Alignment shops around Tampa/Sarasota

[rippin mazda]

I'm looking for a place that will do custom alignments thats a reasonable drive from me in venice. Anyone?

Ryan

[Loren]

Dan Rasp at Cars & Concepts in Tampa. Dan is the man. They usually schedule about 2-3 weeks out and it will cost around $90, but well worth it.

Or, if you're closer to Ft. Myers, Dave Hutter (you can find him on the Gulfcoast Autocrossers website).

[kickslop]

Just so you're not surprised (and yes, Loren did say "around $90"), my alignment was $130-$140 as I recall (at Cars and Concepts).

[Loren]

Yeah, they're a high-end shop and I think the boss makes them charge for actual time. So, $90 is probably the minimum. I think mine was something like $120 because I had Dan replace the front cam bolts while he did it.

But, Dan knows Miatas and has also tinkered with a lot of other cars, and he understands performance alignment. You could get a $70 alignment at a local tire shop... but you get what you pay for there. (if you're lucky)

[kickslop]

Agreed re: Dan. Not a complaint above at all

[Native]

another .02 from another satisfied racer with a custom Dan Rasp alignment.

[d_rasp]

Our prices have slowly moved up in the last 2 years. Used to be under $100, but we didn't really have anyone doing suspension set-up. Just listening to the customers and doing thier #'s. Then I started to really focus on alignments and corner weighting, etc. and we got a TON of business, but it's really not our meat & potatoes.

We're primarily a BMW/Mercedes repair & performance shop. I love doing alignments, but the bosses have to charge more for my work now as they were loosing money having me do lengthy set-ups instead of better paying work. The solution = charge more for alignments. . .

[Native]

I've not gotten a "performance alignment" before, except the one Dan did. I presented him with the numbers I wanted, told him what I wanted to accomplish handling-wise, he tweaked the numbers a bit on paper, then went to work. He was within a few hundredths of all of them by the time he was done, and the car does exactly what he said it would.

"Buy cheap, buy twice." Spend the extra money.

[Miata GT]

Back from the dead...

Now that Dan has moved on from C'nC, where does anyone recommend having a custom alignment done now?

[Loren]

I believe one of the guys at C&C is still a great option. Dan is more knowledgable about setting up Miatas specifically, but if you know what specs you want and just need someone to get 'em there... they should be able to do it. I really don't know who else is good for alignments around here.

Wilsey in St. Pete used to be recommended, but I wasn't impressed when I went there.

[Loren]

I believe one of the guys at C&C is still a great option. Dan is more knowledgable about setting up Miatas specifically, but if you know what specs you want and just need someone to get 'em there... they should be able to do it. I really don't know who else is good for alignments around here.

Wilsey in St. Pete used to be recommended, but I wasn't impressed when I went there.

[Miata GT]

You can say that again!!!

I was hoping there was another place. Even when Dan was there I never got the feeling they were very interested in our 'lowly' cars...or as Dan said, doing alignments when more profitable work could be done.

I trust Dan and his work. I wish there was another place!

[d_rasp]

Mark - I'm sorry, I totally had a brain-fart on replying to your text.

I'd still take performance alignments to Steve @ C&C. He taught me what I know & is a great guy. You have to have a thick skin, as regardless of what you drive, they like to have a little fun with the customers. Steve has a great deal of respect for Miatas though, and I'd trust him with my own car (that means a lot coming from a mechanic.)

Bottom line: don't be scared off by any jokes or attitude you may have detected in the past. C&C is about getting the work done, and right. It's not cheap & they aren't into sucking up to customers.

[Charles]

Bumpin' this old thread.

Who have you guys used these days that could do my 240 correctly? Caster/Camber/toe the works.

At lower speeds the car feels ok, but from 65mph+ it's pretty hairy. Cornering under power in 3rd gear usually results in a near death experience

I suspect front caster way off, but I'm not sure.

I can't remember from the last time we spoke Jeff, can you can do caster within a fair bit of accuracy? Monday morning?

[Loren]

Sounds more like a spring/bar/shock problem than an alignment problem. You need more weight bias toward the rear. I'd start with swaybars. Stiffen the front or soften the rear.

[Charles]

Sounds more like a spring/bar/shock problem than an alignment problem. You need more weight bias toward the rear. I'd start with swaybars. Stiffen the front or soften the rear.

Hmmm, the rebound is jacked almost all the way up on my Konis, that might be a place to start.

I'm still on stock front and rear swaybars with 76yr old original "D-bushings" and end-links on those.

[Loren]

Think about it. Outside rear tire wants to lift in a turn. High rebound damping on the rear shocks makes that tire want to stay IN THE AIR rather than in contact with the ground.

You're onto something there, my friend. Soften those rear shocks.

You should totally still go pay Jeff for a good alignment, though. He needs the money.