03-04-2020, 08:57 PM | #1 |
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How often do you do alignment?
Just curious to know, I am doing alignment every 3 to 4 months. I keep hitting either a pothole or a speed bump now and then, which causes my alignment to get messed up.
I feel that this car is too sensitive to speed bumps and potholes as compared to any other car that I have owned. Could be due to the stiff chassis.
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03-04-2020, 09:16 PM | #2 |
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03-05-2020, 12:22 AM | #3 | |
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Roads in San Diego are quite bad, how's it over there?
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03-05-2020, 12:23 AM | #4 |
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What exactly is getting thrown out of whack? Only things I can think of that are adjustable are the tie rods and rear toe links.
If it's your rear toe, you can replace the toe arms with SPL version that have eccentric nut lockouts. The eccentric nuts are prone to slipping when jarred by a bump. If it's the tie rods, there is an SPL replacement for them but I don't think they'll make settings more stable. They use the same pinch collar as OEM. Maybe your OEM tie rods are worn out and won't hold a setting in place? Or maybe there is a way to better secure them. Locktite or tightening the nut more. I'm just speculating, but these are things I'd look into. Or stop hitting speed bumps and potholes so hard. |
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03-05-2020, 12:34 AM | #5 | |
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Sometimes it can be very hard to tell, almost impossible and by the time you realize the damage is already done!
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03-05-2020, 01:18 AM | #6 |
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Unless you replaced any of the parts below, a wheel alignment is not necessary and is just fluff the service department is selling, knowing it's easy money..
Last edited by Poochie; 03-05-2020 at 08:56 AM.. |
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03-05-2020, 08:13 AM | #8 |
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I don't remember the last time I got an alignment on any of my current 4 cars. And DC area roads suck
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03-05-2020, 08:30 AM | #9 | |
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The wear on your tires will tell you if you need an alignment....check to see if you have excessive toe or camber wear.
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03-05-2020, 08:59 AM | #10 |
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03-05-2020, 09:07 AM | #11 |
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I have GC camber plates and track on a regular basis....never met a curb that I didn’t like to hit! I have a relationship with a tire/alignment shop and we check it regularly....it never needs adjusting after 2+ years of service. The tech says this car is rock solid and will rarely need to be reset.
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03-05-2020, 09:28 AM | #12 | |
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In my younger days, I worked for a chain auto repair shop that pushed out those 3 year/ $250 alignment agreement. The manager used to loves those because he knew a vehicle really only needs an alignment when you have your suspension parts replaced such as bushings, shocks, and tie rods or if you decide you want your car lower the vehicle's stance and since collision or cosmetic changes where not covered under the program, you're essentially paying for false sense of peace of mind because the truth is, when you brought your vehicle in to attempt to cash in your "free" but unnecessary alignment, they'll just keep your car back there for a few hours and play the roll, as if an alignment was done. Wheel alignment is a repair; it only needs to be done when there a related part is replaced or there is a problem, it's not a mandatory maintenance requirement nor is it recommend by BMW, unless necessary. A proper wheel alignment can last many years and even the life of the vehicle. One major indication of a possible alignment problem is tire wear or pulling towards either direction but if you're already at that juncture, something is already bent and an alignment would be required, after the repair, regardless. |
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03-05-2020, 09:53 AM | #13 |
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I've never had an issue on my BMW. Older American cars are a different story. When I was a kid we had cars that routinely went out of alignment. Sometimes just going up against a parking stop would be enough to throw it out.
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03-05-2020, 10:40 AM | #14 | |
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03-05-2020, 11:07 AM | #15 | ||
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A misaligned suspension is pretty self-evident and the diagnosis not exactly rocket science; you let the steering wheel go and gently let the vehicle move forward, on a smooth surface. If the steering wheel tracks strait and doesn't pull to either side. Now, if it shows no signs of being broken, why would I pay to fix it. The concept of a wheel alignment as routine maintenance is an old wives' tale, hashed up by ambitions auto repair mechanics, that pounce on fear-mongering and consumer ignorance. Its your money and you can obviously spend it how you please but factually, if your steering is behaving as normal and you have reasonably even tire wear, it's a waste to pay to have the alignment checked. Now wheel balancing; this is something I recommend be done, like every season, as typical daily collision with a reasonable-sized crater can eventually knock your wheel or it's set weights, out-of-round. This sometimes gets misconstrued as a bad wheel alignment, due to the steering wheel vibration, at speeds above 70MPH but incorrectly get lumped into one category. |
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03-05-2020, 11:14 AM | #16 | ||
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03-05-2020, 01:45 PM | #17 |
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Obviously, when I saying pulling I'm referring to a flat road. For instance usually the best roads to test on are three lanes and drive in the center lane. Even those are not always perfect, you need to drive another car properly aligned and then the one pulling on the same road to know for sure. And if it's a car that you've owned for a while you know how it drives and how it feels in any lane and will know if something is off pretty quick.
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03-05-2020, 01:51 PM | #18 | |
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This thread is getting annoying with its assumptions. |
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03-05-2020, 02:51 PM | #19 | ||
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So, he get's a an alignment every time he hits a pothole/speed bumb, or sometimes or only when the sky is blue? You know, so we don't make assumptions on asinine such practice is, regardless how you try to spin it.. |
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03-05-2020, 04:10 PM | #20 |
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Spin? Maybe try reading and comprehending the thread from the beginning and then think about what you just said.
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03-05-2020, 04:15 PM | #21 | |
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r/woosh For someone who probably figure they need an wheel alignment every time they full up on gas, I'm not remotely surprised that facts when strait over your head... Ignore is bliss |
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03-05-2020, 04:23 PM | #22 |
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