Re: Alignment Prices

[Son Nguyen <snguyen@uci.edu>]

Chris,

OK, out of lurk mode for a moment...

I just got an alignment yesterday morning after I
changed springs over the weekend.  I went from
Eibach Sportlines to H&R Race springs.  The front ride
height changed from 1.5" lowered to about 1.2" lowered
from stock height (the race springs aren't as low, don't
compress as much and the VR6 strut bearings a tad are taller).
With the Eibachs, I was able to get at least -2.00 deg of camber
(but only asked for -1.80).  Now that the ride height isn't as low
as before, I was only able to get about -1.60 deg on the driver side.
So it was necessary to take a grinder and slot the
strut housing (upper hole on the inside edge, not the outer edge
where there's less metal; if they slotted the lower hole on the
outer edge instead, they're friggin' morons :-)
about 1/8" to get more negative camber.  I'd asked for
between -2.25 and -2.50 and got -2.20, close enough.

So why am I telling you all of this?  Well, because
depending on how low/high your ride height is and what
settings you requested for your alignment, it may have
been necessary to slot your strut housing (one or both) to get the
desired amount of negative camber.  If your car is really low, then you
can get a lot of negative camber.  Too low, say 3-4" or lower???
it may not be possible to get a "stock" setting w/ no neg camber
w/out slotting your strut housings (lower holes, inside edges).

The shop I go to is an alignment specialist, that's all they
do and all the racers go to him.  I usually pay $50 for a straight
forward alignment, this time I paid $65.  The extra time to check it,
unjack the front end, rejack it, remove the driver side wheel,
remove strut bolts, slot the hole, reinstall everything and start the whole
alignment process from scratch again and me helping (should've
costed more for that:-) was worth the extra $15.  So depending
on the situation, you either got ripped off a little bit or
ripped off a lot... hehe

Hope that's helpful,

Son
90gli.homestead.com/main.html

>From: "S.Coleman" <deadbolt@mindspring.com>
>
>OK,....so today the shop calls me to let me know my 88 16v rocco is ready
>for pick-up.  I ask what the total damage was and the guy says,...."$89.54."
>Naturally I reply, "for what?  I only wanted an alignment!"  The guy tells
>me that since my car sits so low, (Boge Turbo gas w/Hor Tech springs....on
>14 inch wheels)  they had to drill out my struts and the housing.  Does this
>sound normal?  I have never heard of such a deal.  I haven't seen the car
>yet,...I can't pick it up till someone gets home who can go with me.  But
>after close inspection I will fill you guys in.
>Thanks,
>Chris


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