Does strut replacement require alignment?
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Does strut replacement require alignment?
I purchased some Bilstein shocks for my '04 Lariat SuperCrew and decided to install them myself this past weekend. After swapping out the rear shocks, I received a different kind of shock when I unboxed the fronts and discovered that they are STRUTS! So now, I have to get help installing them. 
Yesterday, I visited a couple of shops to price the installation. The second place I visited said that a front strut replacement requires the front end to be realigned. Is this correct? (The first shop I visited didn't mention an alignment.) Thanks in advance for your help!
Yesterday, I visited a couple of shops to price the installation. The second place I visited said that a front strut replacement requires the front end to be realigned. Is this correct? (The first shop I visited didn't mention an alignment.) Thanks in advance for your help!
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If they change the ride height then yes. If not, I wouldn't think so as you don't have to adjust any of the pieces that would normally be adjusted during an alignment. You would basically have to remove the upper ball joint, tie-rod from the spindle and the sway bar. Then you'd unbolt it (the factory coilover) from the top and bottom and replace the factory piece with the bilsteins and reassemble. The only piece that could be an issue is the tie-rod end, but you don't have to mess with the adjustment to remove it from the spindle and re-attach it.
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Originally Posted by Cuisinart
If they change the ride height then yes. If not, I wouldn't think so as you don't have to adjust any of the pieces that would normally be adjusted during an alignment. You would basically have to remove the upper ball joint, tie-rod from the spindle and the sway bar. Then you'd unbolt it (the factory coilover) from the top and bottom and replace the factory piece with the bilsteins and reassemble. The only piece that could be an issue is the tie-rod end, but you don't have to mess with the adjustment to remove it from the spindle and re-attach it.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: SE Georgia
if you mess with the coil-over, you need an alignement. the aftermarkets may be a slightly different size.
do the install yourself. It's very easy. I did a spacer install on my truck that took <3 hours to do. As part of the install, you remove the OEM coil-over and bolt the spacer to the top of it. all you need is some jack stands and a big hammer
do the install yourself. It's very easy. I did a spacer install on my truck that took <3 hours to do. As part of the install, you remove the OEM coil-over and bolt the spacer to the top of it. all you need is some jack stands and a big hammer
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Thanks to all for responding. Since the jury was split, I stopped by my local Ford dealer late yesterday and they said that no alignment is necessary unless the ride height is changed by the new struts.
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that acutally depends. on the strut check the bolts on ur truck where it bolts to the HUB. there might be a bolt that has an offset to it. the bolt looks like its got a washer welded to it. if u know what im talking about. this means it has an offset and u need these to set the camber and caster. if they dont got the offset bolt on em. and just look like a standard bolt. then u might only half to set ur toe. i would put them in and then take for a drive and find out urself.
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