Alignment Question????

[02RedSoul]

So my car needs an alignment really bad. I took it to one place and was quoted 70 for the alignment and then I was told that they need to put $25 bolts in it to adjust the alignment with a $40 charge to install the bolts. I didnt get it done because I was prepared to spend 70 not $135. This was in Nebraska and I live in Missouri.

So fast forward to today when I called around some shops out in Missouri to see get some prices and Toyotas outta the question since they charge f'n 120 just for a damn alignment then extra for the bolts(even though they made the damn car) and more to put them on. I called another place that quoted me 70 for the alignment, $20 for the bolts and f'n 80 worth of labor which brings everything to $170 for a damn alignment.

Help me out here. How much should the alignment cost because I feel like these guys are tryin to screw me?

[PXLpainter]

Is your car lowered or do you have aftermarket rims on it that are wider/less offset than the OEM rims?

Unless you have worn-out parts or need a camber adjustment kit (adjustable bolts) then I don't know why else they'd need to replace anything.

$70 isn't that bad for a 4-wheel alignment these days - at least not here in CA.

[funboy102]

That does sound like a lot... Alignment will cost $50 around where I check, $99 will get you 3-year unlimited alignments. And those bolts they're talking about... Jeff is right, they're adjustable camber bolts. He's also right about the fact that you shouldn't really be needing it unless you are lowered...

Labor to install a bolt?!?!? Haha, I didn't think it was hard to take out a bolt, put in a new bolt... bam, done.

Good luck man... keep on looking around

[02RedSoul]

I'm ridin factory all the way so no mods to the vehicle. I do need a camber adjustment kit as I have a little curb banging incident when I had a lucky meeting with a hill and snow. I know I need the kit for my right front wheel but 80 bucks of labor to put it on. How much should this whole process cost with the camber kit for one wheel and the alignment

[campfire9]

The last time I had my Solara aligned was about 5 months ago and it cost $75. I'm stock all the way rim wise and have 255/55R16 tires. Even the dealer should be in the ball park price wise. Don't understand what people are trying to do to you. Good luck.

[BadChicken]

put the bolts in yourself and save yourself the money.

[02RedSoul]

put the bolts in yourself and save yourself the money.

Any write-ups on how to do this?

[anttarz]

1. jack up car
2. pull off tire
3. take out bolt
4. put in the new bolt
5. repeat for each corner

alignment kit (new bolts) should have instructions on exactly how to put them in. You are gonna have to shoot the old ones off and the new ones on, prob cant do it by hand.

[Akfahad]

don't want to steal the thread, but kind of along the same question. I replaced a whole bunch of bushings I got from SuperPro and also replaced the FSB, think I should do another alignment?

[02RedSoul]

So I probably need a compression gun to get the bolts off. Is is really that simple?

[onefiend]

alignments should never go above $60. And they should give you a computer printout of the specs too.

I've never heard of extra bolts to align a car (had mine done 3 times on a Solara Gen1 with no bolts needed), might be ripping you off man.

don't want to steal the thread, but kind of along the same question. I replaced a whole bunch of bushings I got from SuperPro and also replaced the FSB, think I should do another alignment?

if it's pulling or drifting then go ahead and get one, if it still drives straight when you let go of the wheel, then don't bother.

[PXLpainter]

I'm ridin factory all the way so no mods to the vehicle. I do need a camber adjustment kit as I have a little curb banging incident when I had a lucky meeting with a hill and snow. I know I need the kit for my right front wheel but 80 bucks of labor to put it on. How much should this whole process cost with the camber kit for one wheel and the alignment

You won't need a camber "kit" for this - just an alignment.

The camber kit (bolts) are ONLY if you have either really W I D E aftermarket wheels/tires (or a shallower offset, like I mentioned previously) and need to get a little more clearance inside your fenders - or just wanna go around looking like a VW!

If you did damage to your front end because of your "incident" then perhaps you may have bent a bolt and it needs to be replaced. Other than that - a camber kit will do you absolutely no good whatsoever.

[Akfahad]

thank you Onefriend