Wheel alignment
#1
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Wheel alignment
Okay, my car slid into a curb this weekend… wasn’t going too fast but fast enough I guess. I was trying to stop so it was about 20 - 30km/h I’d say. Now I do need at least an alignment but I am wondering if I should take it to Canadian Tire (they said that they can do a 2-wheel alignment for $59.99) or Nissan (they said that they will ONLY do 4-wheel alignments for $79.99). Which would you suggest?
On a side note, the Nissan service guy said that he had 3 cars come in last week, all of whom hit a curb and one of them only needed an alignment, the other had to have $800 worth of work to be done and the third guy had a $6000 bill!!! This is JUST from hitting a wheel on a curb! His control arm was bent and a lot of **** had to be replaced apparently. That almost sounds like a scam! Geez!
So where do you guys suggest that I take the car?
On a side note, the Nissan service guy said that he had 3 cars come in last week, all of whom hit a curb and one of them only needed an alignment, the other had to have $800 worth of work to be done and the third guy had a $6000 bill!!! This is JUST from hitting a wheel on a curb! His control arm was bent and a lot of **** had to be replaced apparently. That almost sounds like a scam! Geez!
So where do you guys suggest that I take the car?
#2
Go to the Dealer
If you are willing to spend $60 what's another $20 to get the Nissan dealer to do all 4?
With the dealer at least you will have a better idea what if anything else has gone wrong.
I believe they will give you a quote and it's up to you to decide if you want to go ahead with the repairs they recommend.
Or be specific about it and tell them to do nothing more than the alignment, to see if anything else is wrong, and only do more work on the car if you explicitly approve of it.
With the dealer at least you will have a better idea what if anything else has gone wrong.
I believe they will give you a quote and it's up to you to decide if you want to go ahead with the repairs they recommend.
Or be specific about it and tell them to do nothing more than the alignment, to see if anything else is wrong, and only do more work on the car if you explicitly approve of it.
#4
Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by speedemn
...or Nissan (they said that they will ONLY do 4-wheel alignments for $79.99). Which would you suggest?
...or Nissan (they said that they will ONLY do 4-wheel alignments for $79.99). Which would you suggest?
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
The only thing that can be adjusted is the front wheel toe. I know that they measure the rear wheels to get the thrust angle, but it's still just a 2 wheel alignment.
...that said, you definitely need a 2 wheel alignment after hitting a curb.
#5
Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by mzmtg
Your car DOES NOT NEED a 4 wheel alignment. Your dealer knows this and is ripping people off.
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
The only thing that can be adjusted is the front wheel toe. I know that they measure the rear wheels to get the thrust angle, but it's still just a 2 wheel alignment.
...that said, you definitely need a 2 wheel alignment after hitting a curb.
Your car DOES NOT NEED a 4 wheel alignment. Your dealer knows this and is ripping people off.
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
The only thing that can be adjusted is the front wheel toe. I know that they measure the rear wheels to get the thrust angle, but it's still just a 2 wheel alignment.
...that said, you definitely need a 2 wheel alignment after hitting a curb.
![kiss](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/kiss.gif)
hi, Ben
![Smilie](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#6
Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by mzmtg
Your car DOES NOT NEED a 4 wheel alignment. Your dealer knows this and is ripping people off.
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
The only thing that can be adjusted is the front wheel toe. I know that they measure the rear wheels to get the thrust angle, but it's still just a 2 wheel alignment.
...that said, you definitely need a 2 wheel alignment after hitting a curb.
Your car DOES NOT NEED a 4 wheel alignment. Your dealer knows this and is ripping people off.
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
The only thing that can be adjusted is the front wheel toe. I know that they measure the rear wheels to get the thrust angle, but it's still just a 2 wheel alignment.
...that said, you definitely need a 2 wheel alignment after hitting a curb.
#7
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Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by mzmtg
Your car DOES NOT NEED a 4 wheel alignment. Your dealer knows this and is ripping people off.
