Which shop for an alignment?

"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
05/21/2019 at 20:02 • Filed to: None

I got two choices for an alignment for the Miata.

I’m having it aligned more aggressively than factory. A decent hike away is a Miata specialist shop. Knew the aignment i was asking for, asked if i was doing track or autocross. If I ever need anything for the Miata, I’d probably go there. This could be a good test run. But, they’re probably my best localish bet regardless for the miata.

Other option is a local tire shop. Generic. Said they’d align to my numbers. If they did good, they would be my shop of choice for the rest of the fleet. So on one hand, test run for a miata specific shop. On the other, test run for something more relevant for the rest of the cars.

DISCUSSION (18)

MM54 > Cash Rewards
05/21/2019 at 20:43

Go to the specialist. Second would be an independent alignment shop, somewhere at the bottom of the list is tire shop.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Cash Rewards
05/21/2019 at 20:57

I used a local tire shop for the alignment because I figured most of the job is done by a computer. Though they have to manually adjust. Unless their machine is not calibrated or they are incompetent, you shouldn’t need a specialist for an alignment. I wouldn’t go somewhere I wasn’t confident in like a tire super store or something. If there was an issue the specialist would be better suited to deal with it though.

Edit: You can ask the shop when their equipment was last calibrated.

Cash Rewards > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/21/2019 at 21:12

Brand New shop, so no calibration issue. But you’ve got my dilemma. I shouldn’t have to go to a specialist. But it gives me confidence when I call the specialist and they ask if I want a mild or aggressive alignment, and what I intend to do with the car. But I did get someone at the local generic who said they had a lowered truck in recently with a set of numbers on a paper they were able to make work.

shop-teacher > Cash Rewards
05/21/2019 at 21:16

Since t he local place said they’d align to your numbers, I’d give them a shot. You can't beat having a good local place.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Cash Rewards
05/21/2019 at 21:30

If you don’t go to the specialist for this I would definitely go at some point. I recently went to a specialist for my clutch/flywheel. They have been racing Miatas (amount other things) for years and the knowledge they have is invaluable moving forward with my build.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/22/2019 at 00:54

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Cash Rewards
05/22/2019 at 00:57

Is the tire shop a corporate chain thing like Firestone? If so, avoid. If locally owned, give them a shot. The chains are basically jiffy lube.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Cash Rewards
05/22/2019 at 01:01

Definitely do the specialist shop, you will be way happier with the results. Local tire places I've tried at least couldn't quite hit the numbers I wanted and didn't really have a good reason why. Still managed better than factory but I really would like to run a way more aggressive alignment on my Miata. I plan to find a speciality shop once I get everything done (roll bar, suspension, and tires) and get them to really set me up right.

ateamfan42 > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/22/2019 at 09:49

I used a local tire shop for the alignment because I figured most of the job is done by a computer. Though they have to manually adjust.

A computer is just a tool to helps make the measurements easier to achieve. That’s it. A good alignment comes down to getting the adjustments as close to the targets as possible, and a willingness to take the time to achieve that.

Computer or not, a lot of shops are happy to just get within the (usually very wide) factory tolerances and call that good. Often the goal is to g et the car out of the bay quickly and on to other work.

ateamfan42 > shop-teacher
05/22/2019 at 09:56

Since the local place said they’d align to your numbers, I’d give them a shot.

This. If they can achieve the goal you want, then the result is what counts. Where the specialist shop may be useful is if you aren’t sure exactly what alignment values you want, as their experience may help you determine good targets for your needs and use.

If you know what values you want, are willing to make a few homemade tools, and have the patience, it is possible to make your own alignment adjustments ( if you have somewhere level from which to work) . Actually making alignment adjustments is usually pretty easy. Being able to accurately measure the effect of the adjustments is the challenge (that the computer equipment makes easier).

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > ateamfan42
05/22/2019 at 10:10

True, but at least in my experience they will give you a print out of your resulted specs. If they aren’t close enough for you, ask them to try again.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/22/2019 at 10:30

???

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/22/2019 at 10:50

As ateamfan42 said; the computer is just a tool. Alignments are a bit of an art form. Some guys are great at them and some aren’t (even if they’re amazing techs otherwise) . Many can learn, but not everyone. I would guess 80% of people doing alignments professionally don’t really have an understanding of the geometry they’re actually adjusting. The ability to effectively interpret the numbers escapes most people. As does the ability to actually make more than just toe adjustments.

To make matters worse, you wouldn’t believe the number of guys that will actually cheat the numbers to make them look good without actually doing anything more than a toe adjustment.

When the job goes to the lowest bidder, you get what what you pay for.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/22/2019 at 11:24

People can cheat the numbers for print outs? Damn that’s a shitty thing to do, but my experience with some incompetent shops/techs, that doesn’t surprise me. I’ve never tried to do an alignment myself , but I had heard it wasn’t difficult. Apologies for my ignorance. I had assumed any competent shop could do it properly with state of the art equipment. I didn’t realize so much fell on the tech to adjust.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/22/2019 at 11:51

Oh absolutely. You can shim the alignment heads, have someone sit in the car in a certain seat, press up or down on the car, or just plain change the numbers in the computer.

Think about it this way: oil changes are really easy to do, right? Well how does jiffy lube screw those up all the time? Oil changes are ten times easier than alignments.

And we haven’t even talked about how different adjustment methods are from one car to the next.

No worries, no one expects you to have any idea how all this plays out in the real world if you don't do it professionally sorry if I come across as a blunt asshole, that's not my intention.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/22/2019 at 12:18

Haha you’re fine. I appreciate you calling me out. How else will I learn? I am very particular who I trust with my car because it really does astound me how lazy and careless some techs can be. I have enough bad experiences with techs that it gives me extra reason (aside from being poor) to learn how to do things properly myself.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/22/2019 at 12:26

I did say in my reply to him to not go somewhere he doesn’t trust/have confidence in. As in not a chain tire shop. But I see your point. If given the option go with the most experienced people who will care and take the time to do things right.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Cash Rewards
05/23/2019 at 15:38

Hey, just saw this because of the accident post, but my buddy took his Miata to Superior Automotive in Rockville. He lives in Kentlands/North Potomac region and he said all the shops he talked to in the area wouldn’t do custom alignment. I know the owner at Superior and directed him there, and Bobby did the alignment to his specs.