Alignment shop?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,036
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From: Portland, Oregon
Alignment shop?
Hey-o
just wondering if any one knows of a good alignment shop that when done, the car will actualy hold the alignment?
my family's had bad experience's with alignments, my mom's aero wont hold an alignment to save it's life; my aero needs an alignment, and i don't want to go down that path. so.... any body on here know of a good alignment shop in portland?
just wondering if any one knows of a good alignment shop that when done, the car will actualy hold the alignment?
my family's had bad experience's with alignments, my mom's aero wont hold an alignment to save it's life; my aero needs an alignment, and i don't want to go down that path. so.... any body on here know of a good alignment shop in portland?
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
I used to have problems with alignment just like you, until I bit the bullet and changed all the bushings, balljoints & tierods. The alignment actually held up well and my last set of tires actually lasted me 67K miles with regular rotation.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
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From: Washington state
copperrig won't stay in alignment if front end parts are loose and worn out.
I've had good luck with the Les Schwab on NE Columbia Blvd
they specialize in 4wdr. did a great job on my AWD the last 2 times. have them align front and rear together. mine tracks like a laser beam.
top gun alignment tech.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,416
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From: Mitchell, SD
Originally Posted by 96_4wdr
copperrig won't stay in alignment if front end parts are loose and worn out.
I've had good luck with the Les Schwab on NE Columbia Blvd
they specialize in 4wdr. did a great job on my AWD the last 2 times. have them align front and rear together. mine tracks like a laser beam.
top gun alignment tech.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Wichita
All good posts.
If a vehicle won't stay in alignment it usually isn't the shop. I would think though that a shop would tell you something is wrong rather than soak you for service knowing it won't last. They usually guarantee their work though, unless they advise you of a problem and you refuse to fix it.
If a vehicle won't stay in alignment it usually isn't the shop. I would think though that a shop would tell you something is wrong rather than soak you for service knowing it won't last. They usually guarantee their work though, unless they advise you of a problem and you refuse to fix it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 830
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From: Kitchener,Ontario,Canada
For 5 years I had excessive front tire wear due to bad front alignment problem. I paid for new tie rods & had 2 shops tell me there was no problem with alignment. I also paid to have alignment done when tie rods were replaced. Trouble is it takes 10,000 kms or so before you can notice the tire wearing unevenly, by then the "labour" guarantee is out !
I then decided to go to a tire & alignment specialist, they had a deal on for $45. It took them about an hr in the shop. However 3 years later & tires are still wearing evenly . I seem to get about 75-100,000 kms max on the aero, but those are "cheap tires". The front ones go first at about 75,000. The rears get toasted at about 100,000. IMO not worth skimping on tires they will fail if cheap, better to spend out & get good rubber, in the long run you'll save money.
ATB Aeroman
BTW I went to a Firestone tire shop to get my alignment done ,thats all they do; fit tires & do suspension & alignments. They also found out my steering "wheel rattle" problem (the cause was a bulged rear tire).
I then decided to go to a tire & alignment specialist, they had a deal on for $45. It took them about an hr in the shop. However 3 years later & tires are still wearing evenly . I seem to get about 75-100,000 kms max on the aero, but those are "cheap tires". The front ones go first at about 75,000. The rears get toasted at about 100,000. IMO not worth skimping on tires they will fail if cheap, better to spend out & get good rubber, in the long run you'll save money.
ATB Aeroman
BTW I went to a Firestone tire shop to get my alignment done ,thats all they do; fit tires & do suspension & alignments. They also found out my steering "wheel rattle" problem (the cause was a bulged rear tire).
Last edited by Aeroman59; Dec 17, 2007 at 08:18 PM.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Originally Posted by Aeroman59
BTW I went to a Firestone tire shop to get my alignment done ,thats all they do; fit tires & do suspension & alignments. They also found out my steering "wheel rattle" problem (the cause was a bulged rear tire).
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Portland, Oregon
yeah i love their lifetime alignment deal. a friend of mine went through the faze of messing with his ride hight alot, and bought the life time alignment deal. he would take it there alot... they always welcomed him back... but then he wrecked the car on accident
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,010
Likes: 203
From: SoCal
The manager at my local Firestone shop gave his tech a hard time for spending too much time with my Mustang. They have the practice of "check the toe and let it go", which is too bad, since they have this really good alignment rack. I was working with the guy to ignore the stock settings listed in his books, and dialed in my own settings, since the suspension was no longer stock. It took a little longer, but less than an hour. But if that guy does not want my business...
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 624
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From: Houston, TX
Originally Posted by VanGo
All good posts.
If a vehicle won't stay in alignment it usually isn't the shop. I would think though that a shop would tell you something is wrong rather than soak you for service knowing it won't last. They usually guarantee their work though, unless they advise you of a problem and you refuse to fix it.
If a vehicle won't stay in alignment it usually isn't the shop. I would think though that a shop would tell you something is wrong rather than soak you for service knowing it won't last. They usually guarantee their work though, unless they advise you of a problem and you refuse to fix it.