Alignment...is this really needed?

flyboyron · July 10, 2014

Took my 09 Silverado Ext Cab to have some work done on it, and when I pulled up to the dealers service bay, the guys snapped some type of devices on my wheels and then plugged what looked like a scan tool into the dash, and it supposidly was reading my alignment.

Well, they said it was toe in or something like that, and wanted to know if I wanted an alignment.

I think it is a sales pitch, but I guess it does help get people to get their vehicle aligned when they haven't done it in a while.

My truck just rolled over 40,000 miles yesterday and I never have had it aligned yet.

Do you guys get yours aligned every so many miles, or years?

Or just when it is needed.

Carder09 · July 10, 2014

You could always ask for the sheet they print out telling you all the parameter's of what is aligned and what is not then take it to another shop and get an alignment check for free then work the price's out if same stuff is messed up

gmtech4 · July 11, 2014

wow,you need to get me the name of that BS tool next time your at the dealer ,,,,pleeeease !!!!!!

i need to research it for giggles sake ,,,what a load of crap

daxr · July 16, 2014

I'm guessing it was this: http://www.hunter.com/alignment/quickcheck/features.cfm

I haven't seen one in action, but our Hunter rep says they've sold a bunch in busier markets. The idea is they get a quick reading in the lube bay, accurate enough to make a service recommendation on. It just looks at camber and toe.

In practice, if our lube bay had one it would be broken or out of calibration within a week, and nobody in the lube bay (including the SA) is qualified to look at the numbers and come to an intelligent conclusion anyway. Its just a sales gimmick.

On the other hand, having done alignments for a GM dealer for years, odds are pretty high that an '09 with 40k on it is out of alignment. They didn't do a great job on it at the factory (I can say, having checked a bunch of brand new ones), and things do shift and settle on the independent suspension. They told you toe-in, but unless you raised it on the torsion bars I'd bet toe-out, and caster out-of-spec on the low side.

txab · July 16, 2014

Your Lube/Alignment Technician:

And he stayed at a Holiday Inn last night

gmtech4 · July 17, 2014

I'm guessing it was this: http://www.hunter.com/alignment/quickcheck/features.cfm

I haven't seen one in action, but our Hunter rep says they've sold a bunch in busier markets. The idea is they get a quick reading in the lube bay, accurate enough to make a service recommendation on. It just looks at camber and toe.

In practice, if our lube bay had one it would be broken or out of calibration within a week, and nobody in the lube bay (including the SA) is qualified to look at the numbers and come to an intelligent conclusion anyway. Its just a sales gimmick.

On the other hand, having done alignments for a GM dealer for years, odds are pretty high that an '09 with 40k on it is out of alignment. They didn't do a great job on it at the factory (I can say, having checked a bunch of brand new ones), and things do shift and settle on the independent suspension. They told you toe-in, but unless you raised it on the torsion bars I'd bet toe-out, and caster out-of-spec on the low side.

ive said before here my alignment guy at the dealer told the same ,new trucks are barely aligned

KMGZ400 · July 17, 2014

ive said before here my alignment guy at the dealer told the same ,new trucks are barely aligned

I have seen multiple new vehicles out of alignment from the factory... My 14 2500 was out of alignment and my sisters cruze was out of alignment from the factory.. Dealer would not admit they were out of alignment.

daxr · July 17, 2014

Ford isn't any better - toe out on every new solid axle one I've looked at. I think they have a machine that spins the adjuster to the correct toe, then another machine that runs the clamp bolts down - which brings the heavy cross bar up and changes the toe.

Dodge isn't much better either - every new 2500 and 3500 has crooked steering wheel. And don't get me started on Subarus...one of the few cars, with their new electronic steering assist, that just drives screwy (usually) and there's not a darn thing I've found I can do about it.

flyboyron · August 5, 2014

Yes, that is the machine. They clamp those things on all 4 of the wheels.

Since it will take me close to 5 years to put the first 45,000 miles on the truck, I think I will wait until then. It has got 40,800 on it now.

Every 45,000 or 5 years should be good.

Heck, I could drive it down any road and hit a pot hole and most likely knock it out of alignment again.

I would guess 95% of the cars on the road are out of alignment. Would I be right?

daxr · August 13, 2014

Depends on how picky you want to be. If I test drive one and the steering wheel is cocked one way or another, I'll probably align it, because I know I can get it perfect, and it will be a noticeable difference (assuming the customer is paying attention). If I set one up for readings and its not at the preferred setting for toe, give or take five hundredths of a degree or so, I'll probably align it. A tenth of a degree toe will show noticeable wear after 10k miles or so, though the "green" range is often wider than that. Technically, allowing for the ranges, a lot of rigs can be in alignment, "in the green", but still show tire wear and drive squirrelly.

And if you're looking at ride height as a part of the alignment, most GM trucks with torsion bars can stand improvement. So - probably about right with the 95% being either out of alignment or "could be better". But it doesn't always matter much. If you don't put a lot of miles on the rig you can put it off for a couple of years without big issues. Plenty of people have to replace their tires for age before the tread wears out. On the other hand, if you put a lot of miles in its a god idea to have the alignment spot-on.

Daryl Z71 · August 13, 2014

I've had two alignments done on two different brand new GMT900 pickups after leveling kits. Around 20k miles on one, and 10k or so on the other. Both of them drove better afterward. Not earth shattering better, but better.

00Silverado4x4 · August 13, 2014

My truck has only had 2 alignments since purchased. Both times were when I got new tires. Both times, they were "good" on all measurements except one. The first time my front tires were leaning left...odd because tires never wore abnormally. Second time the toe in was way off...from the first time I guess or difference in the tires purchase. Never really noticed any handling differences and my steering wheel has always been slightly turned to the left since new.

Luster · August 13, 2014

Tech: As you can clearly see, your vehicle is WAY out of alignment!

Gullible Lady: Ok, whatever you say... this looks pretty bad!

Tech: Better get this done ASAP!

Gullible Lady: I'm sure you're right. I don't care what it costs, you're the expert!!!

00Silverado4x4 · August 13, 2014

Tech: As you can clearly see, your vehicle is WAY out of alignment!

Gullible Lady: Ok, whatever you say... this looks pretty bad!

Tech: Better get this done ASAP!

Gullible Lady: I'm sure you're right. I don't care what it costs, you're the expert!!!

The last time I had mine done (front end alignment only), I got to watch them do it (they offered to let me stand outside the bay so I figured what the heck) and I got to see what the machine was telling them was right and wrong and then made the print out showing actually dimensions and not a generic "your alignment is screwed" drawing. If I did receive a picture like what's above I wouldn't be paying...especially if there saying my rear toe was off...

daxr · August 15, 2014

Replace "Tech" with Service Writer or Salesman and that's about right most of the time. I don't think most sales guys have much of an idea about what an alignment is or does, and I know plenty of 4-wheel alignments get sold on rigs that don't have any adjustments on the rear.

I was more comfortable at my old shop where I knew the customers, asked them what the car was in for, sold the work, did the work, and delivered it back with an explanation of what I had to do and how it went. Now I'm at a dealership back in the bays, and I just try do flawless work regardless. Miscommunication is a regular thing, but the best way to avoid problems is to do good work. It pays much better and the equipment is better, and we're up to our ears in work most of the time, but I can understand how much harder it is to get satisfying service, or work done that feels like a good value.