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
Your car DOES NOT NEED a 4 wheel alignment. Your dealer knows this and is ripping people off.
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
I am thinking along the lines of what 'flyer' said in the first response to this post. This is Waterloo Nissan that I am taking it to. They have usually been good with me and I hope that they do not rip me off.
#8
Re: Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by VQdriver
does anyone have trouble with uneven tire wear because they have eibach springs?
does anyone have trouble with uneven tire wear because they have eibach springs?
What kind of uneven wear are you getting?
#9
Re: Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by VQdriver
does anyone have trouble with uneven tire wear because they have eibach springs?
does anyone have trouble with uneven tire wear because they have eibach springs?
#10
Re: Re: Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by max83
Nope I did an alignment on mine after i dropped it with a pro-kit and the toe was just a bit off, no problems since.
Nope I did an alignment on mine after i dropped it with a pro-kit and the toe was just a bit off, no problems since.
#11
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by VQdriver
i might take it back again because it's steering slightly right, just a tad. so camber is definately NOT adjustable, even a little?
i might take it back again because it's steering slightly right, just a tad. so camber is definately NOT adjustable, even a little?
#13
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The mechanic included the printout of what my camber and toe was and what he adjusted it to. It also shows what the suggested values are with min. and max. I found it quite informative.
Can we buy caster/camber/toe adjustment kits when we buy aftermarket suspension?
Can we buy caster/camber/toe adjustment kits when we buy aftermarket suspension?
#15
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Originally posted by speedemn
Can we buy caster/camber/toe adjustment kits when we buy aftermarket suspension?
Can we buy caster/camber/toe adjustment kits when we buy aftermarket suspension?
You cannot adjust caster in our cars. If caster is off, something is bent.
Toe is adjustable via your tie rods.
#16
Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by mzmtg
Your car DOES NOT NEED a 4 wheel alignment. Your dealer knows this and is ripping people off.
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
The only thing that can be adjusted is the front wheel toe. I know that they measure the rear wheels to get the thrust angle, but it's still just a 2 wheel alignment.
...that said, you definitely need a 2 wheel alignment after hitting a curb.
Your car DOES NOT NEED a 4 wheel alignment. Your dealer knows this and is ripping people off.
Not only does it not need a 4 wheel alignment, there is no way to adjust all 4 wheels.
The only thing that can be adjusted is the front wheel toe. I know that they measure the rear wheels to get the thrust angle, but it's still just a 2 wheel alignment.
...that said, you definitely need a 2 wheel alignment after hitting a curb.
#17
I'm also from Waterloo. So far I've found Waterloo Nissan to be ok but I also have this sneaky "dealer is bad" feeling from reading this forum.
Do you have snow tires? It's a frickin nightmare driving my max around at the moment. I've already hit a kerb this winter but I was lucky (5 km/hr). I'm thinking snow tires are definitely the way to go now.
Do you have snow tires? It's a frickin nightmare driving my max around at the moment. I've already hit a kerb this winter but I was lucky (5 km/hr). I'm thinking snow tires are definitely the way to go now.
#18
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Re: Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by maxmale
You know i went looking for a place that will do an alignment on my front wheels and the places that i went were all saying "no sir you have to align the front wheels with the back so it will need a 4 wheel alignment.
You know i went looking for a place that will do an alignment on my front wheels and the places that i went were all saying "no sir you have to align the front wheels with the back so it will need a 4 wheel alignment.
The days of a "front end" alignment are long gone. If a shop is only capable of aligning the front, go somewhere else to get the job done correctly.
#19
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Originally posted by davey6693
I'm also from Waterloo. So far I've found Waterloo Nissan to be ok but I also have this sneaky "dealer is bad" feeling from reading this forum.
Do you have snow tires? It's a frickin nightmare driving my max around at the moment. I've already hit a kerb this winter but I was lucky (5 km/hr). I'm thinking snow tires are definitely the way to go now.
I'm also from Waterloo. So far I've found Waterloo Nissan to be ok but I also have this sneaky "dealer is bad" feeling from reading this forum.
