Do you need an alignment after installing new control arms?

[Number54]

What about if you just do the front uppers?

Thanks.

[The_Auto_Tech]

They say you need to but as long as you install stock replacements you really shouldn't. Honestly though, if you haven't had one for a while I'd recommend you do.

[JDM EJ1 95]

yes...


didnt align after my control arm swap.. only drivers side upppers and after 8k my brand new tires were bald as sin.


i knew i needed to.. just lazy

[S4 00 2.7]

I echo the same.

[Yesmar]

yes

[speedlyte]

If you plan on keeping the car. Firestone has a lifetime alignment. I have it on both my cars it pays for itself after the second alignment.

[Trile]

Yes. It's too cheap (at least here) to take a risk.
I was too lazy to do mine after lowering the car (duh, I know) and did it after 2 months. Front left tire is worn on the inside and the car now pulls to one side. A tire swap will fix this though.
Also check the tie rod ends. Mine was stock and never replaced ..and it was twisted and torn etc.

[Number54]

K, alignment it is then. Due to some scheduling issues, I wanted to swap springs and only later control arms. But since I have to align for both, I'll do everything at once.

Thanks.

[Dutchsider]

Yes. It's too cheap (at least here) to take a risk.
I was too lazy to do mine after lowering the car (duh, I know) and did it after 2 months. Front left tire is worn on the inside and the car now pulls to one side. A tire swap will fix this though.
Also check the tie rod ends. Mine was stock and never replaced ..and it was twisted and torn etc.

The need for an alignment after lowering the car is different from replacing the upper arms. If you are just replacing the upper arms, you shouldn't have to worry about an alignment unless your old arms were heavily worn and had significant play.

[turbo16v]

yes

[034Motorsport]

K, alignment it is then. Due to some scheduling issues, I wanted to swap springs and only later control arms. But since I have to align for both, I'll do everything at once.

Thanks.

Really up to you. I don't get aligned when I only do uppers, especially if I am not removing the strut. This is why when I reinstall the uppers, I reinstall the bolts so that the control arms can be removed without also having to remove the upper strut mount thing. However, I've gone to get my alignment checked a couple times and it was never affected much.

Now, lower control arms... thats a whole different story. As well as Tie Rods. I've put tie rods in the exact same position, same length, and toe has still ended up being off considerably.

For me, I tend to wear tires out at an accelerated rate so being slightly off in toe isn't a big deal to me. If the outer edges starts to wear, I just back the inner TRE out 1 rotation or so.

[cj-S4]

I would not worry about it. You have done nothing to move anything so long as the lower assembly was not disturbed.

Not to mention good luck finding someone other than the dearl that understands how to align this setup. Even at the dealer good luck, but at least they have the resources to know which bolts do what.

[Dutchsider]

I would not worry about it. You have done nothing to move anything so long as the lower assembly was not disturbed.

Not to mention good luck finding someone other than the dearl that understands how to align this setup. Even at the dealer good luck, but at least they have the resources to know which bolts do what.

Exactly, you aren't disturbing any element of the car's current alignment. It should not need another one after replacing the uppers.