I need an alignment and the shop which I would normally have do the work has refused because they fear for my powdercoated lips. I run 18" wheels and need a shop that can properly align the car without marring the lips. I know it sounds to worry about such things, but I'd like to sell these wheels eventually and move on to something else, so it's important to keep them looking as good as I can. Anyone have a shop they'd trust with their own favorite toy? Any leads would be appreciated.

 

tire kingdom is the only place to go j/p

 

It's hard to do an alignment with powdercoated lips because we have to put the eyes on the lips of the rim. Maybe you can find someone to do it old school without the machine? Otherwise just get a set of rims and tires that have the same ride height as your car now to throw on there that you can get an alignment done with. Alot of times we have people with aftermarket rims that put their stock steelies on their cars to get them aligned.

 

i've been going to the one on 54th ave and 16th st. in st pete for years, and the guy in there does a perfect alignment job every time. middle age asian guy, been there for years, lots of people around here swear by him. my tires wear even all the time.

too bad they charge $70 for the six month alignment package. get it done once, go back almost six months later and get it done again for free, and you only pay once a year.

 

um, you know you can set the alignemtn your self right? at least you can set the toe. which is what most shops will do anyway.

unless you have camber/caster plates theres no reason to pay someone to do it.

if you car is pulling to one side most likely all its your toe that is out of adjustment.

I used to work at tire kingdom, and all they would ever do is set the toe b/c anything else is just to much trouble.

and 99% of the cars taht get alignments in the first place only need the toe adjusted.

just measure from the same spot on the tread in the front and the back side of the tire and adjust the tie rod ends till they equal

 

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with ya.
Can someone do that? Sure. Will it be accurate? Hell no.
Your statement makes it seem amazingly simple and someone here might just be dumb enough to follow it and voila...their tread gets eaten up.
If you want a DIY alignment without any fancy gadgets (there are a ton of alignment tools floating around to help ya) you can make a string box (ie: four jackstands,fishing line,plumb bob, etc.) but it's a damned pain in the ass. Anyways, I'd agree with Greg, Cars & Concepts is a good place to go. Expensive yes, but they're a good group of guys who know what they're doing.

 

I have control arm bushings that added some caster, plus fully adjustable suspension. I would like some pros to set everything up. Is it possible to corner balance the car at Cars & Concepts? I've been considering this for a while.