Alignment shops!!!

[jwalk]

Just curious if any one else has problems trying to get someone to align there truck? Mine is just a simple bag job, nothing major. Cpp tubalar a-arms and a Cpp notch. Like I said nothing major. I can't seem to find someone that'll want to mess with it. I get bull crap storys, saying that my truck won't fit on there machine. There jacks on there machine won't go under my control arms. I don't know if there just scared or what. I don't want to sit there and argue with them, but if they don't want to do it, I don't want them doin it, and give me a half A$$ job.

Thanks,
Justin

[colin_havens]

My issues was not that the truck was bagged. I had a harder time getting someone that could do it with 20 inch wheels. Some of the older shops equipment just will not handle a rim that big. Just set your truck where you drive it the most, and have them align it at that height.

[jwalk]

I had the truck at ride height with 15" wheels. They would come out and look at my truck, look under the front and then say that it would not fit on there machine or once on the machine the air jacks would not fit under my lower control arms. I just figured they don't won't to work on it. I do know a guy that just left one of the big tire shops, to open his own shop. He said he can align it no problems, But he hasn't recieved his rack yet. He said it could be a week or two or more. He's having trouble trying to get it. I don't really want to wait longer than two weeks.

[andrewmp6]

Some places don't want to mess with anything with air bags.Mostly because they don't want to get blame or uneven tire wear when people drive it not on the height it was set for.

[dznucks]

I just ran into the same problems a few weeks ago. One shop gave me a hard time about it and then ultimately told me I need $1200 worth of front end work including a new steering box.

I had just rebuilt everything in the front end with MOOG and I had just taken the slack out of the steering box, so I know it was total BS. I finally realized that the shop that did my exhaust could do alignments. When I called and asked if they could do a bagged truck, they said "absolutely".

you need to find a smaller mom and pop type shop. If you need to drive your truck until the other guy you know gets his rack, there is away you can set the toe adjsutment yourself just to get it to drive straight.

I used string and 4 jack stands to set my tie rod adjsutment. that got me through the week until I had time to take it to the shop. it drop just as straight now as it did before the alignment.

[PRUNEDA]

I would just wait til that guy gets his rack. It would give me more peace in mind to know that he actually wants to do it, as opposed to those others that don't even want to touch it. Anyways, good luck.

[jwalk]

Yeah. I'm sure I'll wait for that guy to get his rack. I don't mind waiting two weeks, but I talked to him today. He said that where he is getting his rack from. They told him it would of been there last Friday. Now there saying two weeks. So the dude that owns the shop said hopefully well get it in the next week or so. Hell he said maybe longer. He didn't want to open his doors until he recieved all of his stuff, so that he wouldn't have to tell people they'd have to wait.

I was just wondering if anybody else ran in to problems trying to get there truck aligned. I just don't see the big deal.

Thanks,
Justin

[cparman]

I will be glad to align y'alls trucks! I have to think that IF you would ask around, there is an old fart like me that is too dumb to quit working on cars, that has an alignment machine in his shop.

I get referrals from people that attend local cruise ins. The conversation goes like " where do you get your car/truck aligned?" " there is a shop at the beach that is owned by a car guy, he is an old fart, very direct in what he might say, but will work with you".

I know that there are a bunch of guys like me around this great country that love our old stuff. all it takes is some common sense, and a desire on BOTH parties part to get the truck aligned.

Stop looking for the cheap // tire store alignment, pay someones price, and have the ability to come back if needed
BTW I charge $79.00 to align y'all's trucks

[cparman]

big wheels can be a problem. I can do 20's, but no bigger. I will sometimes have to set the clamps at 3 and 9, instead of 6 and 12.

Originally Posted by colin_havens

My issues was not that the truck was bagged. I had a harder time getting someone that could do it with 20 inch wheels. Some of the older shops equipment just will not handle a rim that big. Just set your truck where you drive it the most, and have them align it at that height.

[jwalk]

Stop looking for the cheap // tire store alignment, pay someones price, and have the ability to come back if needed
BTW I charge $79.00 to align y'all's trucks

I'm not looking for the cheap. I was just trying to find some one in my town that wanted to work on my truck. I'm the kinda guy that wants to do it all myself. I have a hard time trusting some one else to work on my truck. Since I've been able to drive I've always had my uncle align my trucks. He did it for 22+ years at a GM dealer, he is up there with the best. Since he's quit for a job with better benifits, I've had to find some one else. I'll be more than happy to pay some one that wants to give me a good job, on anything if I can't do it myself.
BTW I'm sure I'll have to pay way more $79 to get it done.

Justin

[gcburdic]

I called a couple of local hot rod stops and asked them where they get there project cars aligned....and as cparman said....they said there's a old fart about 2 miles down the road...been doing it for years, old school.....$60 bucks later and after a firm scolding about using a 'puter to have it align the first time, I was aligned and full of real cool stories....

[SCOTI]

I experienced those shops that look @ it & state "there's no way". I know that's BS.... The first thing needed to get it done isn't the equipment; it's the guy w/the right attitude that wants to do the work.

What's great about these boards is the ability to quickly network. Check w/board members in your area (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/f...play.php?f=176). Member/vendor Muscleridez is in Ok & could possibly direct you to a proven shop that's not afraid to work on your truck.

[leddzepp]

One of the best things you can do is take a service manual with you. The problem I ran into was nobody could find the alignment specs in the computer. I opened the book up to the specs, handed it to him, and said get to it! Honestly I think they just did not want to align my truck since it is lowered, but he had no excuse with the specs right in front of him.

[07SSSC]

Don't see why someone would refuse to align anyone's vehicle most shops around here are begging for work.

I've run into a similar but different issue, I work at a Chevy dealer that was just built 2 years ago and the new machine doesn't go back past mid 70's. Now the old shop we moved out of was originally set up as a big truck/tractor shop complete with a pit. It had an old alignment machine (I'm talking decades old) as part of the pit that aligned my truck beautifully.

[crakarjax]

You can do it yourself if you take the time, it might take you about 2 hours. I found a really good guide on the team chevelle website when I was working on my chevelle. I aligned it myself and have driven it for 5 years with no problems. In fact, being able to align it yourself will be pretty beneficial, because if you don't like the way it steers you can safely and correctly modify your caster to get the feel you want. This link is a pretty awesome description of the basic concepts. There are really only 3 adjustments to be made; caster, camber, and toe-in.

As long as you can measure correctly, you WILL be able to do it yourself. I think the hardest part is caster, and the camber and toe-in are fairly easy. I don't think caster affects tire wear, so that makes going for what you feel drives best even more feasible. Just my 2 cents of course.