Just got my A-spec suspension installed today and I love the way the car feels now!!! The car seems to drive straight without pulling in any particular direction,so is a 4-wheel alignment necessary? I don't have too many choices to go to for this procedure,other than like a Goodyear or Firestone tire outlet(which are kinda shaky IMHO). All thoughts are welcome.

 

I believe one should do a alignment after you install new suspension. Personally I do.

 

Yes, absolute necessity.

 

Some have said to wait for the suspension to settle before getting an alignment.

 

dont go Firestone

 

Go to a local body shop....best alignment you can get! It is kind of basic to their business and they understand alignment better than just about any shop you could go to!

 

My dealer has a special right now in Chicagoland.. $89.95 for a 4 wheel alignment. Expires 5/31/06. I plan on installing my a-spec suspension this weekend myself then taking it in to the dealer in a week or two for the alignment when it settles a little.

For that kind of money who better to align my TL, who would know better?

 

Thanks for the replies....I'll check out the body shop avenue....never thought of that one...

 

You wont be sorry....no kidding....body shops know alignment about as good as anybody out there...and fact is...they kind of enjoy working on a non-wrecked car every now and then too! That is like giving candy to a baby.....its that easy for them, given all the complications with alignment after collisions...this is a breeze. My guy actually said he really enjoyed working with the Acura parts as they were put together really well and everything fits perfectly just as it should! (he is an Acura fan too with an NSX). I had them do just about everything....put on body kit, suspension, ect. I think they charged me about $175 or something to put the suspension on and do a 4 wheel alignment on their rack.....

He was even out there when I stopped back out there just to BS, running his hands over the Yoko tire treads rechecking the initial wear on the tires to make sure it was wearing correctly....alignment profectionists those body guys usually are! My tires (two different sets now...summer and winter...are all wearing down balls on accurate..even wear. I couldnt be more happy with the results! Highly recommend this route for alignments if you can get them to do it....and that shouldnt be hard...they just work it in with their alignment rack right after or between large jobs....it takes so little time for them to do right, not being wrecked, they almost dont even know what to charge...lol!

 

I've gone to Firestone for years for alignments...never any problems (even with my 19's). In fact, I get their lifetime alignment deal...$150 ($120 on sale) for alignments as long as you own the car. After three alignments, you've paid for it (@ $40 - $60). You can go in as often as you like, and you can go to any corporate owned Firestone in the country.

Oh, and yes, you should get an alignment after any suspension work.

 

No need to wait. You can estimate the settle and then adjust camber settings accordingly. I would look around and find a shop that has real equipment that uses lasers. Shops that spend alot of $$$ for good equipment are not in the business just to have the equipment.

 

You actually would want to wait for the suspension to settle. I usually give it about 100-200 miles. The springs and shocks may not sag or change in height at all, but the rubber bushings will change shape a little with load and will lower the car a little bit.

The main concern with changing height, as settled suspension will lower the car a little, is not camber, but toe. Toe changes dramatically even with a slight height change.

 

Firestone... you can get better but you can't pay more! Definitely one of the most expensive places you can take your car... took a Ford Explorer there and they totally botched the alignment, then when I complained they admitted it and said their machine was off...bad experience. Wasn't cheap either, the mechanic that fixed their work actually laughed when he saw what they fixed and how much they ended up charging me....I will not go back there ever again.