Can't Get an Alignment!!!!

[slowagon]

Got s-techs put on the cpe a couple of weeks ago and finally got around to getting it in to have an alignment done only to find out they couldn't do it. Was told by 2 different shops my ball joints and tie rod ends are bad and both places wanted to charge around 1k to fix. I know this is stuff I can do myself but want to get some questions answered first.

1. Shops weren't specific on ball joints so I should prob. just change them all-and hearing it's easier to do entire upper control arm than pressing in a new ball joint.

2. Tie rod ends. guessing I should replace both inners and outers????Do I even have inners?

3. Is there anything else I should do while I've got the front end apart? Was already planning on checking the axles and replacing as needed along with a brake inspection but anything else?

4. I've done some research on here and arm_can on ebay has been highly recommended as a quality parts supplier at a great price. If I buy all this from there will they combine shipping?

Thanks guys. Sorry some of these questions may seem a little dumb but the last time I did major susp. work was on a 72 Chevelle and I'm thinking there's quite a bit of difference, lol.....Appreciate the help!!!

[oneoffaccord]

what u need to do is have a shop check out ur front end to see whats need and not needed. what i dont understand is that why didnt u check everything when u was doing the s-techs?

[slowagon]

what u need to do is have a shop check out ur front end to see whats need and not needed. what i dont understand is that why didnt u check everything when u was doing the s-techs?

I've had 2 shops check in the process of trying to get an alignment done, and both say I need tie rod ends and ball joints but neither was specific which didn't help me any. As for checking on the spring install, I traded a friend some parts to do it for me as right now I'm working 65 hour weeks and have no time to do it myself.....

[casterX]

..good to have you back posting!

i would personally just change everything up front since you're there already. there is big chance of something else breaking down in a few months or so (if you opt to change only the broken ones) considering we're driving 17+yr old cars. don't forget to check on the wheel bearings and bushings.


yes, we have inner tie rod ends..

[slowagon]

Glad to be back man!!!! So upper control arms/inner out tie rod ends...what else?

[casterX]

no need to replace the controll arms if heres non wrong with it. just replace the bushings and ball joints..


-U/L Ball Joints
-Inner/Outer Tie Rod Ends
-Wheel Bearings
-CV axel boots
-and basically all the bushings up front

[wed3k]

jack the car up and check for up and down play (that would indicate balljoints) and then check side to side play with the steering wheel locked and thats for the tie rods. remember you also have an inner tie rod underneath the rack boot.

[d112crzy]

Get a camber kit while you're at it.

[accordaffair]

Suspension is one of the biggest money makers, so if a place is trying to sell you suspension work, they're probably just ripping you off. Take it to a mechanic instead of an oil change/alignment joint.

[slowagon]

Get a camber kit while you're at it.

Why get a kit if I don't need it? s-techs don't drop the car much and I'm going to keep the wheels 15's, maybe 16's so shouldn't have much of a problem. I've got a civic cpe dropped 2.5 all the way around and have never had camber issues with it so I don't see spending money on a kit I don't necessarily need.....

[d112crzy]

I have s-techs and I have camber.

I'm on 205/55/15

[wed3k]

I have s-techs and I have camber.

I'm on 205/55/15

even oem springs can have camber...the tolerance is -1.0 to +1.0

[Otto]

If they gave you a quote, then they know what is wrong, and there's no reason they can't tell you what is wrong and THEN let you decide to have them fix it or not. And as accordaffair, they'll try to get as much as possible out of you.

I say go to a reputable indie shop or DIY. Or maybe pay a friend to do it if you have that option. My indie mechanic isn't the cheapest around or have the latest and greatest equipment, but he doesn't bullshit, so its worth it.

[slowagon]

well after looking around I found I can get a complete kit off ebay for under 150 shipped consisting of control arms/tie rod ends/ball joints/swaybar end links. It's coming from arm_can who is highly spoken of on here for cb7 suspension parts so I think I'm ok in that respect. As for who to do it, I'll just do it myself-it can't be that damn hard and if I do it I can go ahead and check the brakes and axles while I'm at it.....

[sublime]

if it was up to me, i would go all honda parts.

maybe more expensive, but you can ensure more qaulity than aftermarket.