Opinions on Alignments with Coilovers

[P Arkus]

I'm seeing alot of posts about people running coilovers and not re-aligning their cars each season when they raise/lower them. What is everyones opinion on this?

Currently, I have been getting my car realigned each season when I raise/lower it, and each alignment costs me anywhere between $100 - $150 lets say. Would it just be worth it to set my suspension at the midpoint between summer and winter mode, have it aligned at that midpoint and then slightly raise/lower each season without re-aligning? (kind of what the bagged guys must do?)

TIA!

[Kor]

Re: Opinions on Alignments with Coilovers

If you're only slightly off your tires might just wear a little faster / oddly right.... not a big cost (probably less overall than you're paying for seasonal alignments).

As long as it's not way out of whack

[P Arkus]

Re: Opinions on Alignments with Coilovers

If I unbolted the shock in the rear to take the adjustment collar out from underneath the spring, would that throw my alignment out of whack? Or is it mainly the control arm that would throw it out majorly?

[popp]

Re: Opinions on Alignments with Coilovers

any adjustments to suspension requires an alignment after........ but like Kris said it only effects your tires and handling if you don't. If you feel like it didn't go out of spec to much then test it for a few weeks and see if your tires start to cup or wear on the sides. If you have cheap tires and need to replace soon anyways then don't worry about it. If you have new expensive tires that cost more then $150 to replace, then i'd pay the $100 to get an alignment.....

[Errol.]

Re: Opinions on Alignments with Coilovers

You're suppose to get an alignment. If you drive it around and don't notice anything leave it. Also if you're running an r comp tire you will definitely notice tire wear without getting an alignment. Last season i got an alignment after three track days and my alignment was already out of spec when i went to get it re-aligned. I guarantee you the majority of cars on the road modified or stock could probably use an alignment.