[ZL9M2]

Yeah, weird thread. Alignment is only needed if you change out certain suspension components. Unless you hit a serious road hazard, alignments don't just "go bad" over time. And the only way to check an alignment is on a proper rack.... not steering wheel position, not drifting on the highway, not "it feels _______".

To the original poster, it is easy to answer your original question..... when you take your car in every three months for an alignment, has the alignment changed since last done? If yes, then you are doing the right thing. If no, stop taking the car in so often. And unless you fully trust the shop I would watch them rack it up and have them print you the "before" settings before they get under the car.

[buckybadger]

Originally Posted by M Fifty

Weird thread...

Why? It's just a question and you can make some sane comments. You are the weird dude here.

[buckybadger]

Originally Posted by ZL9M2

Yeah, weird thread. Alignment is only needed if you change out certain suspension components. Unless you hit a serious road hazard, alignments don't just "go bad" over time. And the only way to check an alignment is on a proper rack.... not steering wheel position, not drifting on the highway, not "it feels _______".

To the original poster, it is easy to answer your original question..... when you take your car in every three months for an alignment, has the alignment changed since last done? If yes, then you are doing the right thing. If no, stop taking the car in so often. And unless you fully trust the shop I would watch them rack it up and have them print you the "before" settings before they get under the car.

You said weird thread but at the same time gave some useful info, thanks for being so contradictory.

[M Fifty]

Wrong poster. Hope your day improves...

[scarygary]

Originally Posted by ZL9M2

Yeah, weird thread. Alignment is only needed if you change out certain suspension components. Unless you hit a serious road hazard, alignments don't just "go bad" over time. And the only way to check an alignment is on a proper rack.... not steering wheel position, not drifting on the highway, not "it feels _______".

To the original poster, it is easy to answer your original question..... when you take your car in every three months for an alignment, has the alignment changed since last done? If yes, then you are doing the right thing. If no, stop taking the car in so often. And unless you fully trust the shop I would watch them rack it up and have them print you the "before" settings before they get under the car.

So how would one explain the steering wheel no longer being dead center to go straight on the road. Obliviously at one point the car went straight by itself and then one day you realize you’re having to pull the wheel slightly to keep the car straight. The steering wheel position being off isn’t a sign your alignment (or something up front) has changed?

[M Fifty]

Going back to the original post: Unless you are completely monstering some serious rumble strips on multiple trackdays, or driving at speed on unmade roads, the only reason the tracking would need doing as often as originally asked is if some parts of the suspension/steering are well past their Best Before dates, of something is incorrectly torqued.

Or your preferred supplier knows a muppet when they see one.

Let's go with the former option, but note that the preferred supplier should have investigated why there was a problem no later than the 2nd visit. HTH

[M Fifty]

Replacing multiple suspension/steering components will have a similar effect to the above - and will hopefully address the Best Before problem.

Only, they should only have to do it once?

[ZL9M2]

Originally Posted by scarygary

So how would one explain the steering wheel no longer being dead center to go straight on the road. Obliviously at one point the car went straight by itself and then one day you realize you’re having to pull the wheel slightly to keep the car straight. The steering wheel position being off isn’t a sign your alignment (or something up front) has changed?

Having to pull the wheel slightly to keep the car straight 99% of the time is due to wide tires and road crown.

Again, an alignment doesn't "go bad"; where eventually you need to pull the wheel to keep the car tracking straight.