Should I realign?

[ozmdd]

I agree with Loren that alignment on the Yaris is pretty simple and something that a lot of shade-tree mechanics can handle. It is definitely a "measure twice, then measure again" thing, since you can mess-up tires over time if it isn't right, and a major mistake could compromise handling in high-speed situations and emergency manuevers.

The biggest advantages to an alignment shop is the knowledge of the tech and the precision of the measurements. I invest in it since I track the car and want it to be as exact as possible, but I have done alignments at home too, with fine results, and I'm no expert.

[Loren]

Originally Posted by ozmdd

The biggest advantages to an alignment shop is the knowledge of the tech and the precision of the measurements. I invest in it since I track the car and want it to be as exact as possible

You have to find an alignment shop AND a tech that you can trust. Just having the equipment (even if it is "the best" equipment) is of no use if it is not calibrated properly and the tech doesn't know how to use it or how to properly align your car. Sadly, most tire shops just have trained monkeys doing alignments who don't know how to do anything that the machine doesn't tell them to. ("everything is in the green, must be good!") Tell them you want more camber than specified and they freak out. Ask them a question about performance alignment and they won't have a clue what the correct answer is. (though they might try to make something up)

If you're paying for an alignment, a good alignment tech that understands performance alignment is worth every penny it costs. And I'd trust an alignment done by that tech using string and a level more than I would one done by a clueless* tech with the latest laser alignment rig.

* Special note here: A tech can have 20-30 years working alignments and STILL not have a clue about performance alignments, they will know street alignments on typical passenger cars and how to solve tire wear issues and drivability problems, but not how to make a car HANDLE better.

/end rant

[fmicle]

Originally Posted by Loren

Tell them you want more camber than specified and they freak out.

Yep, I can confirm... I called Pepboys last week and asked if they could do what I wanted (namely -1 degree front camber). The reponse was, no sir, we can only do what's in the computer, based on your car's factory specs.

So I called a Big-O shop nearby and they said, as long as you tell the guy what you want, he can do it. He let me hang around and watch him adjust the toe, but when I asked about -1 degree front camber he shook his head (green ends at -0.7 degrees on the computer) and he said, no sir, you will wear the tires unevenly, I can do -0.5 on both sides. Still, better than Pepboys.

DIY FTW