Do you have snow tires? It's a frickin nightmare driving my max around at the moment. I've already hit a kerb this winter but I was lucky (5 km/hr). I'm thinking snow tires are definitely the way to go now.
![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
I didn't know there were other org'ers in the 'loo. Where are you at? I live at Victoria and Westmount.
#20
Re: Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by speedemn
Maybe they just say that to justify charging $79.99 to do it... and in fact they DO only do a 2-wheel alignment... possibly referring to the rear wheel measurement to get the thrust angle as being a "4-wheel" alignment.
Maybe they just say that to justify charging $79.99 to do it... and in fact they DO only do a 2-wheel alignment... possibly referring to the rear wheel measurement to get the thrust angle as being a "4-wheel" alignment.
I took my car to Active Green and Ross who also said they charge one rate for doing an alignment. I did point out that the rear wheels cannot be aligned. No dice. They explained that the alignment device needs to be mounted on to the rear wheels for reference. They also charge $69 with a $10 coupon which can be printed off their website (look for pdf file).
#22
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Wheel alignment
Originally posted by StygianMax
Hey man!
I took my car to Active Green and Ross who also said they charge one rate for doing an alignment. I did point out that the rear wheels cannot be aligned. No dice. They explained that the alignment device needs to be mounted on to the rear wheels for reference. They also charge $69 with a $10 coupon which can be printed off their website (look for pdf file).
Hey man!
I took my car to Active Green and Ross who also said they charge one rate for doing an alignment. I did point out that the rear wheels cannot be aligned. No dice. They explained that the alignment device needs to be mounted on to the rear wheels for reference. They also charge $69 with a $10 coupon which can be printed off their website (look for pdf file).
#24
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Originally posted by nitroz
Is this the reason that my back tires wear in a strange diagonal type wear? I have eibach springs. SHould I have a 4 wheel thrust alignment to fix that??
Is this the reason that my back tires wear in a strange diagonal type wear? I have eibach springs. SHould I have a 4 wheel thrust alignment to fix that??
#25
This is what you said earlier "There is no such thing as a 2-wheel alignment. A 4-wheel alignment is done to calculate the thrust angle from the rear wheels and match it up to the fronts. I got printouts of the full alignment job that Nissan did. Makes a lot more sense to me now." What I was thinking is that the back maybe tracking to the side or different than the front and maybe this is the cause of the diagonal wear like this.
![](http://home.earthlink.net/~russell.owens/_uimages/__hr_diagonal_wear.jpg)
#26
we have a local garage chain called Matthews that has treated me well in this area. They inspect the car as if to do a 4 wheel...if the thrust angle is good (rear axle relative to the body of the car) they only charge for a 2 wheel alignment....this is very fair, as they take all the same measurements to do this anyway...i think $50 is a much more common price for a 2 wheel job.
I had a buddy with a probe GT bang a curb at like 10MPH...the angle was just right to wrinkle up the lower A arm....we had to put the spare tire on because the wheel was so far back. Given the design of the maxima lower a-arm and mount i could easily believe that any damage would be costly....especially if the mount got screwed up...that would almost be a better job for a body shop than a mechanic. In any case, jack the car up and took a good hard look at the a-arm on both side...any differences should be noticable. If the arm is bent, I would buy a used one from a salvage yard and put a new ball joint in it. having the dealer do it all, I could easily believe $500...6000 sounds rather...ummm....steap...
I had a buddy with a probe GT bang a curb at like 10MPH...the angle was just right to wrinkle up the lower A arm....we had to put the spare tire on because the wheel was so far back. Given the design of the maxima lower a-arm and mount i could easily believe that any damage would be costly....especially if the mount got screwed up...that would almost be a better job for a body shop than a mechanic. In any case, jack the car up and took a good hard look at the a-arm on both side...any differences should be noticable. If the arm is bent, I would buy a used one from a salvage yard and put a new ball joint in it. having the dealer do it all, I could easily believe $500...6000 sounds rather...ummm....steap...
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