dtlayman Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 We may need an alignment. Any advice on how to choose a service shop to do an alignment? What questions should we ask to decide who we should do this? What equipment should they have? Do they only adjust the toe in on a 2001 Volvo V70XC since it is all-wheel drive?Also, is it ok to do do this with tires that have been on the car for 10,000-15,000 miles as long as the tires have even wear.By the way, our car has about 65,000 miles and has been driven carefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Che'_Moderator Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 We may need an alignment. Any advice on how to choose a service shop to do an alignment? What questions should we ask to decide who we should do this? What equipment should they have? Do they only adjust the toe in on a 2001 Volvo V70XC since it is all-wheel drive?Also, is it ok to do do this with tires that have been on the car for 10,000-15,000 miles as long as the tires have even wear.By the way, our car has about 65,000 miles and has been driven carefully.←I honestly go by who can do the best balance. Shop I use can do a two plane one car balance and they seem to do ok on the alignment. I get 15k out of my tires and have to replace them from age way before they wear out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWinkey Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Why do you think you need an alignment?....Pulling maybe?? If so it's probably in the tires? Yes basically all that gets adjusted is toe. Camber can be adjusted but it's very limited. The XC's I service normally get 20 to 30k on the tires but they are mainly driven around town? (soccer moms) ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlayman Posted August 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 I think we are going to take it to the dealer (1 hour away) since I found out they do alignments.We would still like to know how to qualify a local shop.When I called the local shop the other day I ask if I needed to bring the specs or if they had another way of knowing the specifications and they said so and so " has been doing this longer than you have been alive" or something like that.Yes, the car seems to be pulling a little to the left. Tire wear looks fine, but I am afraid it might not be a few thousand miles from now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWinkey Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Check your tire pressures and rotate your tires front to back (don't swap sides) 9 times outta 10 if you have a pull or a drift to one side it's not alignment it's in the tires. After rotating and you still have a pull I would have a shop look at it ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlayman Posted August 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 The car doesn't really seem to be pulling hard. We rotated front to back about 2,000 miles ago. I may drive it on the interstate again and see if it still seems to be doing the same thing it was a week or so ago.Thanks for the advice. We are still trying to educate ourselves on best practices for alignments so we know what to ask or look for in a shop. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlayman Posted August 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 We signed up for the ALLDATA service for our car and they have alignment specifications. I looked in our owner's manual and it had alignments specs in mm but ALLDATA has it in degrees. Does anyone know how to convert to see if these are correct?Also, the ALLDATA information mentions that you need to use alignment equipment for four-wheel drive vehicles. I didn't know there was a difference.In addition, it mentions several things to check before aligning - check front play - controls arms, steering gear, tie rods, wheel bearings, upper spring strut mounts, and ball joints, and control arm bushings. Also check rear play.It then goes through alignment procedure - Anyone familiar with this information? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve s Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 most tire shops have alignment machines. any place will do. any place that will do alignments will have the specs for just about any car that rolls into their place. find some place that looks like they have good business and the price is under 300. 300 is usually dealer price and that's wayy to much. reasonable prices are 80-150, imo and at least here in sf. some will also provide u with before and after alignments and the factory specified range. so don't need to be too worried about the specs. if anything, have them print out what they did and compare to what u find on the alldata or even ur owner's manual (sometimes they have it).mostly toe-in on these macpherson struts, be it p1 or p2 chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.