How necessary is alignment after installing new springs?

[Psyco]

I know that everyone says that the car needs an allignment after a mild drop spring replacement(with lets just say a 1" lowering spring) but how would you or the allignment place actually do any sort of wheel allignment on a factory 86/BRZ which has no allignment adjustablities from factory?the only thing i can think of them being able to adjust is front toe at the steering arms. how about the camber and caster(since there are no camber/caster adjusting bolts in the front/ rear arms)?(correct me if im wrong) what would the allignment place actually be doing other than just a numbers printout from a machine...?

[rikdrt1]

related question... if i (for example) put new 17x8 rims/tires with different offset (35)... and dont mess with the springs or height of the suspension....

do you need to do alignment on it ??

thanks

[RedLeader]

Originally Posted by rikdrt1

related question... if i (for example) put new 17x8 rims/tires with different offset (35)... and dont mess with the springs or height of the suspension....

do you need to do alignment on it ??

thanks

If you're just putting new wheels on, no. Nothing in the suspension system has moved if you change wheels, otherwise everytime you rotate your tires you'd need an alignment.

[AZP Installs]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

I've heard it's always necessary in the past. Until I installed springs/struts myself on my MR2 and again on my G35 and did not see any way to play with alignment. Everything bolted in one way. Things might've shifted a tenth of a degree or two but stayed within the spec range. A mechanic friend of mine also did not believe an alignment necessary for this straightforward job. Now if we start unbolting things beyond the struts (suspension arms, etc.), then it becomes necessary.

I don't have any tools in my new apartment so I'm getting a dealership to install my springs. They say a $90 alignment is necessary, at least on the front pair. Are they trying to gouge me for money/how necessary is this?

EDIT: This question is for a mild 0.6" drop all around.

Always get an alignment about 200-500 miles after installing any lowering springs. Been in the modification business for 10+ years and if you don't do an alignment you will have tire and handling issues, at least it won't be optimized for the drop.

-Mike Paisan


11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.
Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

[Laika]

Originally Posted by AZP Installs

Always get an alignment about 200-500 miles after installing any lowering springs. Been in the modification business for 10+ years and if you don't do an alignment you will have tire and handling issues, at least it won't be optimized for the drop.

-Mike Paisan

Just to clarify...do you mean within the first 200-500 miles or to deliberately wait 200-500 miles prior to an alignment?

[AZP Installs]

Originally Posted by Laika

Just to clarify...do you mean within the first 200-500 miles or to deliberately wait 200-500 miles prior to an alignment?

Good question. You want to actually wait for 200-500 miles so that the new springs can settle. It takes that long for them to actually settle. If you do it on the same day, which most shops will try to make you do, as the springs settle during those 200-500 miles the alignment will come out over that period, requiring yet another alignment. What we do at our shop is give a package deal of spring install + alignment, however we allow them to come back after the 200-500 mile time period to get the alignment so that it is done correctly.

-Mike Paisan


11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.
Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

[Rayme]

Originally Posted by Psyco

I know that everyone says that the car needs an allignment after a mild drop spring replacement(with lets just say a 1" lowering spring) but how would you or the allignment place actually do any sort of wheel allignment on a factory 86/BRZ which has no allignment adjustablities from factory?the only thing i can think of them being able to adjust is front toe at the steering arms. how about the camber and caster(since there are no camber/caster adjusting bolts in the front/ rear arms)?(correct me if im wrong) what would the allignment place actually be doing other than just a numbers printout from a machine...?

Well first off all they can adjust the toe, which can/will change when you drop a car. And second if they can't fix it, well you'll know you'll need camber bolts. Easy uh?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Psyco

I know that everyone says that the car needs an allignment after a mild drop spring replacement(with lets just say a 1" lowering spring) but how would you or the allignment place actually do any sort of wheel allignment on a factory 86/BRZ which has no allignment adjustablities from factory?the only thing i can think of them being able to adjust is front toe at the steering arms. how about the camber and caster(since there are no camber/caster adjusting bolts in the front/ rear arms)?(correct me if im wrong) what would the allignment place actually be doing other than just a numbers printout from a machine...?

The only thing you can adjust on a factory BRZ/FR-S without additional parts is toe.

I'm kind of anal about alignment and "within factory specs" is not good enough for me, so it doesn't matter if you can get them after a mild drop or not. The factory specs aren't that good.

It's very much worth it to spend the 10 bucks for the OEM camber bolts to get a little extra camber up front. A big improvement in handling with identical (or better) tire wear than stock.

- Andrew

[Psyco]

Thanks for answering guys.

As I had thought. I have got camber bolts to be fitted anyways but was just trying to point out that unless you have other adjustable aftermarket suspension parts fitted, it is prettymuch pointless to get an allignment done with just fitment of lowering springs as the shop would njust be charging you to do prettymuch bugger all as thats all they are able to do with the factory settings other than front toe.

[james23]

Alignment is not necessary at all after installing new springs. As I have experience of installing new spring for a year ago mechanic advice me for alignment but I continue without alignment still yet and have no problem. Just on Highway I feel little trouble but I overcome it by rotating the steering.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by james23

Alignment is not necessary at all after installing new springs. As I have experience of installing new spring for a year ago mechanic advice me for alignment but I continue without alignment still yet and have no problem. Just on Highway I feel little trouble but I overcome it by rotating the steering.

Please stick to what you know. The statement above is a generalization and isn't accurate for these cars at all.

[JoeBoxer]

Can we not just delete that post? wow

[kosoku]

Originally Posted by empower-auto

Depends really..

If you read, for example, the Eibach Pro-Kit alignment specs for before and after install - you really don't have to adjust anything on a new, straight, car.

?
I'd still do an alignment.

[kosoku]

Originally Posted by james23

Alignment is not necessary at all after installing new springs. As I have experience of installing new spring for a year ago mechanic advice me for alignment but I continue without alignment still yet and have no problem. Just on Highway I feel little trouble but I overcome it by rotating the steering.

and that is comedy gold!