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Currently i'm in Denver area, I was just wondering if "alignment" is a waste of money since the roads around here are very uneven and potholes/"street cracks" are rather common. The uneven "street cracks" can REALLY be felt through the suspension. There are also a lot of "deep" sewer manholes around here that you can really "feel" when you drive over one. A lot of streets have an uncanny "unevenness" to them that is hard to explain, but if you drive around here a lot you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
Recently i got a discount "coupon" that allows me to do a "full alignment" for only $50, compared to the usual price of $90-$100. I was thinking of taking in my truck since it's been a few years since the last alignment, even though the truck drives straight even when i take my hands off the steering wheel.
Thoughts? Is alignment even important for someone that mainly drives in the city (i'm not really a highway guy)?? What does alignment "do" anyway? Does it give you more mpg or anything like that? Or is it just a "comfort" type thing?
Currently i'm in Denver area, I was just wondering if "alignment" is a waste of money since the roads around here are very uneven and potholes/"street cracks" are rather common. The uneven "street cracks" can REALLY be felt through the suspension. There are also a lot of "deep" sewer manholes around here that you can really "feel" when you drive over one. A lot of streets have an uncanny "unevenness" to them that is hard to explain, but if you drive around here a lot you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
Recently i got a discount "coupon" that allows me to do a "full alignment" for only $50, compared to the usual price of $90-$100. I was thinking of taking in my truck since it's been a few years since the last alignment, even though the truck drives straight even when i take my hands off the steering wheel.
Thoughts? Is alignment even important for someone that mainly drives in the city (i'm not really a highway guy)?? What does alignment "do" anyway? Does it give you more mpg or anything like that? Or is it just a "comfort" type thing?
50 dollars? Full alignment?
No.
Set the toe and let it go.
Depending on the vehicle there's no way in hell anyone's adjusting camber caster and toe for 50 dollars. Hunter rack? Have them print off the before and after specs.
50 dollars? Full alignment?
No.
Set the toe and let it go.
Depending on the vehicle there's no way in hell anyone's adjusting camber caster and toe for 50 dollars. Hunter rack? Have them print off the before and after specs.
I deal with a shop that primary works on EU cars. He has a full rack with a computer and reflectors. I pay him $49.99 for a 4 wheel alignment. If I go to the dealership its $89.99.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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On the contrary, I would say you need to get an alignment more often. Bad alignment, and excessively work steering/suspension parts from bad roads is dangerous.
It depends on your conditions. Some places, you will not make it home form the shop before your alignment is somewhat off. Likewise there is nearly always some component on any car in such places that "could be" or Probably should be" replaced. When they used to offer alignment for $50 or lifetime alignment for $80 it was worth it, but they stopped that. Probably because people like me took their cars in monthly for re-alignment. (Incidentally, they never came back and told me it did not need any adjustment. They gave me a print out showing how much the needed to move "toe" or "camber" while sometimes it was very small numbers, there was always a number for at least on wheel. My conclusions was, at least here (loads and loads of big potholes), pretty much every car needs some alignment adjustment all the time. Since I cannot afford to pay $50 per car per month for re-alignment, I just take them in after I replace a component, or if I do not know what is broken.
Having lived in Denver, until recently, for 38 years, I know what you mean about the "unevenness" of many repaving jobs around the city and state. It seems the various highway depts. do a poor job of holding the paving companies responsible for a smooth surface. Same for manhole covers.
And don't get me started on patching, which many times is worse than the original problem :-(
Since being in CT now, and seeing several roads repaved (some of which did not look to me to need re-paved) they have all been smooth from curb to curb. Some issues with manhole covers, but have seen several that were re-worked quickly.
Re alignments, they are needed, mainly to reduce abnormal tire wear, and steering pull. Also, can help detect any excessive wear in parts like struts, ball joints, wheel bearings, etc
IMHO, that $50 coupon is a "loss leader" to get you in so they can upsell a brake job, new tires, trans flush, etc etc.
I'm in Lakewood and work in a Tire Store. Yes do the alignment. It certainly doesn't hurt to make sure your tires are wearing evenly.
If the truck is older, they will check out items to see if you have suspension work needed that can absolutely kill tires.
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