SoCal Alignment Shop Recommendations

[vinlc562]

Hi, just looking for alignment shop that pretty knowledgeable on 80 series. I took it to a alignment shop after doing knuckle rebuild and replacing drag link couple weeks ago and I did not measure it lol..

Before, I was able to do U turn no issue on 35s 2” lift. When they did the alignment, I could not now & the steering wheel spins more on the passenger side than driver about 1-2 turn cycle less.

Everything is green on paper except my passenger caster I’m about -1 degree off because I haven’t change the caster bushing yet.

I’ll appreciate any recommendations around South Bay, OC area. Thanks!

 

[NeverFinis]

To directly answer your question, I have no idea about an alignment shop in your area.

80 series are dead simple to align. You do have a lift, which will change the centering of your steering wheel and the steering wheel only has so many turns in each direction.

However, "1-2 turns" is a lot!

From memory, the center spiral cable, inside the steering wheel, supports only ~3 turns for each direction. There is a method in the FSM to center the steering wheel to make sure the center spiral cable is at the right location in its travel. I don't think an alignment shop will pull a steering wheel though.

If you have any mechanical ability..,.

I would check the axle stops on each side to see if contact is being made when turned in that direction to confirm.

If your new drag link is adjustable, I would adjust it to compensate for the 2" lift and make sure the center wheel is centered in its travel, while the wheels are pointed straight.

 

[jjdeneen918]

Long Beach Alignment.

1565 W Anaheim St.
Long Beach CA 90813

Owner is Arturo, great guy! He does great work & great prices.

Not the best part of town, but you’ll be ok during business hours.

I’ve had him do some simple stuff like alignments, replace O2 sensors, ect.

He’s also tacked some big jobs for me too. Turbo kit install, TransGo kit, ect.

 

[vinlc562]

Long Beach Alignment.

1565 W Anaheim St.
Long Beach CA 90813

Owner is Arturo, great guy! He does great work & great prices.

Not the best part of town, but you’ll be ok during business hours.

I’ve had him do some simple stuff like alignments, replace O2 sensors, ect.

He’s also tacked some big jobs for me too. Turbo kit install, TransGo kit, ect.

Ah I’m from Long Beach, I’m used to it. Haha thanks!

 

[vinlc562]

To directly answer your question, I have no idea about an alignment shop in your area.

80 series are dead simple to align. You do have a lift, which will change the centering of your steering wheel and the steering wheel only has so many turns in each direction.

However, "1-2 turns" is a lot!

From memory, the center spiral cable, inside the steering wheel, supports only ~3 turns for each direction. There is a method in the FSM to center the steering wheel to make sure the center spiral cable is at the right location in its travel. I don't think an alignment shop will pull a steering wheel though.

If you have any mechanical ability..,.

I would check the axle stops on each side to see if contact is being made when turned in that direction to confirm.

If your new drag link is adjustable, I would adjust it to compensate for the 2" lift and make sure the center wheel is centered in its travel, while the wheels are pointed straight.

Thanks! Yes it’s adjustable. I’ll take a look.

 

[Broski]

If you did the knuckle job and drag link yourself IMO this something you can easily handle yourself !
Role the rig forward and backwards tell you feel that the car is going straight.
Remove one side of the drag link, then go inside and center the steering wheel.
Go back to the drag link and adjust it to match.
Leave it loose and drive it down the street tell it going straight adjust the drag link to correct the steering wheel if it’s off repeat until the steering wheel is perfect.

 

[LandCruncher80]

I need to get this done too... Thanks for the tip.

@jjdaneen918... Does this shop also do suspension work?

Need to get "new" iron man adjustable rear UCA, LCA, panhard installed and get the rear suspension adjustments dialed in correctly.

thanks in advance for your reply.

 

[jjdeneen918]

They’ll do anything you ask them to.

I had them replace my sunroof cassette at one point. Brought along a nicer interior roof liner, they put that in too.