Alignment Frequency, /Lift Kit/Your tire size
08-21-2017, 01:47 AM
#11
As someone who works as an automotive technician here's my input.
Lifetime alignments are a good deal but they require a few things from the customer to make sure you get what you're supposed to. They way a lifetime alignment works is you pay one flat fee and the mechanic gets paid for the first alignment, after that you pay nothing and the mechanic gets paid warranty pay or roughly half of his normal pay to do every subsequent alignment.
Because the mechanic gets paid half pay the alignments are typically good enough but won't include camber or caster adjustments or precise setting of the toe. It is also common to see guys recommend unneeded repairs that are "necessary" for them to be able to do the alignment to make up for the reduced pay. Make sure you physically see what is wrong before they replace anything and if your aren't very familiar with what something should look like as a friend or ask on the forum.
As a side note I align all my vehicles every 6 months at minimum to help keep adjustments from seizing, with all the corrosive stuff used on our roads in the winter the most time consuming part of an alignment on a customer's car is freeing up seized parts with a torch. On my F150 with camber/caster bolts installed the alignment never far off, at most it's not centered in the green or just slightly outside the green.
Lifetime alignments are a good deal but they require a few things from the customer to make sure you get what you're supposed to. They way a lifetime alignment works is you pay one flat fee and the mechanic gets paid for the first alignment, after that you pay nothing and the mechanic gets paid warranty pay or roughly half of his normal pay to do every subsequent alignment.
Because the mechanic gets paid half pay the alignments are typically good enough but won't include camber or caster adjustments or precise setting of the toe. It is also common to see guys recommend unneeded repairs that are "necessary" for them to be able to do the alignment to make up for the reduced pay. Make sure you physically see what is wrong before they replace anything and if your aren't very familiar with what something should look like as a friend or ask on the forum.
As a side note I align all my vehicles every 6 months at minimum to help keep adjustments from seizing, with all the corrosive stuff used on our roads in the winter the most time consuming part of an alignment on a customer's car is freeing up seized parts with a torch. On my F150 with camber/caster bolts installed the alignment never far off, at most it's not centered in the green or just slightly outside the green.
Their site says....
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CAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT SERVICES
Without a proper wheel alignment, your fuel economy, tire life and the overall performance of your vehicle can suffer. Firestone Complete Auto Care recommends that a car's wheel alignment be checked every 6,000 miles / 6 months.
At Firestone, we perform more than 9,000 wheel alignments daily. We use computerized wheel alignment technology - which means our camber, caster, toe and thrust angle measurements are extremely precise and accurate.
Come into your local Firestone Complete Auto Care to have your wheel alignment checked. If our ASE-certified automotive technicians find that you are in need of further wheel alignment services, we offer two options.
STANDARD WHEEL ALIGNMENT SERVICE
During a standard wheel alignment service, a technician will inspect and/or adjust your vehicle's:
Camber, caster and toe angles (when applicable)
Front and rear steering
Suspension system
Tire wear and tire condition
Tire air pressure
Print out before and after wheel alignment specifications
The auto technician will then align and road test the vehicle. All standard wheel alignment services come with a 12-month / 12,000-mile limited warranty.
LIFETIME WHEEL ALIGNMENT SERVICE
With a lifetime wheel alignment service, drivers receive alignments free of charge every 6 months or 6,000 miles for as long as they own the vehicle. Talk to an automotive technician at your local Firestone Complete Auto Care for complete terms and conditions.
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08-21-2017, 01:49 AM
#12
Ok, had the alignment done. My truck had Biltstein placed on all the way around and set for 2.5" about 3mo ago.
Since then, and a few light off-road sessions, here was my specs and adjustments made to my alignment....
What do you think?
Since then, and a few light off-road sessions, here was my specs and adjustments made to my alignment....
What do you think?
08-21-2017, 05:33 AM
#13
I'm curious to know why half the numbers were written in by hand, we use Hunter alignment equipment and get the exact same print out at work, the only difference is all the fields are populated with printed text when we print them, typically if a field isn't populated it because the measurement was never taken. It just looks very odd to me.
08-21-2017, 07:08 AM
#14
Senior Member
could shop around, i know on the east coast hibdon is under a different name, but some chain store should have a lifetime alignment
08-21-2017, 07:29 AM
#15
I'm curious to know why half the numbers were written in by hand, we use Hunter alignment equipment and get the exact same print out at work, the only difference is all the fields are populated with printed text when we print them, typically if a field isn't populated it because the measurement was never taken. It just looks very odd to me.
I did have a slight pull to the right before hand and didn't really feel it today. I'll double check when I'm on the freeway to work in 3hrs. I have to clean up and get to bed as I've been cleaning the garage and snake cages all night then feeding all of them. At least that's done for the week. Ugh...
I'll be back to post tomorrow after I feel if that right pull is still there and after I call the shop.
08-21-2017, 09:02 AM
#16
Senior Member
Alignment should not be knocked off very often unless you are off-roading or drive very beat-up roads frequently. I also have gone 100s of thousands of miles in various vehicles without ever needing an alignment. And without destroying tires.
08-21-2017, 12:12 PM
#18
If you read the fine print on most tire warranties, when purchased new, from the tire manufacturer. The manufacturer will not warranty a tire for the rates mileage if it isn’t rotated to their “spec”, I have seen statements claiming an alignment or “alignment check” needs to be performed every 6 months or 6,000 miles. An alignment check can be no charge when getting a rotation performed.
08-21-2017, 12:18 PM
#19
Senior Member
Sounds like a good deal, except...
Well, I'm going to give an opinion....Firestone isn't what I would call a reputable shop. And that's not how printing works, I'd be a little wary after that comment. Usually a small specialty shop is better for this, the chains and dealers don't give a crap.
Alignment should not be knocked off very often unless you are off-roading or drive very beat-up roads frequently. I also have gone 100s of thousands of miles in various vehicles without ever needing an alignment. And without destroying tires.
Well, I'm going to give an opinion....Firestone isn't what I would call a reputable shop. And that's not how printing works, I'd be a little wary after that comment. Usually a small specialty shop is better for this, the chains and dealers don't give a crap.
Alignment should not be knocked off very often unless you are off-roading or drive very beat-up roads frequently. I also have gone 100s of thousands of miles in various vehicles without ever needing an alignment. And without destroying tires.
08-23-2017, 09:57 AM
#20
for tie rod ends, if you do them yourself, crack loose the jam nut but then make it firmly hand tight back against the damaged tie rod end. take it off and measure it against the new one... I've never had one not match, but I check every time anyways (and calipers or a micrometer aren't necessary... I set them on a the bench next to each other) screw the new one on until it hits the jam nut and then tighten the jam nut... its possible this method isn't 100% perfect, but I've noticed no increased wear in the tires and no pulling if the alignment seemed good before the tie rod went.