Any auto alignment techs here?

[teambeechstreet]

Not too sure where to post this, but I've got a question for anyone that has worked in a shop doing alignments. I currently work at a small shop and we are getting a Hunter brand alignment machine. Unfortunately no one at the shop wants to be the "alignment guy" so the boss has picked me. I'm ASE certified but not in suspension/alignment. Was hoping someone who has worked in a shop doing alignment could give me some advice on what specialty tools I should invest in, which vehicles are a major pain in the butt, how long the average alignment takes, and any other tips. Would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Donald]

You got the short straw. Learning about something new (for you) like alignments is not a bad idea.

 

[bdcardinal]

One cool thing about the newer Hunter alignment racks is they pretty much walk anyone through how to do an alignment. They even tell you what tools you need. You will want the extra long wrenches if you don't already have them. There are a lot of vehicle specific tools to make certain adjustments.

Cars to avoid from what I remember included Aerostars and Astro-Vans. Also the early 2000s Honda Civics and Chrysler 300Ms have the tie rods in the lamest spot possible for adjustment.

O and make sure your boss is on board with required repairs before making adjustments. If a ball joint is bad, don't waste your time aligning the vehicle. Same with tie-rods.

 

[JHZR2]

The thing that may have utility but never seems to be used (despite FSM requirement) is a spreader bar, which is supposed to be used to simulate the dynamic pressure of driving at speed while the car is actually at rest on the alignment stand. There's a range of opinions as to its utility or necessity. It may be "old technology" that has been supplanted by modern laser alignment tools, or it may be useful. I seem to think it is useful, as Ive not been happy with cars that have been aligned without vs with it.

The quality of alignment is probably more a factor of the condition of suspension and steering components and the skill of the technician than a single specialty tool. SO you may want to get some tools that help to evaluate runout and play in the components in a simple and meaningful way.

Good luck!

 

[Russell]

Interesting thread as I want to learn more about alignments.

I am never sure I am getting a good alignment on my bmw because no shop will put weight in the seats etc. like BMW wants. I would rather not use the dealer.

 

[david_ES2]

Yes....Lots of long open ended wrenches of many sizes

Alignments are just one of those things it takes a long while to get good at, atleast for me it did lol

 

[Chris142]

I used to do alignments...20 years ago. I hated the plymouth volari's as those had sliding arms. You had to loosen the arms and move them manially then tighten them down. Then remeasure and hope you didn't move it too much. Back then most cars didn't have caster and camber ajustments . Those were set the toe and let it go.

 

[mattd]

dodge vans (B series) and trucks are the biggest PITA out of them all. Hondas are usually easiest. toyotas prepare to be using torches for jam nuts often. Fords overall arent too bad. mostly just toe adjustments. The hunter machine is very nice. Easy to use, and walks you through everything. Figure an hour per car with setup on average (4 wheel alignment). Some will take less, some more.

 

[The Critic]

Be prepared to do deal with stability control and the need to perform a steering angle sensor reset after an alignment. Hunter has the codelink tool which supposedly works most of the time:

http://go.berg.ru/uploads/item/attachments/1ec69bd625902710040f7f92093cdfc8684f5d19.pdf

On some cars you may be able to get away with not doing it, but I've found that on my Prius with EPS, if you make major adjustments without a proper zero-point calibration, the car will pull/wander on the road.

Also, please check the tire pressure before doing an alignment.

 

[eljefino]

Northern California, so the rust won't be too bad, but you don't have mandatory safety inspections.

So expect a lot of screwing around with loose ball joints etc and returning the car unfixed when they find out it can't be set right for $79.

You're probably going to want a lot of die grinder type things for enlarging strut holes, if you want to be passably good at it. People get aligned because of pulls, pulls are a camber/caster thing, and many cars adjust toe only.

You'll also want a variety of pipe wrenches and vise grips for stubborn sleeves, and those harpoon looking things. Probably a place for crows feet and you'll want inner tie rod tools because you'll be fixing stuff so it'll take an alignment to begin with.

If you're paid flat rate, there's always the cop out of "it's not adjustable from the factory."

 

[The Critic]

Also, I wonder if having a set of Snap-On Flank Drive Plus wrenches would be a good investment since the "special" open-end would do a better job of gripping the lock-nuts.

 

[Russell]

Interesting answers. Time is money. Proper and apparently some special tools is critical to not only doing the job but getting it done quickly.

 

[Zaedock]

Buy two coats for winter.

One to wear, the other to drape over your head & body to keep the slush off you.

 

[SubLGT]

Originally Posted By: teambeechstreet
.............I currently work at a small shop and we are getting a Hunter brand alignment machine...........


Isn't Hunter providing you with training on how to use the rack?

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: SubLGT
Originally Posted By: teambeechstreet
.............I currently work at a small shop and we are getting a Hunter brand alignment machine...........


Isn't Hunter providing you with training on how to use the rack?


IMO this was not what the poster was asking.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

I would recommend taking a class on alignments. I've seen way too many times where somebody knows how to 'use the machine' but doesn't know why he is setting the angles the way it tells him to.

I've seen guys follow the instructions from the machine to the letter yet the car still pulls, etc.

 

[teambeechstreet]

Just wanted to say thanks for the tips and advice!