So since putting on my new wheels/tires I feel like I should get an alignment, plus now being at 73k, even if I didn't change them I think it's probably a good idea to have it done. Question is, I'm most likely going to drop the car with some CT or H&R springs next year, should I just wait until I do that to get the alignment or if I have it done now will it be fine even after the springs are changed? Also, is this something I should definitely have done at the dealership or could I bring it to any respectable auto shop and have them do it for less $? Thanks for any input.

 

do the alignment after the drop! itll save u $$$

plus.. drive teh car around for about 2-3 weeks so the springs can settle in a lil bit before aligning.

u dont have to take it to a dealership... there are tons of alignment places that specialize in...well... alignments!

 

If you don't do the allignment now and you do have an issue, by the time you do the springs next year you will already have tread wear issues. In the long run, it would be cheaper to do 2 allignments than to have to replace the tires early.

As to whether to go to a dealership to have it done, it's the allignment rack that matters. Ask around to see what types of equipment they use and what the cost is, as with most things, you get what you pay for.

 

Tru dat. Thanks guys.

 

Should get it done soon. But no need to spend all that cash at a dealer. Take it some other place.

 

Yeah, I hear ya. Actually it's not that I NEED it right now, there's no sign of uneven tire wear just yet on my tires, so I think I'm going to wait until next year when I have the springs in for a few weeks as Pimpcl23 said. I'm just over cautious sometimes and know at the mileage I have I should get it done as soon as it makes sense to have it done.

 

when next year do u plan on getting the springs?

 

Probably in February or March, after the madness of Christmas and New Years is totally over with and I can get some freelance $$$ together to cover the spings and install. I'm still trying to decide on which springs to get. I was checking out the gap last night with stock springs and my 18's and it seems 1" is the most I can go in the back because the offset on my rims are +42 so they are almost flush with the wheel well. The front can come down more than that, maybe almost twice as much, so 1.75" to 2". Any suggestions? I think I saw the CTs and H&Rs don't drop it that much and keep a nice ride. And what about Eibachs?

 

also look into getting some shocks... if u plan on getting shocks in the future, just to let you know that there are some that actually make the car slightly lower. have u ever thought about a coilover suspension system??

 

Ok, as far as an alignment goes, get one now.
You have 18" tires which probably cost a good amount of money and if you have as many miles on your car as you said with the factory shocks/springs, chances are you need an alignment anyways. I don't know what the dealership charges, but I got my car done at sears before for only $60 (4-wheel alignment). IMO that would save you a lot of money from replacing the tires. If you are sure you are only putting a few weeks of driving on the tires, then obviously it's not that prominent to do it now, but if you aren't sure because of the money, then do it now.

I'm not dropped yet, but from what I read you should have went with an offset of +45 - +50 or something like that. Also, I was reading up on dropping it a while back and I think it was 1" back and 1.75" front... Don't quote me on that though, I'm not sure and like I said, I haven't dropped mine yet. If you want to go lower, you can roll your wheel wells...

 

Not trying to high jack your thread, but I was wondering if I should of told Acura to give me an alignment with the Axle they replaced? I figured this would be better than starting a new thread...

 

So there's shocks that will drop the car slightly using the stock springs? If this is the case it might be the way to go since I don't think I have much room for error in the back. I realized after I got the rims that the offset was a little low for my CL, should've gone with more than +42, but it is what it is. What kind of shocks lower the car without replacing the springs? Coil over would be nice but way too much $$$ for what I'm looking to do. Just want to reduce some of the wheel well gap, not drop it crazy to the groud.

I used my fingers to do the old wheel gap measurement and it seems that I have right now 1.5" or so in the back and 2.5" or so in the front, so if I got some springs that lowered it 1" and 1.5" respectively then I should be alright, right? Unless someones sitting in back and I go over a speed bump or something? Is .5" not enough for my setup in back?

 

I have had my drop for almost a year now and never got an alignment. The wheel is straight and I have no noticeable camber or caster wear on the tires.

 

Anyone?

 

Koni Yellows have 2 perches so the spring will sit lower on the strut, so yes you can lower it a lil with stock springs.

 

Thanks