Suspension gurus!

[The Shaolin]

2000 SC1, sprint 2" springs, KYB struts.

So I just put my transmission back in, I had a strut out, figured I should get it re-aligned. Took it to Fleet Farm, they have a computerized alignment machine. I took it there once before, it was like, $37 done in an hour.

I drop my car off...dude says he'll call me in no more than an hour when it's done. I come back to the store an hour and a half later...yep, it's been done for awhile, no call.

"Left rear front and rear lateral control arms bent, also the rear arm on the right is slightly bent also will need to install cam bolts in three axels to bring camber into specs .3 hour labor each also the front strut towers need to be sloted (sp) to bring caster into spec .5 hour labor each"

Service engine soon light on DTC (HAHAHA)

Cam bolts - $21.45 each, $19.50 labor - $122.85
4 wheel alignment $59.99
Strut caster adj. $65
Total - $264.09

That was the estimate page. They charged me $10 for it. Here's the measured specs

LEFT FRONT

Camber .8*
Caster 2.5*
Toe -.27*

RIGHT FRONT

Camber 1.1*
Caster 2.5*
Toe -.31*

Total Toe -.57*
Steer Ahead .02*

LEFT REAR

Camber .4*
Toe .19*

RIGHT REAR

Camber -.5*
Toe -.09*

TOTAL TOE .1*


I'm not a suspension guy. I know what camber caster and toe are, and I know mine is way out of whack, but I'm not paying fucking $300 for it to be done...especially when it was $40 last time, and NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN.

Take it someplace else? What do I do?

[ProDarwin]

Take it some place else. Only thing I see on the list that I dont know how to adjust is rear toe.

You have kybs? If so, there is more than enough adjustment to bring everything where you want it up front. If not, you may have to find some camber bolts (but they are way cheaper than $22 a piece) and install them yourself.

[Budman]

Actually rear toe is somewhat adjustable by loosening and adjusting the rear lateral links.

That being said, I'd definitely go somewhere you can trust. This is the slow time in the auto service world and some smaller shops may get a bit "creative" in their revenue producing endevours. Wherever you go do not mention what the previous shop told you until after they give you an estimate.

[SupraCharged007]

rear toe is fully adjustable by the rearmost lateral link


and ive seen a few of them bent so climb down there and look at them yourself, if they don't look bent, then most likely they arent.

and it seems you subframe is misaligned screwing with all of your front settings. Loosen it up and try to reposition it correctly.

[The Shaolin]

and it seems you subframe is misaligned screwing with all of your front settings. Loosen it up and try to reposition it correctly.

Possible...but I don't know how else to align it. I left one bolt in the whole time...and at first I couldn't get all the bolts in, and I wiggled it and got them all in...I don't know how to adjust beyond that.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Another thing to consider, the computers go by stock specifications. The suspension tech at my dealership tells me every time I have a car done that if it has an altered suspension, more than likely, the computer will say everything is horribly wrong while everything is actually fine, and that the only thing that he can get to line up is the toe.

[Budman]

While the car is on the alignment rack slightly loosen the four cradle bolts and then use a very large screwdriver or prybar to wiggle the cradle around where needed. A good experienced alignment tech would know that.

[TheMU47]

yep...a regular 4 wheel alignment would cover all of those specs, but the lowered suspension likes a different camber spec...closer to -1.0 up front, -1.3 to -1.5 rear.
The toe is usually centered at .10 on the turd, but try 0* toe and it'll drive like it's on rails. You may notice a tad of squirm on uneven roads.

As for caster, try tweaking the sway bar.
Camber, slot the struts lower bolt holes if there is not already a slot there.
Toe up front is easy, rears use furthest back lateral links. Those are 18mm, and an impact comes in handy there when you need to tighten it in a hurry.

[The Shaolin]

man, I wish you guys could do this for me. I'm not doing it myself.

when you say "slot" the struts...are you talking like this?

from the side: (o's are bolt holes)

NOW:
o


o

AFTER:

o

||
o
||

except not that big, obviously.

it just pisses me off that they did this before and now they say they can't...I took it to another place, and they pretty much put mirrors on the tires and bounced a laser off of those and a mirror on the ceiling...I think the computer place is a little more accurate..

[SupraCharged007]

no, like this

0

=0=


you probably dont need that though. Take the car to a dealership and tell them to align it. If they say you caster is messed up ask if they tried aligning the subframe.

and there actually is a guide hole you can stick a screwdriver into help line it up. I wanna say its on the front pass side.

[The Shaolin]

what's a dealership alignment going to cost me?

*bends over, lubes up*

EDIT: Just called...they said $80...which really isn't too bad, assuming they do it right. I set up an appointment for this afternoon.

What do you guys pay for alignments?

[SupraCharged007]

I have friends at the dealer still [img]{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_ninja.gif[/img]

heading over there in a lil while actually hehe

[Brandon94sc2]

I pay $60.

[Budman]

Our dealership charges $59.95 + tax for a 4 wheel alignment.

[The Shaolin]

Took it to the dealer today

In the green all the way around...and they didn't need $300 worth of cam bolts to do it...I'm going to contact the first place corporate and voice my displeasure.