How much do you pay for an alignment?

[LX98Civic]

I'm looking to get my LX's alignment done either tomm (Monday) or Tuesday. Just wondering what you guys pay for an alignment. Do I need a 4 wheel or just a 2 wheel?

I lowered my car / got wheels and figured it's time now. This will be the first alignment with 41k on the car :o

Also, looking for recommnedations for a shop in Orlando to do the work

[jayntguru]

I pay $65. That's high, most places are $50 around here. I pay more because that place does lots of high dollar cars, Ferraris, Porsche, etc are all there when I bring the car by. They never scratch a rim or anything.

You want (need) a 4 wheel alignment.

[kenchan]

yeh, by 41k, you should get a 4 wheel alignment. you can measure the toe by yourself too, if you have a trust worthy tape measurer.

[LX98Civic]

I called this local shop today here in Orlando FL ===> Mix and Black

The guy asked if the car wass lowered and if camber kits were installed. I told him it was lowered but no camber kit.
He said he could do the camber and alignment for $110, but there is no point in doing the alignment if the camber is off

Is this true? ====> No point in getting an alignment if the camber is off??

I plan on adding the washers and new bolts for the rear to adjust the camber. I lost the link that gave the pics though

[jayntguru]

Dude's smoking crack, find a different alignment shop. When you lower the car, it changes toe. Toe is what eats up tires. You need to have your toe set. (And that is wayyy too much.)

[LX98Civic]

Originally posted by jayntguru
Dude's smoking crack, find a different alignment shop. When you lower the car, it changes toe. Toe is what eats up tires. You need to have your toe set. (And that is wayyy too much.)

That $110 includes adjusting the camber as fas as I understand.

What is the difference between toe and camber?

I know my camber in the rear is off pretty bad.

[MitchQ45]

check this out http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm
also when u lower a car the camber does get changed..it becomes more negative..i know that on my car the camber is fixed so there's really nothing i can do besides getting stillen adjustable upper links but those things r pretty expensive..also i had an alignment done at the dealership for 70 bucks..i don't think they did such a great job either..anyone know of a good place in atlanta?

[P10DET]

Originally posted by MitchQ45
check this out http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm
also when u lower a car the camber does get changed..it becomes more negative..

It also toes out.

[nis.k.a.]

Imagine you have two wheels. There are 4 points of reference. The top and bottom of the wheel looking at the tread and closest and furtherest from you. If you take the top of the tire and pont them in or out, this is camber. (/ \ represent the tire direction) If you stand in front of the car.... it would look like /BUMPER\ when lowering. If you look from ABOVE the car, the wheels could be facing outwards or inwards /HOOD\ this is toe. Stock, your car is lBUMPERl lowered is /BUMPER\ this is camber. Stock toe is lHOODl unaligned toe is /HOOD\

[T4 Primera]

Originally posted by MitchQ45
... i know that on my car the camber is fixed so there's really nothing i can do besides getting stillen adjustable upper links but those things r pretty expensive ...

A place in NZ can supply you with what you need for about $165US + shipping. Check out this thread for more info.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t19255.html

[MitchQ45]

im not sure those r what im looking for..that link talks about third links not upper links..or am i mistaken? that's incredibly cheap if it is for the upper links cuz they cost like over 500 here

[Yahnozha]

I paid $60 at the nissan/jaguar dealer. A fair price I thought...

[T4 Primera]

Originally posted by MitchQ45
im not sure those r what im looking for..that link talks about third links not upper links..or am i mistaken? that's incredibly cheap if it is for the upper links cuz they cost like over 500 here

Sorry, it should say upper link, I just used the terminology in the other post because someone else referred to it that way. Geo (aka P10DET) traded emails with them awhile ago to find this out and Patrick (aka pche059) has them installed on his P11. Just to dispell any doubt, it is item 4 in the attached diagram.

They are over 400NZD pr but with the exchange rate at 1NZD = 0.43USD and the GST discount for an overseas order, they come in much cheaper for US buyers. I can't understand why you guys haven't jumped at them yet.

If needed, I can point you to some stuff that provides for *castor* adjustment as well for minimal cost. Then you'd have full adjustability on your alignment.

Prestige Automotive is a well established and reputable company with much of their business coming from the professional racing community, including Marcus Gronholm in the WRC. They were also used by Steve Millen (since SM is a Kiwi) to develop the SMX Primera in NZ (maybe Stealen has poached their design too LOL).

Have a good look around their website: www.prestigeautomotive.co.nz

[T4 Primera]

I always think that with alignments, you get what you pay for (provided the technician has the right skills). If you pay $50 for an alignment, they sure won't spend $150 worth of time on it.

[P10DET]

Originally posted by T4 Primera
I can't understand why you guys haven't jumped at them yet.

In my case, I've just been too bloody busy for the last 2 months.

Work sucks right now.