Alignment a little off after lowering+alignment
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Alignment a little off after lowering+alignment
I got my car lowered yesterday. I got everything done, springs, camber kit, and an alignment to boot. After I got my car back, the car pulls slightly to the right. Everything on the printout shows that the alignment is within spec though.
Is it true that with a lowered car that it is difficult to have a car perfectly aligned, especially since most machines would align your car as if your wheels and springs were stock? Or is it something else, like maybe my springs haven't fully settled yet, but the driver's side is settling more since I've been sitting on that side?
I've also heard that if you've been in an accident, that it's difficult to get your steering wheel perfectly straight, even with the frame set. Since I've been in one, that might be my problem.
Any answers are greatly welcome.
Is it true that with a lowered car that it is difficult to have a car perfectly aligned, especially since most machines would align your car as if your wheels and springs were stock? Or is it something else, like maybe my springs haven't fully settled yet, but the driver's side is settling more since I've been sitting on that side?
I've also heard that if you've been in an accident, that it's difficult to get your steering wheel perfectly straight, even with the frame set. Since I've been in one, that might be my problem.
Any answers are greatly welcome.
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Rep Power: 0 You should have waited a week before you got an alignment. The springs need time to settle.
And yes this has been covered before that the driver side sits a little lower than the passenger side.
I have Eibach Pro-kit springs and my car does the same thing and it pulls to the right a little during hard acceleration.
And yes this has been covered before that the driver side sits a little lower than the passenger side.
I have Eibach Pro-kit springs and my car does the same thing and it pulls to the right a little during hard acceleration.
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There are a few issues. Right now you are on stock shocks. They might not like the lowering.
Secondly, which is probably more of the case. You have to let your springs settle before you get an alignment. And if you alignment shop didn't tell you that, then you should never go there again because they just ripped you out of an alignment. You should let your springs settle for about a week or so before getting an alignment just to be on the safe side.
Secondly, which is probably more of the case. You have to let your springs settle before you get an alignment. And if you alignment shop didn't tell you that, then you should never go there again because they just ripped you out of an alignment. You should let your springs settle for about a week or so before getting an alignment just to be on the safe side.
Last edited by robbclark1; Jan 23, 2004 at 08:52 AM.
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I have Eibach Pro-kit springs and my car does the same thing and it pulls to the right a little during hard acceleration.
There are a few issues. Right now you are on stock springs. They might not like the lowering.
Anyways... drive for a week so they settle, then go back and complain that its pulling... make them re-check the alignment and adjust it so its straight again. Chances are it'll settle down a little more and you'll need the camber adjusted anyways.
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Secondly, which is probably more of the case. You have to let your springs settle before you get an alignment
Is it true that with a lowered car that it is difficult to have a car perfectly aligned, especially since most machines would align your car as if your wheels and springs were stock?
Now some alignment machines WONT beable to take readins from a car if it cant see from one front tire to the other and your bumper may need removed to allow the readings to be measured.
Or is it something else, like maybe my springs haven't fully settled yet, but the driver's side is settling more since I've been sitting on that side?
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got mine same day les schwab gaurantees for 30 days so i am planning on a return trip this week end after 200 miles on the springs make your money count i guess
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 412 Originally posted by tfnaaf
I would have to disagree on this. YES get it aligned RIGHT AFTER the lowering. And if they are adjustable get it aligned right after every adjustment. Now a good alignment shop should offer free alignment check specially if they installed the springs. AS an FYI i installed my eibachs then aligned it. Then checked it about 2 weeks laters was STILL dead on as it was when it rolled off the rack the first time.
No, no matter what springs and ride height you have it SHOULD be able to be aligned unless your talking about the car sitting on the ground Now some alignment machines WONT beable to take readins from a car if it cant see from one front tire to the other and your bumper may need removed to allow the readings to be measured.
This is a possibility. It seems some brands of springs will settle more then others. But from the way your describing it . It pulled when you drove it home from the alignment shop. My suggestion would be to take the car back and get it rechecked. It is possible to get faulty readings. Its also possible for the alignment maching to out of calibration assuming its a conventional alignment maching. A couple more possibilitys, did they rotate the tires possibly? if so that could be the problem. you could be experincing a tire pull. Did they check the air pressure?
I would have to disagree on this. YES get it aligned RIGHT AFTER the lowering. And if they are adjustable get it aligned right after every adjustment. Now a good alignment shop should offer free alignment check specially if they installed the springs. AS an FYI i installed my eibachs then aligned it. Then checked it about 2 weeks laters was STILL dead on as it was when it rolled off the rack the first time.
No, no matter what springs and ride height you have it SHOULD be able to be aligned unless your talking about the car sitting on the ground
Now some alignment machines WONT beable to take readins from a car if it cant see from one front tire to the other and your bumper may need removed to allow the readings to be measured.This is a possibility. It seems some brands of springs will settle more then others. But from the way your describing it . It pulled when you drove it home from the alignment shop. My suggestion would be to take the car back and get it rechecked. It is possible to get faulty readings. Its also possible for the alignment maching to out of calibration assuming its a conventional alignment maching. A couple more possibilitys, did they rotate the tires possibly? if so that could be the problem. you could be experincing a tire pull. Did they check the air pressure?
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driving for a week will not destroy your tires nor your mess up your suspension components
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 412 No...but on an average most people don't drive 2000 miles a week. And all that 2000 miles should damage if you lower between 1-2" will be your tires.
I am also not suggesting to put your springs on and not drive at all or only move parking spaces as that will not let your springs settle.
I am not saying that it is a horrible thing to get an alignment right after installation, but it is not necessary if you have to pay for 2 alignments. If you can pay for 2 or get the second adjustment free, than by all means, go ahead, BUT the first alignment will go off when the springs settle.
