FINALLY DONE!!

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
06/26/2015 at 00:20 • Filed to: Wörk

The struts are finally done! Just returned from my first drive with them in!

The Good: The ride is soo much smoother than before I bought the car! It doesn’t feel like its gonna break apart over each bump and I even feel a slight difference in the handling. It just feels and drives so much better.

The Bad: I didn’t get the alignment perfect(it was my first time tackling suspension work, what else would you expect?). It pulls slightly to the right, but it isn’t life threatening or dangerous I’ll get that taken care of tomorrow after work.

I’d like to thank all the tools that had to work their asses off big time to get this done; and MVP goes to the MAPP torch I bought yesterday morning to get that last bolt off!

I’ll explain more of this adventure tomorrow.

EDIT: Question, how much does an alignment cost? Can it just be the fronts, or does it have to be all 4 wheels? Can I just go to a place like Belle Tire or is that stupid?

DISCUSSION (19)

bob and john > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 00:27

I dont think it should be more then 100. And might as well get everything done at once

Steve in Manhattan > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 00:29

Depending where you are - an alignment costs ... 150 bucks? $175 if they torque the lug nuts?

OTOH - you are taking advice from a guy who last got an alignment on his SHO in 2000.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > bob and john
06/26/2015 at 00:30

Fair enough. I’m surprised I didn’t do a worse job than I did. I was honestly expecting everything to be wonky and all over the place; got almost the opposite.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Steve in Manhattan
06/26/2015 at 00:31

That much?? Geez I wasn’t expecting that. Oh well.

Steve in Manhattan > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 00:33

I am so out of it ... you might be able to get one from a chain shop for 99 bucks? Just remember - an alignment on a machine makes all the difference. Where do you live?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Steve in Manhattan
06/26/2015 at 00:37

SE Michigan

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 00:40

Nice! Must feel good to have it done.

I got an alignment at a local Firestone for 17 bucks, but that was because I need tie rod ends quite badly. The one I go to is quite a good place. They typically charge 80 dollars here though. So I would guess somewhere around 100.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
06/26/2015 at 00:44

It’s literally the best feeling I’ve had all week even though I’m not expressing it outwardly.

You must’ve got really lucky then to have it be $17!! I’m hoping to be under $100, so I can move on to other projects for the car.

CB > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 01:19

It’s $99.99 at Crappy Tire, so it should be about the same at other places.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 01:22

Call around. If you go to one shop regularly, it could be quite cheap since they know if you need work you’ll be back. But firestone auto centers charge 80$ typically and they’ve done good work in the past on my modified jetta.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/26/2015 at 01:23

Did you ever go to the one on Woodward at 13 mile? Next to the McDonalds? At least when you were in the area?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 01:27

Nah. When I lived in that area my dad would do that work with me at whatever shop he worked in.

Dunnik > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 02:16

Kinja'd!!!

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 02:26

If by lucky you mean discovering that you’ll be paying several hundred more dollars then you were expecting, then ya!

But that all worked out in the end. So there's that. I don't believe an alignment should cost you to much. I would love to get more work done on my car but when work gets in the way and you're moving you can never get time in...

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 03:47

Anywhere from $50 to $200. The machine, when it was calibrated last, and the technician all make a big difference in quality here. Newer machines are may or may not be better, machine should have been calibrated at least within the last year, and techs as we all know are difficult to gauge and vary wildly. You often get what you pay for in this area. “Getting everything into the green” does not necessarily equal a good alignment that won’t pull. Avoid shops that don’t know when their machine was last calibrated, and you may be able to gauge the tech by asking whether he can tailor the setup for either better handling or reduced tire wear, or factory neutral (hint: a good tech can usually do this easily, but it depends on the car and how it’s angles are actually adjusted). Hope this helps!

Sam > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 07:09

My 924 didn’t explode yet! In fact, I managed to get it to stop dumping heat into the floorboard! The finicky slider for the heat/cool pushed inside the dash.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Sam
06/26/2015 at 07:46

Ah yes! Those sliders can be a bit sticky huh.

Conan > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 08:22

That looks glorious man. When you find a good place for alignments stick with them.

thebigbossyboss > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
06/26/2015 at 08:29

Rock on. Don’t worry most cars would need an alignment after strut surgery. Mine did as well.