Da Groj

Where do you guys go to get yours and how much? Are the alignments you ask for a little out of the ordinary? Say, if I asked for a more "aggessive" alignment would the place you are mentioning be able to pull it off? Anyone DIY?

-Royce

I like cars and concepts and vortex motorsports. Both are in tampa and charge 150 (vortex) and 120 (last time I went to cars and concepts).

I typically go to vortex.

Thanks much.

My last alignment was Cars and Concepts...I believe did quality work.

No longer on my list of quality shops...

I've also done it DIY. Bought a Smart Camber guage, 10 foot level, string, jackstands and a pretty level garage. After many trial and errors...I found it worked, but in the end $150 was worth the alignment by a shop...especially if you get it off 'slightly' such as rear tires...they can be ate up in a few thousand miles. And considering how expensive tires (and for that matter fuel mileage)...just not worth effort.

There is a such a small margin for error. You hit it exactly too, if youre adjustment is off too much your tires are gone in a flash. I dont have high quality treads yet but it seems like the investment in tires would warrant that kind of TLC. Although the idea of DIY alignment is cool my ability to set things properly the first time might not be up to par.

The tire kingdom by my house is fairly decent. They have a nice machine at least. I set camber/caster myself and then take it to them for toe. They had a sale on unlimited 3 years of alignments for $130 out the door. So I can mess around with the car and take it back whenever I want.

I've heard your alignment changes the second you drive off the rack, so I think C&C and whatever is kind of a waste of money.

Thats true too. It does shift to some degree or another. A rule of thumb is to find a place that works for you and keep going back which in part was the reason I asked this question.

Which Tire Kingdom are you talking about. I had a not so great experience with the one on the corner of 54th Ave and 16th St in St Pete. My car is no where near the crazy low like a large number of 240's are and the moment I mention what i drove and the fact that it was lowered the price went up and the gentleman behind the counter changed his attitude.

I know the price should go up accordingly...that I understood, but it was the nature of the attitude change that bothered me the most. I know the drift crowd has ruined the reputation of the car I drive but I'm hardly your typical young punk kid out to slide his car for kicks. Oh well.

I've used Bob Lee's previously. They did a decent job...I'm just fishing for this forum's input.

I use to set toe on race cars at Sunshine Speedway over 20 years ago on roundy round cars for $10. I set my toe by myself on my Nissan in my driveway just using a tape measure, after the SPC event I checked it again and it was spot on. I go for about an 1/8-3/16 inch toe out on my Nissan.

I have mentioned a shop several times at the Monday meetings. I now have had an opportunity for JB Import Automotive Repair in St. Pete to do an alignment on the MX-3. Mike Moench (Mench) and his crew have an excellent setup capable of working to 1 minute of angle (1/60th of a degree), and what's more, the knowledge to use it properly. I was able to give my specifications to Mike, discuss possible ramifications, and actually participate in the process, including setting the alignment with weight in the driver's seat. Cost was the average for true 4-wheel alignments, about $130, for which I received great sevice, no reluctance to work on a modified car, and exceptional attention to detail. Give these guys a try! Their phone number is 727-873-5951, http://www.jbimportauto.com/ .

BTW, the car handles MUCH better!

Give Brian $10 as that is what he said he got for a lap dance years ago