Lifetime alignment shops?

[TurDz]

In the near future I want to get an alignment done, but I've of places like Firestone giving lifetime alignments (3 jobs pay off the one-time fee.)

My question is, do different places differ in the quality of service? I've heard stories of how some shops don't have the best equipment to do it, thus your aligment may be inaccurate.

I would like a high quality shop that provides lifetime aligments. Is there such a thing? please post your positive and negative experiences, thanks.

[!Zar!]

In the near future I want to get an alignment done, but I've of places like Firestone giving lifetime alignments (3 jobs pay off the one-time fee.)

My question is, do different places differ in the quality of service? I've heard stories of how some shops don't have the best equipment to do it, thus your aligment may be inaccurate.

I would like a high quality shop that provides lifetime aligments. Is there such a thing? please post your positive and negative experiences, thanks.
I've been looking into getting a lifetime custom alignment and best place I found around me was firestone in san mateo. One of the guys has a rhd show quality silvia vert and all the guys that work there know their stuff. I've heard nothing but good things from them. So I figure most other firestone's shouldn't be that far off par. And now a days shops are using laser alignment so accuracy should be near perfect.

[S14DB]

Firestone uses Laser alignment racks which hit the TC rod braces. Your better off finding someone with a hunter rack that does photo optical(the big panels that bolt onto the wheels).

I went back to Firestone 4 or 5 times for a re-alignment and it never was right cause they kept trimming the front beam to clear the Braces. I finally gave up and found someone with a hunter DSP after they tightened my RUCA jam nuts against the body and not the adjustment nut.

http://www.hunter.com/
http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/alignmentsystems/4883T/images/R811_C.jpg

[sw20>>s14]

good info...i know for sure that all wheelworks in my area use the hunter DSP system you speak of...is it known that all firestones use the laser rack that hits? or is that a regional thing?...

[dorifto-san4o8]

go to wheel works on tully road. its not lifetime but is 1 yr service where you can go back anytime with in that year to change settings or realighn your car. i paid $129 and feel that is well worth it. and after i got my alighnment done my car felt way stable. me and my friends always go to that one cous they are well experienced and also do alighnments for road race cars.

[OptionZero]

Old thread, I know, but I was reading the concerns s14DB mentioned about a laser rack and suggestion to get a hunter.

My local Big O tires (chain store) says they use a Hunter laser system, the "newest one"...would this still have the problem with the TC arm braces S14Db mentinoed?

[sw20>>s14]

i dont think so because i believe the hunder laser systems attach directly to your wheels...if it is the one that just came out, its even more elaborate and accurate...i heard my friend talking about the new hunter about a week ago...hes a trackwhore so of course he was excited...

ive been putting off my alignment because i still havent decided to get lifetime at firestone or go with s14db's advice...what did you mean by: "your better off finding someone with a hunter rack..."? do you mean that its still decent and fairly accurate? or it shouldnt even be an option?

[OptionZero]

I could care less about lifetime alignment, really.

I am getting an alignment for parts installed (coils, + front arms), the next time I get an alignment will be for rear suspension + sways (and wheels), and it wont be for another month or two at least.

It's not ilke i am gonna have time to take the care in every week to change settings anyways.

[S14DB]

Hunter 811 is a photo-optical system. It takes pictures of the panels attached to your wheels. You can see from the angle of the emitters above the control unit, that there is no interference what ever the height of the car.

On the 511 laser systems, the emitters are on the wheels. They shoot front to back and side to side. Radioing the data back to the control unit. The problem is that as the 240 is dropped the TC rod brackets drop into the front cross beam.

You will never get your front end pointing straight with a laser rack. The only option with a lowered 240 is the Hunter 811 or other Photo-Optical rack. Laser sounds cool but all racks are accurate to less than 0.1 degree. Which no one can tell.

If you think your drop is not that great(less than 1.5"). You can try Firestone and if they can not do it they will refund your money. There are shops with Optical racks that offer "Lifetime" deals too. You just got to shop around.

