How long will alignment take?

[Scubasteve5a]

I called some shops and i need an alignment bad, i am dropped 2 inches on 18's and the shops that said they will do it (only a few) said they charge by the hour, how long does it normally take, i don't wanna pay $100 for a four wheel alignment when normal places do it for $60.

 

[brentsd]

it took them an hour to do mine. at least.

 

[igs]

If the guy knows what he's doing 15 min. It should not take more than 30 min. Most shops just sit around and pick their nose so even tire rotation takes an hour.

 

[Scubasteve5a]

well i have another question, i am not to knowledgable about camber kits, i have the rre rear correction kit that cost 25. i am dropped 2 inches and i will probaly need a kit for the front, i did a tire rotation today and the inside walls of all the tires are worn pretty bad, but the back is worse then the front tires, will the alignment correct the rear, and should i get a camber kit before or after an alignment.

 

[brentsd]

rub your hand across the tire sideways and see if you feel kinda sharp edges. If you do that means your toe is out. On my car it looked like really bad camber wear at first then i slid my hand sideways across the tread and could feel the edges so i knew my toe was off. Toe will chew the hell out of your tires, camber won't do near as much. Also on the front camber kit, take your car in first and just have them print out the camber readings on your car and also what the spec is. Then if its out of spec get the camber kit, take it back in and get the alignment done. They should only charge a small fee if any for checking your readings on your car. But if your tires are worn pretty bad and you haven't had it lowered too long then more than likely your toe is out.

 

[98_silvergs]

Camber doesnt really kill tires, the tire killer is toe. When you get your alignment done they will set the toe back into spec. Having a little negative camber creates better handling, i'm in no way saying to leave your camber off at all but a little negative camber isnt all that bad

Edit: Brentsd responded the same time i did

 

[brentsd]

thanks for backin me up 98

 

[Scubasteve5a]

so your saying to take it and just get a reading first, and if it is out of spec then order a camber kit and then get it aligned, but if it is in spec then just get it aligned then and don't worry about a camber kit, and i am guessing that with the toe being out it effects the rear tires as well.

 

[TDQuiksilver]

I'm dropping my car this weekend - would it hurt if I through on the camber kit and then brought it down to the shop when they do my alignment and let them adjust the camber with the kit already on?

 

[brentsd]

toe is the leading cause of tired wear! camber isn't... but yes take it in and get your alignment readings. If its out of spec don't have them align it. GO buy your camber kits, put them on, then take it back and have them align it. If its in spec, well then let them go align it. But yes toe will affect the rear. quicksilver you can do that if you already have the kits. If you are going two inches lowering your rear will be (this is a very general guesstimate, yours may very) about 1.5-2 degrees out of spec. THen your front about a half degree out of spec. I'm basing this on my car which is lowered about 2-2.25, and was a little farther out of spec than those estimates. good luck!

 

[brentsd]

tire* not tired. sorry i'm tired.