good shop for alignment

[bign]

I am about to throw some prodrive springs into my wrx and wanted to know if you guys know a good place for an alignment that will align to my specs and not just align to stock numbers.

edit: and a good place to get them installed at if I decide to not do it myself.

[sperry]

Seems like we get this question monthly...

Nissan of Reno (make sure you get Cory on your car) and C&C (Rusty is the man for a race alignment and can corner balance coilovers, but they're expensive) are the usual recommendations.

Both can do the install, but it can cost you... not sure what the book time is on strut R&R.

[100_Percent_Juice]

^I think it would be cool if there was a sticky thread like "where the locals go". It would have a list of services such as but not limited to; where to go for alignment, body work, engine work, fried chicken, etc. Just a thought. I know that I would like it.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by 100_Percent_Juice

^I think it would be cool if there was a sticky thread like "where the locals go". It would have a list of services such as but not limited to; where to go for alignment, body work, engine work, fried chicken, etc. Just a thought. I know that I would like it.

We have a whole forum for that.

http://www.seccs.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22

[100_Percent_Juice]

You win this round my friend.

[bign]

ahh, pardon me for not finding it earlier.

I am keeping the stock struts, I am just having new springs put in so it shouldn't be THAT much. I imagine I could do it myself if I found a spring tool and what not but i'm not sure if I want to.

edit: guess they have to R&R the struts for the springs anyway, I take that back.

[bign]

to be fair, there isn't many posts in that forum

[cody]

Originally Posted by sperry

Seems like we get this question monthly...

Nissan of Reno (make sure you get Cory on your car) and C&C (Rusty is the man for a race alignment and can corner balance coilovers, but they're expensive) are the usual recommendations.

Both can do the install, but it can cost you... not sure what the book time is on strut R&R.

Rusty's the man. He'll actually align it with the specs you request and C&C's alignment rack has frickin' laser beams!

[sperry]

Originally Posted by bign

to be fair, there isn't many posts in that forum

I just renamed the forum to hopefully clear things up. Too often these sorts of questions end up in "technical" where we'd really like to keep the threads technical in nature and not have to wade through "where can I get X done" or "what part should I buy" type threads.

[MPREZIV]

Originally Posted by cody

Rusty's the man. He'll actually align it with the specs you request and C&C's alignment rack has frickin' laser beams!

Hey! I've got lasers too dammit!

[DirtySTI]

Are you charging said lazors?

[cody]

Originally Posted by MPREZIV

Hey! I've got lasers too dammit!

Oh yah, Cory's the man too!

[M3n2c3]

What does a tire mount/balance and 4-wheel alignment run at Nissan? I'm going to need new tires in a few months, and my last alignment was done. . . when the springs went on.

[bign]

Wheels and tires should not effect your alignment in any way, so unless you are seeing uneven wear or tracking in one direction there shouldn't be any reason to get one.

I called C&C and they quoted me $650 for springs installed, mount/balance, and alignment. Seems a tad bit high to me.

[MPREZIV]

J, alignment is $70, and M&B 4 tires is $50. Lemme know if you wanna do it here!

Bign, to do the springs here, I could probably get you done for about $400. So add that to the tires/alignment, and you're a bit under the last quote you got. Not to try and undercut the good guys over at C&C, we're just a bit cheaper.

[wrxkidid]

But your lasers aren't as cool.

[bign]

Originally Posted by MPREZIV

J, alignment is $70, and M&B 4 tires is $50. Lemme know if you wanna do it here!

Bign, to do the springs here, I could probably get you done for about $400. So add that to the tires/alignment, and you're a bit under the last quote you got. Not to try and undercut the good guys over at C&C, we're just a bit cheaper.

I may be missing something but... where is 'here'?

I thought spring install was much cheaper. I removed the rear seat already if that helps any lol. But seriously, on the WRX it seems that a spring install would only be like 2 maybe 3 hours labor if you have the correct tools. What am I missing?

[MPREZIV]

"Here" is what Sperry mentioned in his first reply, Cory at Nissan of Reno. Sorry, thought everybody knew that was me!

What you're missing is: Repair shops go by what's called a "flat rate manual" that determines how much they charge for each job. According to the manual, replacing coil springs on an Impreza is 2.0 hours per corner. At around $100 per hour, that's actually nearly $800 at standard pricing. NOW, I have the tools and experience to do that job a LOT faster than that 2 hours per corner, and that's how I make my money. I've spent over 35k on tools, and 20k on my education, but I sure as hell don't make a lot hourly, so the ability to do a job MUCH faster than what that manual says is how I bring home decent money. The $400 that I quoted you is my personal way of taking care of club members here on SECCS, because I know I can knock that shit out pretty quick.

[bign]

I didn't mean to imply that you were gouging or anything. I was just under the impression that springs on this car would be way less then 2 hours a corner, even straight from the 'reccomended' time. Shit, ideally I would love to find somebody that has the stuff to do it and would let me help out so I could

1. cut the time needed
2. learn how to do it in the process

Any body know about High Rev's Motorsports over on Mill?

[MPREZIV]

OH, I wasn't trying to get defensive or anything man! Just trying to be as thorough in my explaination as I could be! Most people have no idea how flat rate shops work.

Never heard of High Rev...

[Braydog]

Didnt High Rev close down a couple months ago? I know they WERE a good shop, but havent seen or talked to them in quite a while. Every time I drive by it looks dark.

[100_Percent_Juice]

I have not seen anyone over there. I guess dub sales go down as gas prices go up.

[M3n2c3]

Originally Posted by bign

Wheels and tires should not effect your alignment in any way, so unless you are seeing uneven wear or tracking in one direction there shouldn't be any reason to get one.

I called C&C and they quoted me $650 for springs installed, mount/balance, and alignment. Seems a tad bit high to me.

My desire to have the alignment checked has nothing to do with the wheels/tires and everything to do with the fact that the last one was done when the springs went on about two years ago, and we have some pretty crappy roads here. . .

Great choice in springs by the way. . . I've got the Prodrive WRX springs as well, and they're definitely keepers.

Originally Posted by MPREZIV

J, alignment is $70, and M&B 4 tires is $50. Lemme know if you wanna do it here!

Cool, I can handle that. It'll be a little while, though. . . I have to be able to afford the tires first.

[bign]

I only ask about high rev because I had talked to the guy a while back and he said I could help out with the springs and he would charge like $200. It did seem dark when I drove by so I guess they aren't there anymore. Oh well, guess i'll keep looking

[100_Percent_Juice]

Yeah, High Rev is gone. I just went by there a few days ago and there is a different business in that space.