$780 alignment!

I just changed my front tie rods and lowered my car 1.5" so I took it in for an alinment. They said usualy they do alignments for $75-$100. The first time they looked at it they told me I needed new ball joints and charged me $40 for the inspectiong. Then I took it in again and they told me I need new inner tie rod ends and they said I will most likely need new caster and camber bolts and camber wedges another $40 inspection.. They quoted me at $780 to $1000 to do the alignment. Seemed a bit crazy to me I was just hoping someone on here could tell me if this all adds up or if they are robbing me here?? If they are anyone know a decent alignment shop I can go to?
Thanks

Change shops and stop giving business to those who like to charge one thing after the other. Sounds like they are milking you. Also, get a shop manual so you can diagnose those things yourself. $35 for Chilton's or less - you can't go wrong, even if you use it to double check someone else's diagnosis (if you prefer not to do it yourself).

They're milking you. I estimate that is more than twice what you should have to pay for the parts & labour you described.

Check out White Line Auto in Mississauga, that's where I went for an alignment, and it just so happens they did an inner tie rod end for me too.

It was 2 hours labour for the alignment (my rims with machined lip are a bitch to set up though). I brought my own tie rod end (around $30 jobber price) and I don't even think they charged an hour for the labour.
No inspection fee. What the hell is an inspection fee anyways? Where did you go, the dealership?

They should have told you everything from the front end at one time! They are definatly trying to rip ya off.

inspection fee? Ridiculous! I've never been charged such thing and

I've gone for many alignments that ended up in "Sorry we can't do it because this and this must be fixed first."

I think even Midas and Crappy Tire don't charge such fees.. (unless things changed since I've last been to them)

grab a manual and find some time. tie rods are easy, Balljoints have to pressed in(on 1G anyway, dont know about 2g) so you have to find somebody with a GOOD press or they'll mess up your control arm like they did mine.

^^^
2G ball joints are built into the control arms and are not serviceable.
Now that I think of it, this could be the big reason they are charging so much, because they have to replace both of your control arms!

The inspection fees though... What a rip.
And the rest is probably marked up a bit anyhow. Shop around!

Working at dealership I can tell you that inspection fees are perfectly normal if you ONLY want an inspection. However, if you are getting work done then no inspection fee is needed. As well, if they want your business they should waive that fee in hopes of you returning. My guess here is that they see your car as being a huge PITA so they most likely quoted you high in hopes of scaring you off.

Next, if your car is lowered I don't see camber being adjustable within spec without some sort of aftermarket adjustment.

As well, are inner tie rod ends available for 2g's? Or is it only available with the rack assembly?

Well I have already replaced the ball joints and outer tie rod ends so that was not even in the price they quoted me. I live in a small town and my normal mechanic does not do alignments so I went to a uap autopro center. Its the first time I have ever been charged for inspection at any shop. I guess I will go find another place to get it done. Oh and about the lowering its only lowered 1.5 inches for some reason I thought you could get it pretty close if not back to factory specs without changing anything major? I could be nuts though... More then likely that’s the case. Any one with any experience lowering a 1G fwd that can fill me in?

Ooooh it's a 1G! I got mixed up looking at Jaime's sig.
1G FWD does not have independent rear suspension, so it requires no special equipment when you lower it 1.5"

Mmmm ya, I'd go somewhere else.

I'm the type that does most of my own maintenance and does not mind to pay for what I can't do myself. I really check out more than one shop before I cough up some "dough".

A good alignment shop is what you want. Now some shop will charge for a alignment check which does not include too much time for adjsutments, especialy of you need lots of corrections. They have to check before they can correct any diffiencies or to correct if you just drop your car.

Now I would not want to have a shop correct any difficiencies if one of the Suspension/Steering components would be loose or worn out. The work would have to be redone once the part is replaced.

One thing that you can do is to go over the Suspension/Steering systems and make sure that nothing is loose or worn. Repalace what you find wrong and then bring the Sled in for alignment.

And btw;



Front Upper Balljoint are replaceable on the 2G. Moog sells them for about $40.





Hope this helps.

Ghislain.

^^^
Oh yeah, forgot they have THREE

I have state of the art alignment machine. In reply to previous posts, ur front end needs to be tight to do alignment ( tie rods, bushings, Ball joints etc.)

I have a shop in Burlington.

Just replaced my inner tie rod ends tonight. And I had already done my outer ones and my ball joints so hopefuly I will be good to go now. There is one other local shop that does alignments so I guess I will give them a go.
To Bad burlington is so far from here otherwise I would rather give you my $$$ then these krooks at my local shop

well, if any problems arise let me know, I always discount DSMers, plus I always stand behind my work. Also included is a full 3d print out of your vehicle before and after, so you know exactly what got changed.