Lifetime Alignments from Firestone (Yes, I searched)

[VroomTT]

Not much found searching other than a few comments.

I'm throwing on some new performance tires(in FL so no winter worries) and am considering doing the lifetime alignment. I also just had my alignment done a recommended shop that specializes in aftermarket wheels(Elite Wheels) and I'm not happy with the specs they gave back to me. (-.3 total toe up front when I asked for -.1, also they didn't set rear camber even though I asked them to ). Guy there said that was as close to what I asked for as they could get, which just doesnt seem right. I'm expecting camber to be off, bc of the coils, but that shouldn't impact his ability to give me the requested toe, right? A little more camber is better than more toe-in when it comes to tire wear.

I was in a rush bc of a crazy day at work and didn't complain. Def stupid on my part. Now I'm concerned the front is chewing up quickly on the inside, hence wanting another alignment.

I know some people will say that firestone is a joke for alignments, but I did speak to the guy and he told me he is willing to set any specs I request. He said to just bring in the #'s and he'll do it. I also mentioned it was lowered, and he said they have the extra adapter to handle lowered cars on the machine. "As long as it's not completely slammed" he said. I'm at about or just above 25" F2G, so I'm hoping thats okay. Tires service comes with a free alignment check, so I'll know before signing up for it.

I've had terrible trouble at almost every indy alignment shop I've been to... wondering how much worse this could be? Seems like a good deal, and the place is practically walking distance to my apt.

Thoughts?

[VinnysS4]

when i had my VR6 GTI, it was slammed to the ground and rubbed on everything i went over. I had a koni cup kit on it. Went for an alignment and the guy told me that if they could get it on the rack, they could align it. It took some boards and what not to make a makeshift ramp to get it on the rack...but after it was up there, they performed the alignment just fine., So unless your car cannot be adjusted to the spec you want, then they should be able to set it. Some shops only will set the specs to (or as close to) factory specs for legal purposes. Might find an indy who deals with lowered cars. Might be best to go to someone who deals with this than to go to a one size fits all shop that only reads the book on what specs to set cars to.

[WCCoffey]

Not much found searching other than a few comments.

I'm throwing on some new performance tires(in FL so no winter worries) and am considering doing the lifetime alignment. I also just had my alignment done a recommended shop that specializes in aftermarket wheels(Elite Wheels) and I'm not happy with the specs they gave back to me. (-.3 total toe up front when I asked for -.1, also they didn't set rear camber even though I asked them to ). Guy there said that was as close to what I asked for as they could get, which just doesnt seem right. I'm expecting camber to be off, bc of the coils, but that shouldn't impact his ability to give me the requested toe, right? A little more camber is better than more toe-in when it comes to tire wear.

I was in a rush bc of a crazy day at work and didn't complain. Def stupid on my part. Now I'm concerned the front is chewing up quickly on the inside, hence wanting another alignment.

I know some people will say that firestone is a joke for alignments, but I did speak to the guy and he told me he is willing to set any specs I request. He said to just bring in the #'s and he'll do it. I also mentioned it was lowered, and he said they have the extra adapter to handle lowered cars on the machine. "As long as it's not completely slammed" he said. I'm at about or just above 25" F2G, so I'm hoping thats okay. Tires service comes with a free alignment check, so I'll know before signing up for it.

I've had terrible trouble at almost every indy alignment shop I've been to... wondering how much worse this could be? Seems like a good deal, and the place is practically walking distance to my apt.

Thoughts?

I have an alignment rack in my shop and we do tons of alignments (we are a Ferrari/Lambo Shop) and I run our race team, so I spend alot of time on a setup pad.

First of all, you never want toe in on the front of a car. Toe out in the front & toe in in the rear.

Second, There is no such thing as a special adapater for lowered cars. I use the same everything for my Chevy 2500 Crew Cab 4WD diesel as I use on a Ferrari street cars and race cars, (most of the time I string the race cars though)

Third, The whole premise behind the lifetime alignment is that every time you come in they are going to tell you that your shit is all worn out and you have to replace a bunch of it and its going to cost XXX.XX If you decline the work, I believe that makes you forfeit the lifetime alignment.

