alignment shops and spacers?
#2
Registered User
*can open, worms everywhere*
Yeah a few of us have had issues with "techs" and the BJ spacers. I had my rig at the shop for 4 hours+ and finally drove back down to see what was going on and they told me that they couldn't align it with those "ghetto lift blocks" in there and even if they could they really needed to replace all the bearings, seals, etc etc etc.......
I went down the street to a local business (the first was a national chain) and it was done in less than an hour.
Yeah a few of us have had issues with "techs" and the BJ spacers. I had my rig at the shop for 4 hours+ and finally drove back down to see what was going on and they told me that they couldn't align it with those "ghetto lift blocks" in there and even if they could they really needed to replace all the bearings, seals, etc etc etc.......
I went down the street to a local business (the first was a national chain) and it was done in less than an hour.
#3
Registered User
*can open, worms everywhere*
Yeah a few of us have had issues with "techs" and the BJ spacers. I had my rig at the shop for 4 hours+ and finally drove back down to see what was going on and they told me that they couldn't align it with those "ghetto lift blocks" in there and even if they could they really needed to replace all the bearings, seals, etc etc etc.......
I went down the street to a local business (the first was a national chain) and it was done in less than an hour.
Yeah a few of us have had issues with "techs" and the BJ spacers. I had my rig at the shop for 4 hours+ and finally drove back down to see what was going on and they told me that they couldn't align it with those "ghetto lift blocks" in there and even if they could they really needed to replace all the bearings, seals, etc etc etc.......
I went down the street to a local business (the first was a national chain) and it was done in less than an hour.
#4
#5
Registered User
I agree on goin to a different shop.
When i first got my runner it needed an alignment, took it to this one shop they said i needed a new idler and pitman arm, so i took off the idler and looked at it, looked just fine.
The next day i took it to another shop and asked, both lower ball joints were shot. Replaced and she holds an alignment now.
When i first got my runner it needed an alignment, took it to this one shop they said i needed a new idler and pitman arm, so i took off the idler and looked at it, looked just fine.
The next day i took it to another shop and asked, both lower ball joints were shot. Replaced and she holds an alignment now.
#6
I aligned my truck in my driveway. Its pretty simple. I did a writeup if you search for it. I didn't know anything about alignments before I did it. How BJ spacers give shops trouble, I will never understand, unless as a result of the BJ spacers, the idler arm or rod ends wore out.
#7
I aligned my truck in my driveway. Its pretty simple. I did a writeup if you search for it. I didn't know anything about alignments before I did it. How BJ spacers give shops trouble, I will never understand, unless as a result of the BJ spacers, the idler arm or rod ends wore out.
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#8
Glad it helped. If i can do it with a $3 ruler, $2 in string and a floor jack, without hurting my brain, why should an alignment tech have any trouble with a $40K machine. I've got a decent head on my shoulders, but no mechanical training, thinking how they struggle makes me bleed from the ears.
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Temecula Valley, CA
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yeah, matt16, some people just don't get it. I bet they don't complain much when people lower their vehicles and the camber and toe are AFU cause they know they can switch to hourly rate quite easily. But lift a vehicle and their little heads implode.
It's not rocket science and if they really had the certs they should have, they'd understand alignment angles, be able to see what's going on and compensate... or at least be able to use the machine they have to help them figure out they need to adjust the LCA a bit and adjust the toe... or maybe fall back to the old way of string and bubble level / protractors.
Maybe if the t-bars were left alone they could figure it out, but probably not.
It's not rocket science and if they really had the certs they should have, they'd understand alignment angles, be able to see what's going on and compensate... or at least be able to use the machine they have to help them figure out they need to adjust the LCA a bit and adjust the toe... or maybe fall back to the old way of string and bubble level / protractors.
Maybe if the t-bars were left alone they could figure it out, but probably not.
#10
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Location: Minot, ND
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after dropping mine off at a frame/align shop, i got a call "who installed that kit?" he was refering to the rear lca brace and the bj spacers. he insisted that it was preventing them from setting a proper alignment.
it took them several hours, but they did an awesome job.
it took them several hours, but they did an awesome job.
#13
The throw camber totally off, they also change caster an insignificant amount. When you adjust camber, you throw off toe and inevitably caster. Basically, you need to totally re-align.
Once you start turning cam (alignment) bolts, this all become much much clearer.
here's a teaser:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEjSYpMjrBg[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmgTCKbOXI8[/YOUTUBE]
Once you start turning cam (alignment) bolts, this all become much much clearer.
here's a teaser:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEjSYpMjrBg[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmgTCKbOXI8[/YOUTUBE]
#14
Actually, better yet, here's the whole writeup:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...ite-up-163432/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...ite-up-163432/
#15
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: middle of no where Alaska
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Matt, those were awesome videos! I have never dug into the alignment before, but after watching those, when I get a new vehicle, I just might have to check it out It looks so easy
Curious, you made those videos, correct?
Curious, you made those videos, correct?
#18
Contributing Member
As long as you haven't done a SAS you have them. Yes they come stock, but with some bracket lift kits you get new ones.
Last edited by mt_goat; 04-07-2009 at 10:56 AM.