Trying to figure out the logistics of getting some maintenance done and new tires with a level. I’m having trouble finding a shop that does both.

If I level my truck and get an alignment THEN get new tires at another shop, will I need another alignment? New tires will be slightly bigger, from worn out 33s to 34s.

 

Called around, originally looking at discount tire(they don’t do alignments), and found a tire shop with a good price and that does alignments.

so I’ll just get the level with no alignment and then get an alignment after the tires are on.

 

You won't need an alignment after new tires.

You can do the lift and have it aligned a few day later, once it's settled. then finish tire shopping and drive home knowing you have an aligned vehicle sitting on sweet tires.

Look for a reputable front end shop in your town to do the work.

 

You really shouldn't need a new alignment if you get one with the old tires before putting new ones on, especially if the wheel is staying the same. Even then it really shouldn't matter.

If given the option I'd always align after new tires just because it seems like the right thing to do, but really the only thing here affecting the alignment is the level. If it's cheaper to have them align when installing the leveling kit then by all means do that.

A lot of people, including myself, switch over to winter tires and don't align for those. It's still a good idea to get it done at least every 2-3 years, but if you had to do it for different sized tires people with winter tires would have to align twice a year which is absurd.

 

I was on a once-a-year schedule with alignments for a while. That and routine tire rotations gave me the best possible life out of tires.
Also, I'd usually get an alignment after tires for the warm-fuzzy feeling all over again. I'd know when tires were due, within reason, to make sure I wasn't going for alignment if tires were in my future.

If/when I alter my front end, I'll more than likely get the front up in the air, have tires installed then align.

Last truck was a torsion bar front end, I'd tweak on them for ride height and level side to side then go in for the alignment I was planning to do.

 

If you live in a rust belt state yearly alignments are always a good idea; guys down south can get away with not aligning their vehicles for years at a time, but even in PA which has really mild winters compared to a lot of states, seized alignment adjustment points are a big issue. Seized tie rods aren't horrible because you can heat them and free them up without much effort in most cases, but when you have a bolt that's seized in a bushing sleeve things can get expensive and time consuming.

I always try to break loose every adjustment point and move it around even if it was in spec to begin with, because it really helps to prevent things from seizing up over time and no one likes hearing that "I can get your wheel straight, but to actually get your alignment in spec and correct your tire wear, we'll have to torch out your control arm bolts and replace all the adjustment bolts and bushings"

 

My truck pulls right for a couple days. Then it pulls left a couple days. I figure it evens out. It also helps to alternate which side of the truck hits potholes when in St Paul, MN.