Good rtp alignment shop?

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2004 6:49 pm

I am going to get some new suspension goodies

and will need to fix my alignment. Anyone recommend a local shop? Dan E. told me last season he went to Digital Chassis in Durham. They seem kind of expensive.

thanks
Marcus

PS: I have awd subaru.

Diane Hall · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2004 7:23 pm

I had my Spec Miata last aligned at Tire King on Airport Blvd. They did a great job and said they'd be happy to do other people's race cars in the club. (I asked in case they were just doing me a favor and didn't want to hassle with it on a normal basis.) Just take them the specs you want. No, I don't remember what it cost, but it wasn't stupid expensive or anything.

Diane

Patrick Wellenius · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2004 7:36 pm

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I am going to get some new suspension goodies

and will need to fix my alignment. Anyone recommend a local shop? Dan E. told me last season he went to Digital Chassis in Durham. They seem kind of expensive.

thanks
Marcus

PS: I have awd subaru.

Lots of ppl will recommend Digital chassis. Brad's a good guy and will take his time to do it right. He's a little more expensive, but if you're looking for a non-factory alignment, he'll do it to your spec - no matter how long it takes. I'll be taking my car there in a couple weeks after the Corrado's front end gets an overhaul.

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2004 11:42 pm

C'mon people, the top choices should be clear- Hubcap Heaven in Cary, or Sturdivant's Tire west of Chapel Hill, depending on where you're coming from!

Both do great work (I have never heard of anyone who was less than delighted with the work done at either place), and both have been strong club sponsors for many years. Support those who support the club!

Patrick Wellenius · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:08 am

i got tires mounted at HH, and steve said they didn't do alignments. that was only a couple months ago, so I doubt things have changed much.

Charles Wolthusen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:40 pm **Posts:** 6

Just had the cowmaro done, non factory specs,at Colony Tire on 55 in Apex. Talk to Phil Whaley,he and Steve are very helpful and easy to work with. Charles Wolthusen

AndersGreen · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 10:18 am

Carl Fisher wrote:

C'mon people, the top choices should be clear- Hubcap Heaven in Cary

Carl, I know you live way out in weirdo land, but this is over the top! HH is an awesome shop, but they've never had an alignment machine.

Now, former owner Steve used to recommend a small shop that was only half a mile from his shop to club members. However, that place decided that non-stock alignments were cost prohibitive and too much of a pain in the a$$.

Anders

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 10:51 am

For my education, why does a non-stock alignment cost more? The guy we use here in Wilson charges the same for a custom as stock.

For instance say you want -2 degrees of camber and your car has the setup (camber plates) for it to be easily adjusted. He mounts the alignment heads, sees what you have now, loosens the bolts, moves the strut to the right spot, then tightens it down and re-checks it.

How is that different than if the alignment was off and had to be set back to stock specs? :whoknows:

I'm no alignment expert, I'm just trying to learn something here folks.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:05 am

As much as the custom alignment topic comes up sounds like Mark at HH should invest in an alignment machine! I never heard anyone complain about any of their services.

treyrivers · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:05 am

Patrick Wellenius wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I am going to get some new suspension goodies

and will need to fix my alignment. Anyone recommend a local shop? Dan E. told me last season he went to Digital Chassis in Durham. They seem kind of expensive.

thanks
Marcus

PS: I have awd subaru.

Lots of ppl will recommend Digital chassis. Brad's a good guy and will take his time to do it right. He's a little more expensive, but if you're looking for a non-factory alignment, he'll do it to your spec - no matter how long it takes. I'll be taking my car there in a couple weeks after the Corrado's front end gets an overhaul.

Another vote here for Digital Chassis. Brad did the alignment on my A4 after I installed the coilovers and he did an outstanding job. He will discuss it all with you and do whatever you request. He has plenty of knowledge and top-rate Hunter equipment for alignment and mount/balance of tires. Expensive? Maybe a little, but I think I got my money's worth.

Digital Chassis
2305 Orangewood Road
Durham, NC 27705-2238
(919) 384-7070

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

What does "a little more expensive" mean? I paid $100 for a lifetime alignment for the Impreza at Firestone, so that's the only price I'm used to. And yes, they do set the alignment to non-stock specs (for me, anyway - but maybe I'm just special).

And I've gotten somewhere between 5-10 alignments since I originally paid the $100...

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:32 am

Now _that_ is one helluva deal! :shock:

I'd love to read the fine print on that document.

The problem for me would be that nobody in their right mind takes their car to the Firestone here in Wilson. There are *many* horror stories about their workmanship.

BTW, my guy charges $50 for a 4-wheel alignment stock specs or custom.

Peter Baio · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:45 pm

Vincent who do you go to? I have a friend at Viking that would more than likely do it for me, or if you ever had any problems.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 3:10 pm

Kevin Allen wrote:

What does "a little more expensive" mean?

I agree with Kevin, what does expensive mean. I have taken mine to the local Just Tires. For $50-$60 I have the custom alignment done. I do have to sign a document stating that I understand that the do not warranty the work.

How many times a year do you have it aligned? About every 12 months on my MR2. I do the camber myself every 60 days or so. Jonathan Roberts had his MR2 aligned every 18 months or so. And he daily drove his MR2. That is the same MR2 that won a national championship.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 3:29 pm

Sure. I work in Durham so it's not a big deal to roll down there. He might be a bit more expensive than the other people, but you get to be there while he does the work and watch the settings lock into your specs.

He'll also align it with you in the car if you'd like.

THSCC Forums

Good rtp alignment shop?

Who is online