Alignement Q

05NeonSE · Post by **05NeonSE** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:00 pm

How often should you check your alignment? I searched on here but didn't find a thing. And to make it better i lost my manual too.

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:11 pm

i don't think allignments are a part of regularly scheduled maintenance. if you don't hit potholes, havn't been in accidents, your car doesn't pull to either side if you take your hands off the wheel (i don't endorse doing this for legal purposes lol), and your tires aren't wearing unevenly, don't waste your money. if you are experienceing any of the above problems, get it checked.

there are a lot of places that will do an allignment check for you for free, NTB being the place i use.

Post by **racer12306** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:13 pm

Yup, not a normal maintenance kind of thing.

Allignments get done if/when any suspension work is done, or damage to the suspension takes place.

My car is at 76000 never had one, up until now but that is because I hit something in the road.

silverneontuner · Post by **silverneontuner** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:48 am

really, alignment should also get checked whenever tires are changed.

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:58 am

debatable

jphillips · Post by **jphillips** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:26 pm

...on how expensive it is - most tire places offer free checks; why not take advantage of 'em?

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:57 am

You need to check it when either one of these problems occur.

1. Your steering wheel is now off from center.

2. You find odd wear on your tires especially on the inside or outside edge.

3. You replace a tie rod end

4. you replace a an OEM part for non OEM (Struts, Springs, Control Arm Bushings, Ball Joint) or vice versa.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:04 am

^^^ Good things here ^^^ (#4 has some questionable attributes to it such as, in the strictest of senses, if you remove anything for the suspension you've messed up your alignment).

Usually it is free to get your alignment checked, but if you do that you pretty much make an appointment to have it done and if it needs it then you do it and if not your golden.

I can't seem to stop playing with my suspension that I've been getting alignments twice to three times a year so far.

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:04 pm

hansken_yo wrote:^^^ Good things here ^^^ (#4 has some questionable attributes to it such as, in the strictest of senses, if you remove anything for the suspension you've messed up your alignment).

Usually it is free to get your alignment checked, but if you do that you pretty much make an appointment to have it done and if it needs it then you do it and if not your golden.

I can't seem to stop playing with my suspension that I've been getting alignments twice to three times a year so far.

I'm waiting till January to start messing with my suspension, then i'll get the gold allignment package from NTB that will let me get as many as i want done for either a year or 3 years for about $170 up front. i'll probably be in there once a month after that lol, damn fucked up D.C. streets.

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 1:03 am

hansken_yo wrote:^^^ Good things here ^^^ (#4 has some questionable attributes to it such as, in the strictest of senses, if you remove anything for the suspension you've messed up your alignment).

I wrote 4 as I did because when at ford if you change a control arm or strut we do not need to realign most times and even several TSB do not allow alignment time unless you find it off on the road test to verify. The OEM parts are VERY close but aftermarket stuff can be off several thousandth if not hundredths and while it it still perfectly serviceable will cause toe issues.

I used to think that break it open align it. But after a couple years at Ford that is not so true at least when dealing with OEM parts replacing OEM parts. Then again some are a must like when you have slots and what not to deal with.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:13 am

05NeonSE · Post by **05NeonSE** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:56 am

ewetho wrote:You need to check it when either one of these problems occur.

1. Your steering wheel is now off from center.

Yeah this is why i wanted to check it out. When the car is going straight my steering wheel is like maybe 5 or 10 degrees to the right. It might not be big deal but its really bothering me now.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:30 am

That will need to be looked at.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:51 am

Also, remember that roads are graded to allow water evacuation.

If you are driving on the right side of the road, you could expect to have to correct just a hair towards the left, and visa versa.

It could also be the tires. If you still have the crappy OEM Goodyear Eagle LS's on the car, that could be the problem. I was having what I thought was alignment problems when the car had about 12000 miles on it. I took it in for warranty work and they said it was fine. I just delt with it til the tires were dead. Then with my new set of tires I didn't have a problem.

The Eagle LS's are complete junk. So if you do get it checked and they say its fine, I would start looking at the tires. You probably won't be able to notice anything by looking at them.

05NeonSE · Post by **05NeonSE** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:08 am

racer12306 wrote:Also, remember that roads are graded to allow water evacuation.

The Eagle LS's are complete junk. So if you do get it checked and they say its fine, I would start looking at the tires. You probably won't be able to notice anything by looking at them.

Yeah, i replaced my tires at around 18k miles for some 185/70s. With the steering wheel off centered a bit what kind of consequences am i facing?

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:58 am

A simple look at your drive wheels will tell you if you need one or not. It is most common on one tire more than the other.

Thats a good sign you have a problem and you need to get it fixed. Some people have experienced a shake or pulse in the brake pedal also. On the other hand it could be the brakes making it pulse. And as others have said, the car drifting in one direction is a good sign too.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:34 am

05NeonSE wrote:
racer12306 wrote:Also, remember that roads are graded to allow water evacuation.

The Eagle LS's are complete junk. So if you do get it checked and they say its fine, I would start looking at the tires. You probably won't be able to notice anything by looking at them.
Yeah, i replaced my tires at around 18k miles for some 185/70s. With the steering wheel off centered a bit what kind of consequences am i facing?

What size wheel? if you have the 15" wheel then the tire is a bit tall and your speedo and odo will be off. if a 14" wheel then that is just a hair on the tall side, minimal amount of speedometer variance.

I just replaced the tires on the stratus im driving right now. It now drives straight as an arrow. The tires that were on it were junk. The backs were 8 years old.

contagious18 · Post by **contagious18** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:00 pm

[quote="titansxt"]A simple look at your drive wheels will tell you if you need one or not. It is most common on one tire more than the other.

my back tire is like dat. that would be a camber problem

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:15 pm

I just did my LCA bushings and I REALLY need an alignment. But i'm too poor to afford it right now.

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:46 pm

What you can do on the cheap if you find to decent straight edges and a couple of buddies is have them hold it to the tire/wheel and measure a few inches ahead of the tire and behind and see if you are toe in or out. Should be 1/8" or so toe in to start. Should get your through to you alignment.

aperson · Post by **aperson** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:41 pm

contagious18 wrote:my back tire is like dat. that would be a
camber problem

More than likely a toe problem, it looks wavy to me. Or it could just be road erosion. Because roads are crowned you are always turning in one direction to keep going straight.

05NeonSE · Post by **05NeonSE** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:51 pm

So my tires are completely fine. I suppose the only thing i would need is to have someone at a shop re-center my steering wheel right? Like i said its only 5-10 degrees off.