syc0path

My '88 Trans Am needs an alignment. There's a frame shop nearby that specializes in classic cars, but they want $100. It's also tough to get an appointment at any kind of convenient time

The shop that I usually go to for my daily drivers only wants $50, but I've never seen them do a car as old as my TA. They also want the car all day, and I'd prefer not to leave it there. It also suggests they anticipate having trouble w/ the car.

The Belle Tire right near my house would only be $30 w/ a coupon, and they can do it while I wait. They've done a lot of tire service for me and they've always been good, but I've never had them do an alignment.

What do u guys think? I'm also wondering how much a of a difference there is between aligning my TA vs. more modern/current gen cars.

OdieTurbo

iTrader: (1)

As an ex-alignment specialist I can give you my 2 cents worth. Any shop should be able to do it much more easily than a modern car. There is only a toe adjustment and a small caster/camber adjustment unless you have adjustable strut plates or camber bolts. The place doing for $30 should be able to do it, I don't see why not.

In addition, your thread title is curious to me. Unless you converted to an Independent Rear Suspension setup, your car only needs a two-wheel alignment or at worst a thrust-alignment (where they line up the front two in the same vector as the rear wheels).

fireturd350

iTrader: (8)

Usually you can talk to the guy at the counter before or after with questions. My '99 Bonneville DD just got aligned for $50 (FWD car). Rear was out a little bit, but they couldn't get the alignment nut loosened up. They said they rather have it out of alignment a tad than break something. The front was also off barely too, but they can't get it exact without adjustable strut plates. Which I'm not putting on a 217k mile DD car.

Bringing up the 4 wheel alignment though there's not much you can do for the rear tires unless you have aftermarket parts. That being said would shops consider adjusting the LCAs and/or Panhard bar part of an alignment to get the rear tires exact?

OdieTurbo

iTrader: (1)

That's a good idea too, talk to the guy doing the alignment. I was always happy and willing to talk to the guy wanting the alignment.

With the modern computerized machines, they should be able to. I know when I was doing it we really couldn't do much since our machine was the old style. I've also seen some shops refuse to touch anything that's not stock.

syc0path

Nope, that's just me not understanding the terminology. The suspension on this car is totally stock.

So here's another question -- what bolts are used to make the alignment/adjustments? Believe it or not, this car has never had an alignment. I also had to drive it for a couple winters, so it's seen some salt too. I'm thinking it would be a good idea to spray the bolts w/ Gibbs for the next couple days before I take the car in.

fireturd350

iTrader: (8)

Far as I know it's just aligning the strut mounts and the front tie rods adjustors.

The upper strut mount nuts (3 on each side) seen from the engine bay topside on top of the wheel wells. The tie rod adjustors are the little round cylinder a slot on it. You'll see them under the car in front of the K member.

Also it would be a good time to inspect your sway bar end links (mounted on the tips of the sway bar) and the sway bar bushings (mounted between the sway bar and the front sub frame). Shops usually charge too much for that little of work.

My daily driver they wanted $90 to put end links on the car. I told them no and bought the zinc plated ones for under $12 total for the pair. Only took me 30 minutes to change them if that.

syc0path

That's what I figured about the bolts, so I lubed those points... there's a little rust on them, but they're not too bad.

That's a good tip about the sway bar links, but I actually replaced them a few yrs ago when I restored the car.