i swear. He didn't have an alignment ramp like NTB/Firestone, so it was my fault for being a car noob. Im taking my NTB reading back with my receipt to get a refund for there so called alignment.

Twista · Sep 25, 2010

Re: My alignment is screwed big time> Need advice

Ok im clueless. The car drivers WAY better now. The reads look weird:

Lee12609 · Sep 25, 2010

the readings on top are you BEFORE measurements, the lower set is AFTER. or initial and final as labeled.

caster caster

camber camber

toe toe

for left and right.

everything looks ok, but i would have brought the left side caster out some more (i prefer .5? cross caster) and the camber on both sides should have been closer to -1? but -1.5? isnt horrible and wont cause any noticeable wear. toe is dead on.

the readings in grey are all the rear, nothing to adjust back there.

CC'S95GT · Sep 25, 2010

I would have thought with cc plates they could have gotten the camber within specs

MustangMoser · Sep 25, 2010

CC'S95GT said:
I would have thought with cc plates they could have gotten the camber within specs

may have not been enough room for adjustment. when I aligned my car w/ the cc plates I was just barley able to get camber in spec.

Lee12609 · Sep 25, 2010

thats why i prefer cam bolts over c/c plates, unless the car requires caster adjustment to correct a pull they are pretty much overpriced aesthetic parts to me. they have their advantages on cars that see track time, but a DD where tire wear and driving straight are the main concerns not so much...

MustangMoser · Sep 25, 2010

yup, they give you a lot more adjustment into the negatives than anything else, I've found

95PGTTech · Sep 26, 2010

I've rarely gotten SN95s or Foxes past (positive) 1.5 degrees negative camber with just C/C plates. Ingalls makes a SICK camber bolt that's really stout and does a great job of locking to our struts that I am not worried about breaking if the car owner is hellbent on factory specs.

Personally, if the customer is taking my advice I set up cars with H&R SS + Bilsteins + MM C/C and 5 degrees positive caster, 1.5 degrees negative camber. I've always found that to be a fair compromise of lowered, looks good and handles like a rocketship while still retaining some tire wear capabilities. Add swaybar as needed per application.