I am also not suggesting to put your springs on and not drive at all or only move parking spaces as that will not let your springs settle.
I am not saying that it is a horrible thing to get an alignment right after installation, but it is not necessary if you have to pay for 2 alignments. If you can pay for 2 or get the second adjustment free, than by all means, go ahead, BUT the first alignment will go off when the springs settle.
Last edited by robbclark1; Jan 23, 2004 at 12:36 PM.
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Rep Power: 327 Here is a quote i found to show how important it is to get the alignment checked ASAP after lowering. Granted the quote shows total for 12,000 miles being just .17" out of spec but if the toe is out more? You get the idea it only compounds the damage that you can do to your tire by not getting it aligned ASAP. And being .17" out of spec after lowering is VERY realistic. And more then likely could be out more.
http://www.directtire.com/school/totalalign.html
http://www.directtire.com/school/totalalign.html
Think of it this way. Research indicates that the average car is driven about 12,000 miles per year. A car with toe alignment just 0.34 (just 0.17 inches) out of specifications has dragged its tires sideways for over 68 miles by the end of year!
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 412 I understand your point, but when the springs continue to settle over the week, the first alignment will be pretty much useless. sure it will save a few mm but again, if you have to pay for a second one, than it isn't worth it in my mind.
I have heard stories of people's springs settling at different times. The right rear doesn't look as far down as the rest of the car....Does an intial alignment help with that? No. That person will just need it realigned when that spring drops. We can go on like this for days....but in my mind, if you don't have to pay for a 2nd alignment than by all means do them both (once after installation, once when the springs settle). If you do have to pay for 2 alignments than wait until the springs settle. ****, it doesn't even matter if you are lowered or not. most people's alignments are off and they don't care.
I have heard stories of people's springs settling at different times. The right rear doesn't look as far down as the rest of the car....Does an intial alignment help with that? No. That person will just need it realigned when that spring drops. We can go on like this for days....but in my mind, if you don't have to pay for a 2nd alignment than by all means do them both (once after installation, once when the springs settle). If you do have to pay for 2 alignments than wait until the springs settle. ****, it doesn't even matter if you are lowered or not. most people's alignments are off and they don't care.
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From: Boise, Idaho
Rep Power: 327 Whats the average 4-wheel alignment cost saying you have to pay for it twice??????? $50 maybe $60? Not knowing what tires we are refering to but just as an example my current tires were about $180 each x 4 = $720. $60 additional dollars is nothing in the cost of a tire and mine arent real expensive ones either.
I guess what it comes down to is value of the tires and possible safety of driving the car when it could be handling improperly.
rant-off
I guess what it comes down to is value of the tires and possible safety of driving the car when it could be handling improperly.
rant-off
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 412 You know how many people's cars are off alignment? I bet upwards of 95%. As soon as you drive your car off the lot it is misaligned. Are you going to realign your wheels everytime you hit a pot hole? How about every month? Because it is SAFER and will KEEP YOUR TIRES if you do...but maybe you do have that type of money, because I don't. It is all about cost/benefit. It is better for your car to change your oil every 3k, i mean ****, you could change it every 200 miles and be even better!! But that is NOT worth it, now is it.
For the 2-300 miles the average person accumulates in a week, you will ruin maybe $10-20 worth of all 4 tires!
Now like i said, there is no harm in getting an alignment right after installation, but as soon as you drive away, your alignment will be off...as soon as you take those first few turns and the springs feel the weight, your alignment will be off. If you can get 2 alignments for the same price, then go for it. But I don't want to spend $60 for something I don't necessarily need.
For the 2-300 miles the average person accumulates in a week, you will ruin maybe $10-20 worth of all 4 tires!
Now like i said, there is no harm in getting an alignment right after installation, but as soon as you drive away, your alignment will be off...as soon as you take those first few turns and the springs feel the weight, your alignment will be off. If you can get 2 alignments for the same price, then go for it. But I don't want to spend $60 for something I don't necessarily need.
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Now like i said, there is no harm in getting an alignment right after installation, but as soon as you drive away, your alignment will be off
AS an FYI i installed my eibachs then aligned it. Then checked it about 2 weeks laters was STILL dead on as it was when it rolled off the rack the first time.
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
Rep Power: 412 Originally posted by tfnaaf
OK, im done now I hope
OK, im done now I hope
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From: 4o8, California
Rep Power: 310 They usually test drive your car to make sure that it drives safe. I'd take it back and ask that they re-check the alignment since now it pulls to the right. Does it pull the to right at any speed?
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From: Boise, Idaho
Rep Power: 327 No, first off id check air pressure followed by checking the wheel alignment. Then if it still pulls and the alignment was good i would look for a tire to be causing the pull. more offen then not a tire will be the issue. To determine if its a tire causing the pull swap your two front tires from sid to side if the pull now goes the other way you've found the problem.
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From: monkton,md
Rep Power: 0 I do alignments. I feel confident in saying that you should get your car aligned immediately after lowering. Removing and reinstalling suspension components does change your alignment. Add in a lowered ride height and you have changed your angles significantly. The removal and reinstallation of strut assemblies affect your alignment, but the effect is far greater if you have installed a camber kit or front struts with slotted hole. In contrast, the settling of springs has a very small effect on alignment. After 3 months, my sportlines had settled enough to create an extra -0.3 degrees of camber at all four corners, toe measurements were slightly out of spec; no big deal. A small camber change will affect toe measurements, but mine was out probably due to the poor condition of the roads in my area. Basically, I would suggest that you have your car aligned immediately after lowering, then have it rechecked after 6 months. Keep getting it rechecked every 6 months. If you are having problems with your alignment now, take the car back and bitch. Let them worry about it.