Laser(511)
http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/alignmentsystems/4870T/index.htm
Optical(811)
http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/alignmentsystems/4883T/index.htm

[OptionZero]

shoot...now my car is pulling to the left, i just noticed it tonight

That BIgO is the best closests option...but i will try calling around

sucks to be at work all day, KILLS options for getting work done on the car

[TurDz]

Lifetime with the 811, sounds like a dream.

I will definately look into that.

Jon, you should definately opt for lifetime alignment. What if you don't like your settings or you get new wheels?

[projekt_s13]

hahah my car pulls to the left also

[TurDz]

After some quick reserach, I have read that Hunter recently parterned with Meineke shops:

http://www.mtdealer.com/t_inside.cfm?action=news_det&storyID=5129

On a Bimmer forum, one guy said that PepBoys has the Hunter 811.

So those are two large companies that *may* have the newest alignment machines. I hope they offer some kind of extended service.

[S14DB]

more on the sensors:
DSP500(laser): http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/alignmentsystems/sensors/4947T/index.htm
DSP600(optical): http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/alignmentsystems/sensors/4946T/index.htm

So, as long as they have DSP600 sensors you should be fine. But the 811 is the best machine out there.

[OptionZero]

GOOD FUCKIN NEWS:

I went in person to the Big O in Davis I had called earlier, turns out the guy on the phone was an idiot. The man I talked to in person told me they just sprang for the newest fuckin hunter PHOTO OP system (i'mi assuming 811), and was happy he'd finally have a chance to use the damn thing.

Can they install my front susp arms and level my ride height? HAH! Turns out these guys did alignments for an Audi racing crew also based in Davis, this is nothing to them. Then we talked about tires a bit, he lamented the demise of the RT-215 with me, and shit...comin back on Thursday.

on a side note, it's wierd that both Goodyear and Big O ...their tech guys both have Wednesday off.

so Turdz, get it ur car done at Big O man, they got the good stuff and they're pretty good people, just gotta know who to talk to

[TurDz]

I want a lifetime alignment package man...did you read my last post?

it's would be very useful to me...that's the whole point of this thread. I could find a one-time place with a good hunter system probably anywhere.

[OptionZero]

i'll ask 'em if they offer that when I go back there but i just want it done right and before this weekend when I have to drive to freakin chico...

[FaLKoN240]

I'm interested in the Lifetime as well. My car steering wheel is SHA-a-a-a-aky

[S14DB]

I'm interested in the Lifetime as well. My car steering wheel is SHA-a-a-a-akysounds like more than the alignment.

[OptionZero]

if it only occurs at moderate highway speeds (50-75mph), then its wheels out of balance. Take it to a shop, it's like $20 bucks for all 4 corners.

[sw20>>s14]

option, you get your alignment yet? how was the experience? i need to get one after i slap a few susp. pieces on...

[loveless]

Firestone uses Laser alignment racks which hit the TC rod braces. Your better off finding someone with a hunter rack that does photo optical(the big panels that bolt onto the wheels).

I went back to Firestone 4 or 5 times for a re-alignment and it never was right cause they kept trimming the front beam to clear the Braces. I finally gave up and found someone with a hunter DSP after they tightened my RUCA jam nuts against the body and not the adjustment nut.

http://www.hunter.com/
http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/alignmentsystems/4883T/images/R811_C.jpg

the firestone at nogales/amar in rowland heights has a hunter rack, I haven't been to any other alignment shop so I Don't know what laswer look like

[S14DB]

the firestone at nogales/amar in rowland heights has a hunter rack, I haven't been to any other alignment shop so I Don't know what laswer look likemore on the sensors:
DSP500(laser): http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/alignmentsystems/sensors/4947T/index.htm
DSP600(optical): http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/alignmentsystems/sensors/4946T/index.htm

So, as long as they have DSP600 sensors you should be fine. But the 811 is the best machine out there.Look at the pics. Optical looks like solar panels and laser is a little box.

[loveless]

it's an optical one for sure then

I guess only some firestone sport the optical

[ryan hagen]

i have a hunter at school, its pretty much free lifetime for me as long as the school is open and the teachers remember me.