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Lowered Maxima's step in. Where do you go to get your car aligned?

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Old 04-03-2008 | 10:02 PM
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Lowered Maxima's step in. Where do you go to get your car aligned?

Recently had a shop change out my front passenger bearing, which threw off my alignment like crazy cause they don't do alignments. front passenger was clearly running positive just by looking at it and all the rest were negative.

long story short, after calling about 5 different alignment shops, dropping car off at 3 places, and even waiting around for 2 hours for 1 place, couldn't get the car aligned. All faced the same issue, car was too low and couldn't get onto the ramp.

So, just as a temp fix, and i know its not accurate, i adjusted the camber on the front passenger and luckily got the steering wheel close to center when driving. but i didn't adjust anything else, caster, toe, etc. Just wondering where some of you guys take yours cause i'm sicking of calling around.
Old 04-03-2008 | 10:15 PM
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I get mine done at Belle Tire which is like a regional type of Discount Tire. I made it onto the rack but it was really close.
Old 04-03-2008 | 10:51 PM
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Tell them to use some boards so you can drive your car on there easier. That how the ppl where I take mine do it. Well we know them so we watch them but they knew to use boards on my car without even telling them.
Old 04-03-2008 | 10:57 PM
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If all else fails....

stealership.. =X
Old 04-04-2008 | 12:20 AM
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At least they didnt tell you they can't align...cause they cant do over a 17" wheel.
Old 04-04-2008 | 12:30 AM
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Chances are a couple places that you went to just said they cant do it cause they didnt want to touch the car cause it is lowered........

try somewhere else that you havent gone to yet and bring a couple of boards with you for them to use to get it on the ramp.....
Old 04-04-2008 | 11:54 AM
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yeh. firestone turned me down just b/c i had coilovers, and wouldn't even let me use 2x4's. then went to another shop that had hill entrance into the garage and their excuse was they couldn't even make the car up that. i saw the hill myself and i was pretty sure i could make it up myself. dunno how the person couldn't even make it up. but the manager wouldn't let me even if i took liability for the damage i could cause .

i guess, i'll just call a couple more "different" shops and ask...stupid coilovers, sigh
Old 04-04-2008 | 12:46 PM
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How low would you have to be to start worrying about that?

I'm planning on getting H&Rs...but they're not that low. Right?
Old 04-04-2008 | 12:46 PM
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I haven't had anyone decline yet, although they did get the car stuck on multiple occasions..

When I pulled it into my buddy's shop the alignment machine actually couldn't read camber and toe since my crossmember got in the way of the lasers that go under the car. (seriously)
Old 04-04-2008 | 03:37 PM
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My car has Tokico Illuminas along with the red Tokico springs, and I have gotten it aligned at NTB and the stealership. It also has 18's and have never had any of the shops tell me that they can't get it on to the ramp, or that the wheels are to big. I don't know what to tell you man.
Old 04-04-2008 | 04:08 PM
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If I were you I'd go to a place that specialize in custom air ride suspensions & find out where they go to get alignments, thats if they dont do them themselves. A lowered car on larger wheeles is nowhere near factory alignment specs, Which is whats trying to be done when is put on an alignment machine. I use a shop here that dont even have a machine. They're old skool & when finished, regardless of how low or high your car is, your **** will be perfect.
Old 04-04-2008 | 04:18 PM
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look around for performance shops around your are, someone has to do alignments. or just drive like some of us dropped, scrapping, and rubbing lol
Old 04-04-2008 | 04:40 PM
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Some speed shops do alignments try them...I get mine done at a local shop here that just charges 10 bucks more for lowered cars...
Old 04-04-2008 | 04:54 PM
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well if i go to like a speed or custom shop, they'll most likely charge me for a "custom" alignment, which will end up costing $100+. i been trying to find just your normal everyday alignment shop that would hopefully be able to align my car at their standard rate fee.
but i know that prob won't happen so yeh, i'll start looking elsewhere.

tried to call a place in the yellowpages that specializes in alignment for cars and trucks but they were closed. hopefully they'll be able to do it...
Old 04-04-2008 | 05:18 PM
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mechanic.SEARS
Old 04-04-2008 | 10:45 PM
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Yeah, this is one of the many issues lowered cars face... I discovered this the hard way myself lol...
Old 04-04-2008 | 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by WhiteMaxima9600
Yeah, this is one of the many issues lowered cars face... I discovered this the hard way myself lol...
I have never had a problem.
Old 04-05-2008 | 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by bigpulve
I have never had a problem.
well my front bumper is about 5 1/2 inches off the ground.
dunno about yours...
Old 04-05-2008 | 05:41 PM
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at my job lol
Old 04-05-2008 | 06:30 PM
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Butler Tire does lowered cars for sure. Went myself a month or so ago.
Old 04-05-2008 | 06:41 PM
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wow first time i heard of the car is too low, like someone else said if all else fails, the dealer can get it done
Old 04-07-2008 | 12:50 PM
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There's an alignment shop next door to our shop that does a lot of track cars. I take mine to them. It's a family owned joint, and they do good work.
Old 04-07-2008 | 02:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Slickismax
There's an alignment shop next door to our shop that does a lot of track cars. I take mine to them. It's a family owned joint, and they do good work.
Those are the best places. To bad he is in south carolina...haha.

Try Midas. A friend of mine gets his max aligned there. He's lowered with a lip, but he does know one of the mechs...

GL man.
Old 04-07-2008 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by g4nismo
well my front bumper is about 5 1/2 inches off the ground.
dunno about yours...

my bumper is about 4.5 inches off the floor. i go to a place down here called Tires Way of America. they do a lot of lowered cars. they just use sheets of plywood to get the car on the ramp. best part is they charge $70 plus tax to align all 4 wheels! they do a great job and the price is excellent compared to other places.
Old 04-07-2008 | 11:14 PM
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either raise the car a little bit or or find one them performance shops like u said
Old 04-08-2008 | 04:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Mxrider52
Tell them to use some boards so you can drive your car on there easier. That how the ppl where I take mine do it. Well we know them so we watch them but they knew to use boards on my car without even telling them.
on the boards. thats how my guys do it too... how stupid are the guys are the places you're going???!!!
Old 04-08-2008 | 06:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Coolsaber57
How low would you have to be to start worrying about that?

I'm planning on getting H&Rs...but they're not that low. Right?
?
Old 04-08-2008 | 11:05 AM
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^

No H&Rs leave you a 3 finger wheel gap and stock is 5 finger wheel gap so....not low enuffff lol
Old 04-08-2008 | 01:22 PM
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Cool, thank you!
Old 04-08-2008 | 01:29 PM
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i had to use boards on maxspeeds (h&r replica as far as i'm concerned).

i would sat go to a specialty alignment shop, they will know what to do (be willing) more than a mechanic shop.

all i know is that my next alignment should be real fun.

5.5" lower than 5.5" off the ground...
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