Fourth, The alignment has more to do with the individual doing the work than anything else. I've seen hacks put prybars between frame rails and control arms to pry it out and dent/bend parts and fuck up paint just so they could get a shim in on 500k$+ cars at "reputable" shop. You'll find terrible and great alignment guys everywhere.

My suggestion to you is do some research, talk to locals and find a good shop that does good work, is knowledgeable with aftermarket components and stick with them. Because the Firestone at the intersection of A & B could have the best guy ever, but the one at the intersection of X & Y could be a total hack.

[Silver Streakin]

A corporate place like that will tell you that they can't align it....because they can't get it to OEM specs. And probably can't get it on the rack, if that low.

find an indy who does alignments. preferably someone who sets up cars for the track. PCA and Audi club often have a list a shops they use for DE inspections. A good place to start.

-2 camber all around
very little toe in up front and rear is my setup. I would've liked 0 toe up front but the RF toe link is seized from PO's alignment.

[VroomTT]

I have an alignment rack in my shop and we do tons of alignments (we are a Ferrari/Lambo Shop) and I run our race team, so I spend alot of time on a setup pad.

First of all, you never want toe in on the front of a car. Toe out in the front & toe in in the rear.

Second, There is no such thing as a special adapater for lowered cars. I use the same everything for my Chevy 2500 Crew Cab 4WD diesel as I use on a Ferrari street cars and race cars, (most of the time I string the race cars though)

Third, The whole premise behind the lifetime alignment is that every time you come in they are going to tell you that your shit is all worn out and you have to replace a bunch of it and its going to cost XXX.XX If you decline the work, I believe that makes you forfeit the lifetime alignment.

Fourth, The alignment has more to do with the individual doing the work than anything else. I've seen hacks put prybars between frame rails and control arms to pry it out and dent/bend parts and fuck up paint just so they could get a shim in on 500k$+ cars at "reputable" shop. You'll find terrible and great alignment guys everywhere.

My suggestion to you is do some research, talk to locals and find a good shop that does good work, is knowledgeable with aftermarket components and stick with them. Because the Firestone at the intersection of A & B could have the best guy ever, but the one at the intersection of X & Y could be a total hack.

Thanks for the info. I agree, I've been to so called reputable shops that f'ed my alignment before, but also been to a small mom-n-pop shop that the guy knew what he was doing on and the car drove great. I'm right at that time where I need to put new tires on, so debating doing the alignment again.

I'm a bit surprised you are saying toe out in the front? Isn't it -toe on the front? I thought that negative was toe "in". Or maybe I have it backwards?

The alignment shop I just used gave me -3 total toe up front, which though it's in spec, combined with camber seems like it would destroy my tires. I'm not slammed at all, but low enough to throw off camber up front.

[VroomTT]

A corporate place like that will tell you that they can't align it....because they can't get it to OEM specs. And probably can't get it on the rack, if that low.

find an indy who does alignments. preferably someone who sets up cars for the track. PCA and Audi club often have a list a shops they use for DE inspections. A good place to start.

-2 camber all around
very little toe in up front and rear is my setup. I would've liked 0 toe up front but the RF toe link is seized from PO's alignment.

I asked about them doing my requested specs and he said no problem. I'm hoping I can talk to the alignment guy and get a better idea of what he's willing to do.

Also, most places never know how about the rear camber bolts. I just tend to not trust shops to not strip/ruin those bolts.

[WCCoffey]

Let me preface this by saying I don't do street car alignments. The only alignments I do are on the race cars I support.

- is toe out + is toe in

Toe in will stabilize the front of the car but make it not turn in well. Toe out can make the car wander a bit but will make the car turn in nicely. Same concept in the rear. It's a balance of positives vs. Negatives and what the car and driver likes.

We never ever have toe in on a race car.

I may have given some disinformation as you don't have a race car and I have no idea if factory specs call for a ton of toe in.

[VroomTT]

Does anyone know how much camber each of the markings on the rear camber bolts provides? Like one full notch equals a 0.5 camber change in either direction, etc. That's be great to know and I'd consider setting it ahead of time...