alignment price quote???

[skoobydoobiedew]

In the near future i will be getting rid of my cheap 1inch coil spacers for some f-150 spacers... my alignment is fine now.. but when i install the new spacers and new tires i want it to be dead on. I went to my local alignment shop and asked about camber shims.. the guy quoted me $90 a side plus the base alignment ($50) which is $230 total!!!! is this about right? or is this guy crazy??? is there somewhere where i can get the shims cheaper? $90 a piece seems rediculous for a small chunk of metal... also... is there any chance i wont need these shims? im just planning how i want to blow my paychecks.. and it this is going to turn into a $300 afair.. i might as well save that and wait to buy a real lift... thanks again for all your help!!! any input would be GREAT!!! thanks!!!!!

-joey

 

[dman726749]

taht guy is crazy...go elseware...a good alinment with the shims should cost no more than 120 bucks at the high end

 

[Garth]

try one those firestone shops.

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

well that sounds a lot better! thanks! so theres pretty much no hope that my stock coils sag and another 1 1/2 inch will bring it back to stock specs meaning i dont need shims?!?!? okay okay.. i think im dreaming here... any thoughts or suggestions/tips anything! would be awesome in helping me tackle this suspension lift!!! i did my shackle lift in 2 hours by myself.. so i wouldnt think this would be too hard? im pretty sure i have all the tools... jack, jack stands, beer, okay pop for me... the question i had was would a 10 inch cresent wrench work okay for the bolt that holds the coil in place? i don't have a regular wrench that big... also... will i need stud extenders for that bolt after the spacers are installed? thanks again in advance!!!

-joey

 

[Lt.Jim]

You can get the camber shims yourself for less then $15 each from places like rock auto, napa or express auto parts. If you install them your self you can get the adjustment close then just have an alignment done at a shop. The alignment should not cost more then $50 providing that you dont need any other work done.

 

[DeRocha]

A crescent wrench is NOT going to work for the coil retaining nut.. You'll need a deep 6pt 28mm ( or 1 1/8" ) socket and several extensions to reach it by going through the top of the coil bucket. I would recommend using 1/2 drive as this nut is on faily tight. I used a 3' cheater bar over my driver to get this out. The nut probably was installed with permanet Red loctite; this is removed by heating it to 500f. Just hit the nut evenly (not bolt) for 2 minutes with a propane torch.

 

[etc]

He's charging for the work.

 

[xxScapegoat]

...jack, jack stands, beer...

hahahaha. laff out loud.

 

[Jason94sport]

I just paid $128 for my 94 with the install of the new alignment cams. $80 for 1 hour of labor was the main cost.

 

[birdman]

I got shims last weekend, 73.99 a side installed.

 

[Pahelo]

An alignment should only run you between $65 and $120. That guy is high balling you.

Pahelo

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

so how will i know what size cams to buy? is there a measurement i need to take? and if so how can i do that? i have a set of calipers so if i need something precise i can do that... thanks!!!!

 

[Nick_Good]

A crescent wrench is NOT going to work for the coil retaining nut.. You'll need a deep 6pt 28mm ( or 1 1/8" ) socket and several extensions to reach it by going through the top of the coil bucket. I would recommend using 1/2 drive as this nut is on faily tight. I used a 3' cheater bar over my driver to get this out. The nut probably was installed with permanet Red loctite; this is removed by heating it to 500f. Just hit the nut evenly (not bolt) for 2 minutes with a propane torch.





I soaked mine with PB over night and they came off with and open end wrench easy. Just soak it, tap it with a hammer and let it sit for a few.
Nick Good

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

so how will i know what size cams to buy??? any ideas?!

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

???

 

[skoobydoobiedew]

well i guess ill just see if i can get a shop to look at it first before they go buying the cams... anyone have any ideas on sizes???

 

[etc]

I think, I'm not too sure on first gen though, that it's one set that's adjustable. Don't take my word on it though.

 

[SVO]

try one those firestone shops.

The eccentric's can be bought through Firestone when the alinment is done, but will cost extra for the part and install labor, the same will be true if you go and buy them at an auto parts store.

The eccentric's control caster and camber on the TTB frontends, if you need 3 degrees, they may not have them in stock, and you will have to wait.

It's is not a correct picture, but similar to what you will need:

I'll get a better pic of the eccentric's while I'm at work today and post it tonight when I get home.





Jeff - :navajo:

 

[Lt.Jim]

The size I was told is 2 3/4. it is marked 3 1/2 for 2wd and 2 3/4 for 4wd. You could go to a local auto parts store and just get a couple of sizes that are close to that and return the ones you don't use. the part number for the shims is MOOG K8983. I have seen this part posted on other threads about the same subject.

 

[SVO]

The picture below is what the eccentric's look like to correct camber and caster on the TTB 1st gen Explorer (2wd or 4wd), yes they are different for 2wd and 4wd but they look very similar.

Not sure where you all are getting this "shim" hogwash from, but then again what do I know it's not like I'm a technician or anything.

If you look closely at the different eccentric's, you can see the offest for the upper balljoint.

The first one is a stock unit (non-adjustable), the second one is infinately adjustable, and the last one is indexable.

You will not know what eccentric's you will need till it is up on the alinement rack.