how often do you need to get an alignment>?
Or whether you have done any suspension work, as a general rule of thumb if you change any of the suspension parts .ie struts/springs - control arms - lower ball joints - end links you should followup with an alignment.
If you begin to suspect your alignment is out, then have it checked; Firestone at the least will do it for free, as I'm sure most other places will as well. When I was at Sears, there was no alignment 'check', per se, but if you brought your car in for an alignment and it was all (everything adjustable, anyway) in the green, there was no charge.
As said when you change most steering/suspension components, have it checked. If you hit a curb, a major pothole, your steering is off center, your car pulls, have it checked.
FWIW Firestone has a lifetime alignment service, no charge for an alignment (if it's out) for as long as you own your vehicle. $160ish, IIRC. Well worth it if you work on your car often. Eventually I plan on getting around to getting one.
One thing I've learned is that not all of my alignments are consistent-as in, though the rear toe isn't adjustable, sometimes one rear wheel could be out of spec and I'll go to another branch a week later and next thing you know it is in-spec.
But the Firestone lifetime alignment service has more than paid for itself-it was just the cost of 2 separate alignments.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
From: Maple Grove, MN
It also depends on your diving habits, so.. do you like nudging the curb? After any suspension/steering work you're gonna want your alignment at least checked. Also if you just got the car a little bit ago, check your alignment and see if any steering/susp. parts are loose. But like said before, if you don't do curb-checks everyday, once a year is good
You guys are a suspension mechanic's dream!
I had an alignment done on my Altima at 102,000 miles.
That is the first time I have had to get an alignment in about 25 years.
My 2 4th gen Max's have not needed any, and tires are wearing just right at 95,000 miles on one and 165,000 miles on the other. But I haven't been installing struts or hitting curbs...yet.
I had an alignment done on my Altima at 102,000 miles.
That is the first time I have had to get an alignment in about 25 years.
My 2 4th gen Max's have not needed any, and tires are wearing just right at 95,000 miles on one and 165,000 miles on the other. But I haven't been installing struts or hitting curbs...yet.
If the car drives straight and the tires aren't wearing, I leave it alone. But I always get an alignment when I buy new tires, so I guess that makes it somewhere between 50 to 60K miles.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,005
From: Worcester, MA
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 36
From: East Bay, Ca
P.S. Companies like Wheel Works do free alignment checks.
Last edited by 808s96SE; Jan 19, 2010 at 05:40 PM.
i just had my alignment done and was told both my front cv joints are completely torn. Ive had the car for about 6 months and never heard a pop. and he quoted me 400-500 for both. and my car still pulls to the right after the alignment was done. i hate letting other people touch my car
i just had my alignment done and was told both my front cv joints are completely torn. Ive had the car for about 6 months and never heard a pop. and he quoted me 400-500 for both. and my car still pulls to the right after the alignment was done. i hate letting other people touch my car
Why is that? Because he told you the boots are torn or because it still pulls after the alignment? If the former, just take a look under & verify. If the latter, eh, alignments never made my car go truly straight, nor is an out-of-spec toe the only thing that'll make your car pull.
Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 251
Funny part is that like I said car drove just fine "holding" the road and inner edge of tire is not readily visible. If in doubt, I would recommend jacking up a car and check each tire condition from edge to edge.
Also, do not rotate tires too often, since rotation can give you false impression about tire condition and alignment because tire wear compensates so to speak. Every 10K should do.
Ideally, alignment is done with BRAND NEW tires.
For example, I just got a new steering rack put in. 2 weeks later, the boots are torn & twisted. I would be a fool to not replace those boots asap.
PS: Don't get an alignment (um no, just...) Make sure to grease the tie-rod/boot connection before getting an alignment if you installed a new steering rack with alignment really far off...the tech probably won't notice (or care) that he's twisting the boots (if they're not lubed sufficiently), and they then end up like this:
and then you have to cut the boot out, revealing how truly twisted they were...
Last edited by ridinwitha35; Jan 25, 2010 at 06:28 PM.
Solution; when you install the new rack, lubricate where the bellows contacts the inner, and no more binding.
And yup, some grease on the tie rod eased that right up. Of course now my alignment is out...scared to get one now!
I've got lifetimes at Firestone. So far I've gotten 9 since March. Purchased it when I set out to fix my bump steer problems & began upgrading the suspension & steering. Most recently was for a new rack install; got it done at a shop & got the alignment 2 days later....that alignment made a helluva difference, but then again a new rack was put in.
One thing I've learned is that not all of my alignments are consistent-as in, though the rear toe isn't adjustable, sometimes one rear wheel could be out of spec and I'll go to another branch a week later and next thing you know it is in-spec.
But the Firestone lifetime alignment service has more than paid for itself-it was just the cost of 2 separate alignments.
One thing I've learned is that not all of my alignments are consistent-as in, though the rear toe isn't adjustable, sometimes one rear wheel could be out of spec and I'll go to another branch a week later and next thing you know it is in-spec.
But the Firestone lifetime alignment service has more than paid for itself-it was just the cost of 2 separate alignments.
Most people that spring for an LTA also get lifetime rotate/balance packages as well, and come in every few months for a rotate/balance/alignment (all free).
It's also nice to have if you ever happen to hit a curb, or slam a serious pothole, replace any of your steering/suspension components, etc.
When I purchased LTAs, a regular alignment was 80 bucks. The LTA cost was 160 bucks.
Prior to purchasing, I questioned the tech/rep on what the limitations were (as I was beginning to start the never ending journey of trying to fix my bump steer problems). Since then I've went in ten times, however, across 5 different branches (they're pretty common around here). I was turned away one time because my strut mount bearing was shot, so that makes 9 separate alignments.
OTOH, it's debatable on whether or not the alignments are truly performed. In one example, I got an alignment which indicated my rear left wheel's toe was out. Short time later, with no changes to anything, it's now in-spec. The same goes in other instances, I'd get an alignment and a week later something's out of spec.
So even though it's lifetime, it's still at the discretion of the branch on whether they do it right or not.
(I've done: struts, strut mounts & bearings x2, inner tie rods, outer tie rods, steering rack, control arms). So the LTA has more than paid for itself. I figure this car needs an alignment more often than oil changes.
Prior to purchasing, I questioned the tech/rep on what the limitations were (as I was beginning to start the never ending journey of trying to fix my bump steer problems). Since then I've went in ten times, however, across 5 different branches (they're pretty common around here). I was turned away one time because my strut mount bearing was shot, so that makes 9 separate alignments.
OTOH, it's debatable on whether or not the alignments are truly performed. In one example, I got an alignment which indicated my rear left wheel's toe was out. Short time later, with no changes to anything, it's now in-spec. The same goes in other instances, I'd get an alignment and a week later something's out of spec.
So even though it's lifetime, it's still at the discretion of the branch on whether they do it right or not.
(I've done: struts, strut mounts & bearings x2, inner tie rods, outer tie rods, steering rack, control arms). So the LTA has more than paid for itself. I figure this car needs an alignment more often than oil changes.