what do they mean by modify your strut?

 

sounds like they are trying to rip you off. Go to another shop and see what they say. the only problem you could have with a strut when getting a wheel alignment is it's broken, or not installed in the knuckle properly. either way they can still do a wheel alignment.

 

sounds like they are trying to rip you off. Go to another shop and see what they say. the only problem you could have with a strut when getting a wheel alignment is it's broken, or not installed in the knuckle properly. either way they can still do a wheel alignment.

No offense, but you are totally wrong. Sometimes the camber will be off in the front of cars, and to adjust the camber on some cars such as his, the strut needs to be slotted to allow camber change. This is usually accomplished by removing one of the bolts, loosening the other then moving the wheel to the desired spec, then tightening the one bolt, then take a die grinder to slot out the strut to allow the second bolt to be installed.

If they are doing this, they are doing a proper alignment, and I would recommend you keep taking your car to them. Your only other alternative to get your car back in alignment (if you have no bent parts) is to replace the springs, I would rather modify the strut.

Rags

 

No offense, but you are totally wrong. Sometimes the camber will be off in the front of cars, and to adjust the camber on some cars such as his, the strut needs to be slotted to allow camber change. This is usually accomplished by removing one of the bolts, loosening the other then moving the wheel to the desired spec, then tightening the one bolt, then take a die grinder to slot out the strut to allow the second bolt to be installed.

If they are doing this, they are doing a proper alignment, and I would recommend you keep taking your car to them. Your only other alternative to get your car back in alignment (if you have no bent parts) is to replace the springs, I would rather modify the strut.

Rags

[/B]

ok, maybe i am wrong, but I have never heard of anybody doing that before. I would still check another shop. If his only other alternative is to replace the springs, then he obviously has bad springs. I would rather replace the springs then modify components, and maybe cause more problems in the end.

 

Nope, if the ride height is in spec, but the camber is out, it's best to slot the strut to allow for camber change.

When I align any car, if the camber is even on the edge of specs, I will adjust it to the center to get the best tire wear. On early Eclipses, slotting the struts is necessary, on later eclipses, installation of aftermarket adjusters is required to allow adjustment.

The fact that you have never heard of it before is due to the fact that most alignments are not performed properly. A proper alignment should be performed in such a way that the desired settings are achieved at all four wheels, with the exception of special situations where there are tire wear issues because of differing driving habits. In this case, you need to take each car on a case by case basis. Too many 30 minute alignment places out there are ruining a very detailed operation.

EDIT: Oh, and there is nothing at all wrong with doing this operation, in fact there are instructions on how to do the adjustments in many alignment publications. There are no adverse effects by slotting out the struts, it will not cause ANY problems.

Rags

 

ow is there an easy way to find out if I really need to do that or is that the only way to give a talon a proper aligment?

 

Did he have it on the alignment machine? Did he give you a printout of what your current settings are?

Rags

 

he didnt give me a printout, but he had it on the machine and said it needed the aligment cause it wasnt up to specs, i can probably ask for the printout, the car is pulling really bad to the right and thats the side he said needed aligment......

 

Well, you answered your own question.

Camber can cause a pull, and if you want the pull to be resolved, allow the guy to align your car. It sounds like he knows what's going on. I would rather spend 150 on a REAL alignment than 34.95 on a Midas(or other quicky) alignment any day.

Rags

 

Rags is absolutely right, that's exactly how proper alignment is done. Another alternative is using offset upper strut-2-knuckle bolts (that's what I use), but slotting the struts is a better (safer) solution.

 

Rags, forgot to ask you a question... I swapped my GR-2s for AGXs a couple of weeks back and need to have the car aligned (bad). The car is dropped 1.5-2" and I'm afraid the bumper might get scraped in the process. What would be your recommendation as for the alignment equipment being used, simply, what kind of alignment shop (with what kind of equipment) should I look for? I want a perfect alignment, no matter what the cost might be...
Thanks for your advice.

 

alrite, i am gonna sound like a complete retard here, but form what I understood, not having ur car aligned right will make it be lower on one side? that would explain why my car always looks lower on one side??? I just thought it was normal, hehehe

 

It shouldn't be lower, but sometimes a wheel that is out of align can make it appear lower.

Taboo, just look for a shop that has a Hunter DSP alignment machine, and ask them how they will go about adjusting the camber on your car...since you already know, you can tell if they know what they are doing

Rags

 

EDIT: Oh, and there is nothing at all wrong with doing this operation, in fact there are instructions on how to do the adjustments in many alignment publications. There are no adverse effects by slotting out the struts, it will not cause ANY problems.

Rags

thanks for clearing that up. I'll be sure to get the proper alignment next time(last one took 20 mins). who knows maybe it will last longer. Beer for you :beer:

 

Rags, thanks a lot for the info