what kind of equipment should i look for when choosing a place to align my car? just put tokico illumina kit on and need alignment. i know some places have computerized equipment while others do not. should i just take it to one of the chain shops?

 

Most places use computerized equipment. I recently got an alignment done at NTB and I was happy with the results. If you plan on doing more work to the front end in the next year or so, just buy a unlimited alignments package (1 yr validitiy) for 80 bucks. That's what I did. I went in right after doing my LCAs, tie-rods and then a few weeks later, after everything had settled. They provided before/after printouts and were happy to let me watch while they worked on my car. I would recommend NTB - but again, YMMV, as it almost always comes down to the individual shop and the tech that works on your car.

 

Just noticed your're in south bend. Isn't tirerack right there? I can't imagine a better place to get an alignment or balancing...

 

I have had good service with tires plus, going to try an alignment with them ( plus I have a $20 off coupon ).

Didnt think you could get a print out of before, I will do that as I would love to know what my specs are now, I rub at full turns...on stock wheels!

 

I just got 4 new tires & an alignment on Sat. at Big O Tires, the car still pull right. So I brought it back last night and now it pull right harder than before, and there is dirt all over the window sill from the guy's dirty a$$ elbows.

They suck.

 

i would first say good quality reputation.......that is important....next quality equipment...and if they can do custom alignments if u have adj..suspension components...i they are willing to do that and give u a print out....thay will be ok in my book...but the 1st one is def most important to me

 

I got a lifetime at Firestone. I also told them I had a camber kit to install too. They asked what kind of settings I wanted. I just told them just bring it back to factory. So far I've had it aligned twice and each time car has been fine.

 

Ask the shop if they have optical alignment equipment. Also if their rack can handle lowered cars (if applicable to yours). The non-optical sensors require a line-of-sight between the front tires and that front subframe crossbrace can interfere with that.
http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/al...sors/index.htm

 

You want a shop with good alignment equipment (Hunter for example) and they should be able to answer when the machine was last calibrated.

To find the best alignment shop:
1) Find the local autocross club. Often have an email list, website, or yahoo group.
2) Ask the autox'ers who they go for alignments.

Dave

 

I did my alignment twice and my 99 max is till pulling to the right a bit. The mechanic says that it must be the tires.

 

I have noticed that a couple of posts for post-alignment pulling to one side or the other. For this, I suggest that you change your Front End bushings out with Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings. The control arm bushings (and to a lesser degree, the sway bar bushings) are a common culprit of the post-alignment pulling occurence. MY 1997 I30t did the very same thing you describe and polyurethane bushings and an alignment eliminated it completely. -Sloppy

 

Most cars pull to one side or another because of torque steer (front wheel drive) and the pitch in the road to allow for drainage.

Something even as minor as dragging brakes could cause a pull or shimmy.

 

Torque steer is only under moderate & hard accelleration. And not all front wheel drive cars have it, the Dodge Intrepid does not, because of a forward facing engine (not transverse like all other fwd) it has equal size drive axels.

Torque steer pulls toward the longer axle, since Maxes have the transaxle on the driver's side, so the longer axle is on the passanger side. Thats why it pulls right under acceleration.