Allignment

[YoungFluff03TJ]

So im putting putting a 3" lift on in 2 days. is it necessary to get an allignment? Im going to assume yes, to save tire wear, but dyou guys know a good place to geter done? i really choke on having to dish out 120 bones just to take some measurements you know...

thanks

[Immortal]

How much was the lift?
You are going to choke on $120 for somebody to take measurements, ensuring that your vehicle is safe(er) to be on the road?
What kinda of tires you runnin'?
Lets say, for the sake of argument, some cheap no-name 33"s. They cost $100. Because you didn't spend the original $120 for an alignment, it has now cost you $200 in 6 months. ($100 for the original tire, and $100 to replace the tire because it is now worn out). Damn!! What are you gonna do if both front tires are hooped at the same time? What about the other stresses that being misaligned are gonna cause?

Get the alignment.

Fountain Tire, Blaskin and Lane...... Will, you have your machine setup yet?

[YoungFluff03TJ]

good points. but im mostly looking for a good place to take it. aka the cheapest place. and are you just hypothesizing on the 33's being 100 bucks or is there an actual 100 dolla 33 out there. cause that would be sweet.

[WhiteOut]

There is no 33 that will run $100, unless you find a smoking deal.  You need 5 tires, I priced 33" MT's out to $1700 mounted/balances.  You usually find good, used sets on Kijiji for around 1K.  Stay away from kaltire, they always say that you need repairs before they can align it, especially if you look young.  Kirks tire up by Cash Casino on Blackfoot did a good job for me, $115.

[JackstandJohnny]

good points. but im mostly looking for a good place to take it. aka the cheapest place.

cheap and good do not go in the same sentence.  i can get your jeep 'close' just by eyeballing, it. for free. BUT no guarantees.

if u have an issue with money, don't get one. these guys don't know what they are talking about you don't need an allignment, just rotate your tires.................... every 2k.

ps. i head rubicon express lifts allign themselves...........

[Justink]

fast good or cheap pick two

probally heard that before but so true

[Immortal]

Lets say, for the sake of argument, some cheap no-name 33"s. They cost $100.

Get the alignment.

it was just to illustrate that you will be wasting your $$.... but it is your $$... what do I care?

Oh, wait... I am driving on the same roads as you.

Get the alignment.

[Sean778]

In a $500 Jeep, if you're on the same budget as me, it's probably hard to justify $120 for an alignment. I would solicit the help of one of your more experienced friends and proceed with the JohnnyC "eyeball" special. That being said, if you actually have the money, then Immortal is right, pay a pro.

[Immortal]

He just put in a lift kit.... let's say a $1500 lift... even a $150 alignment is justifiable in my eyes. I know we are "cheap Jeepers", it just irks the f@#k outta me when people cheap out on safety. As you can probably tell.

[esi]

$500 jeep doesn't mean a thing. You lift it, then get a massive case of death wobble and end up rolling the jeep or rolling into another person or vehicle. You should look at all your steering components and ball joints before you look at a lift, a lot could be worn out and a lift and bigger tires will jut magnify the problems. I consider my life to be worth more than $120.   I deal in tires as well and $100 dollar 33's don't exist anymore.

[Sean778]

Both very good points, and these are things to consider when buying your bargain Jeep. If you end up having to replace most of the steering components, and if your ball joints look as bad as mine, maybe you are better off waiting until you can afford something in a more serviceable condition. Suddenly 500 bones is not such a deal.  Either way you're spending money, which always sucks if your money tree dies.

[JackstandJohnny]

mmmmmm, alignments dont' cancel death wobble. it won't make that $hit arse track bar you got at the bargain basement work better.............  ive never had an allignment done on my jeeps.  yes, i can eyeball it and don't cheap out on parts.  i've been messing with these things a while. i also don't drive my jeep much on the street. its NOT a DD. if its ur DD get an alignment, and get some decent tires, not some used 100$ tires (that probablay have uneven wear cause someone didn't get an allignment)

just an fyi, the reason i don't really look into allignments so much is cause i have my suspension taken apart and tinkered with 5 times a year. @ 120 an allignment, that gets very expensive, and u know, they don't move it much more than i got it by eyeballing.  a standard shop gets it to within 2 degrees.  THATS 'standard'  i can eyeball that......... ps. if you don't put 'allignment cams' back in with your lift kit, you can't adjust them anyways..........

last reason i could care less; i took my TTB ford in for an allignment after putting a 2" lift on it (YES i had allignment cams put in)  and they were out so much it was undriveable;  tires looked like a 'V' thats how bad it was out........

anyways, if you are too cheap, don't get one..... if you want parts/jeep to last longer than a year, be ready to replace parts as they go and rotate tires, etc.

[YoungFluff03TJ]

Thanks JOhnnyC. I did my own eyeballin with a friend when i farted around with my bronco, and the tires are fine. I just got my hands on a beater truck i can drive for a few days so im in no rush anymore to make a decision. Ill probly end up getting the allignment done just for shnitzngiggles. its only money right. Id take you up on your free eyeballer (if that was an offer in exchange for golden beer) but i live in the middle of nowhere. Thanks!

[JackstandJohnny]

if it doesn't track worth a damn, then for sure, get it done at a decent shop. it is rather important. its not that i don't allignments are important (trev i'm sawwwwy lol)  its just that i've never had an allignment done that saved my tires, or made the vehicle handle better.......... wait, scratch that< MODERN was able to allign my old ford, after <insert random tire shop here> butchered it................
that said, if you touch your steering then yea get one..........