Topic: When to do Alignment Check? and how much does it really cost?

[rami007]

Hi,

It has been 1 year and 4 months since I bought my EL 2004 where I have driven 12000 KM so far. I called my dealer to schedule winter tire change. He told me that it's recommended to do Alignment Check as well.

My questions are:
1- I know that I have to do it with every 20000 KM, so is it better to do it now since it's more than one year?

2- How much usually it costs ? He told me that it's around 79$? Is it highly priced?

Thanks

[wing]

That's about the right price.

[rrocket]

Seems about right.  But I'm not sure you REALLY need it unless you are having odd tire wear issues.  Sounds like he's just trying to make a buck off of you!

[blur911]

Hi,

It has been 1 year and 4 months since I bought my EL 2004 where I have driven 12000 KM so far. I called my dealer to schedule winter tire change. He told me that it's recommended to do Alignment Check as well.

My questions are:
1- I know that I have to do it with every 20000 KM, so is it better to do it now since it's more than one year?

2- How much usually it costs ? He told me that it's around 79$? Is it highly priced?

Thanks

That price is reasonable, but why would you need to do it every 20000km?  Are you off-roading?
I don't get alignments done unless needed, like if your tires are wearing unevenly, pulling to one side or the other, hit a pothole/curb and bent something, changed ball-joint, tie-rod etc.
Actually, I've had shops screw things up more than fix things during alignments. YMMV

[PJungnitsch]

Agree with the others. My truck got its first alignment last week at 421,000 km as there had been odd tire wear. Some suspension components had worn out (finally) and had to be replaced.

[rami007]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. From your answers, it seems that it's not a necessity to do it. My car has around 62000 KM on it, and I'm a regular drive. I don't think that I have any odd tire wear issues where in my case I'm changing my all season tiers to the winter tires.

So why I read on the net that it's recommended to do it every 20000 KM or one year??? I guess I'll save those bucks for later maintenance...Thx

[johngenx]

I had ball joints replaced on the Forester at about 180K, and that was it's first alignment.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

These constant alignments are nothing more than extra dough for the dealer.

[wing]

Doing an alignment every year is not out of the ordinary, a lot of places recommend it.  Whether it is required or not is up to you.  I know mine gets rather out of whack over just a few months.

[slybry]

I have a 2000 Accord. It has only had one alignment done since new and that was because a suspension component had to be changed. I have never had tire wear issues.

I alignment every year is overkill if nothing appears to be out of whack.

However I suspect that some makes of cars hold their alignment better than others just because of the design and quality of the components.

[tortoise]

I tend to get an alignment every year and a half or so (or after suspension work) because it's needed.  It's hard to describe, but despite any pulling or tire wear the car just doesn't drive right.  It's usually nice and tight again after the alignment and driving like new.

And yeah, that's a standard price.

[blur911]

I tend to get an alignment every year and a half or so (or after suspension work) because it's needed.  It's hard to describe, but despite any pulling or tire wear the car just doesn't drive right.  It's usually nice and tight again after the alignment and driving like new.

What are the before and after measurements?  What needs adjusting and on what car?  I'm curious.

[tortoise]

Good question.  I never really bother to follow up.  There is usually a tangible difference behind the wheel though, if sometimes only minor.

[tpl]

I had my BMW ( AWD) aligned after hitting a pothole that killed two tires. 4 wheel alignment only one in 5 years. Neither the Fit nor the GTI "feel" as if they need one and the tire wear on both is equal across the tread front and rear.... now we drive very little on Toronto's rotten streets nowadays and G is pretty good at keeping the streets in reasonable repair.

[rami007]

Hi again,

Is it recommended to do an alignment when you do tire change? I mean is it easier to do so when you do tire change or it doesn't matter, and it can be done when you do your  oil change?

Thanks

[vdk]

I had my BMW ( AWD) aligned after hitting a pothole that killed two tires. 4 wheel alignment only one in 5 years. Neither the Fit nor the GTI "feel" as if they need one and the tire wear on both is equal across the tread front and rear.... now we drive very little on Toronto's rotten streets nowadays and G is pretty good at keeping the streets in reasonable repair.

Yeah. If one drives on silky smooth roads year round, there's probably no need for an alignment. Both my fronts were off by 4-6 degrees after 1.5 years on Toronto roads though.

[vdk]

Hi again,

Is it recommended to do an alignment when you do tire change? I mean is it easier to do so when you do tire change or it doesn't matter, and it can be done when you do your  oil change?

Thanks

Doesn't matter wheels have to be on for the alignment.

[blur911]

Yeah. If one drives on silky smooth roads year round, there's probably no need for an alignment. Both my fronts were off by 4-6 degrees after 1.5 years on Toronto roads though.

Off by 4-6 degrees, or 0.4-0.6 degrees?
I doubt you could drive far if it was off by the former.  And off which way? Toe camber or caster?

[Roddy]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. From your answers, it seems that it's not a necessity to do it. My car has around 62000 KM on it, and I'm a regular drive. I don't think that I have any odd tire wear issues where in my case I'm changing my all season tiers to the winter tires.

So why I read on the net that it's recommended to do it every 20000 KM or one year??? I guess I'll save those bucks for later maintenance...Thx

It's just way for dealers to make more profits.

Alignments really aren't necessary for most vehicles until a problem is detected (either through handling or tire wear).

[tpl]

Some cars and minivans will, under normal driving conditions and use, scrub off the outside of their front tires.   Cheap suspension design do so that it  reduces the load on the power steering which makes that cheaper and so on.

Some cars will scrub off the insides of their rear tires.  BMW 3 and 5  series used to do this years back and you still see some cars today with a lot of negative camber on the rear.   Suspension that exhibits this was often done to improve handling and to cure lift off oversteer. OK but the effect gets worse under load and wears the tires even faster.