The alignment shop says...

[Liquid_force]

I need caster-camber plates.
Their quote was 325 w/align.

My concerns --
For one thing, all the searching i did indicated i shouldn't need to adjust the caster-camber with stock susp.
The shop said "it's in the red at all 4 corners".

So 1) should i get a 2nd shop to look at it?
2) if i need to add these things where can i find a clear set of instructions on what i need to do?

 

[SeanMc]

Take it to another alignment shop.

 

[SHOMEX]

like the previous guy said; take it to another shop because they want to take your money!
You can drill the spot welds on the front strut towers for more adjustment; don't need the camber plates on a stock car.

 

[Liquid_force]

I'll get it to another shop - hopefully that will happen before the end of the week.

I've been reading up at tcca.

My guess is I'll have to get the front welds drilled.

What I'm most confused by is in the couple hundred posts I've read there has been no mention of the rear susp that the shop I spoke with said is also a problem.

Hopefully a different/better alignment shop can help me make some sense of this.

 

[frosho]

How old are your springs? It's possible that one or more of them could have broken, and IIRC it's usually the rears that go first. I agree that you should take it to another shop though.

 

[St Louis SHO]

If its no worse than -1.5, I'd leave it alone, personally. I work in a shop with an alignment rack, and I believe that it wears tires too much more than it would adjusted correctly.

- James

 

[Liquid_force]

If its no worse than -1.5, I'd leave it alone, personally. I work in a shop with an alignment rack, and I (???) believe that it wears tires too much more than it would adjusted correctly.

- James

You don't believe??

2nd shop just called. It's aligned - no mods needed.

I have more respect for the 2nd shop anyway. I only went to the 1st because it's right across from my office.

The shop that got it aligned did say they were concerned at first because it was off pretty bad, but it worked out.

 

[SeanMc]

Was the first shop a Firestone? That place is so crooked, not sure how they are still in business.

 

[BamSHO]

with all my SHO's ive actually gone the the FORD garage. I had issues with other places that when they did the alignment the rear would wiggle around when i hit bumps. Then after going to the FORD garage, no issues and drives straight.


Brian Michael
98 silver Gen3

 

[Liquid_force]

Was the first shop a Firestone? That place is so crooked, not sure how they are still in business.

No, they're affiliated with goodyear.

The other place isn't a franchise, just a private repair shop, but I've known one of their mechanics for over 20 yrs and I've always considered him one of the best in the area.
On the (very) rare occasion I have a real head scratcher I can't figure out I take it to him and it's usually done in a day. I talked to him pre-purchase about the SHO. He was aware of the cam problem and had even welded one before.
He told me he thinks they're pretty solid cars in general, but to be prepared for a trans replacement at some point.

Anyway, I think the place tries to keep all their staff on that level.

 

[SHOtimer]

Was the first shop a Firestone? That place is so crooked, not sure how they are still in business.

I have their 'lifetime alignment' on all of my vehicles. They loose a lot of money on me. I just keep coming back untill it is to my satisfaction.

The tech's recognize my cars now - and I request certain guys that do a good job.

Doug