Front end alignment

Anybody know a reputable place that does front end alignment on stuff, like say a Tahoe?

If they can set up race cars and Ferraris too, that would be a bonus.

Hopefully somebody in the southern region of the area, anywhere from Arlington to Dallas preferably.

Seems like something has come loose, because I don't remember hitting anything curb-like. Starting to shudder/vibrate a bit, pull to the right, and wear the outboard edge of my driver front tire. I'm about ready for a new set of tires, but I gotta get this fixed before installing virgin rubber. I looked for anything missing or loose, but everything looked decent, at least without getting it up on a lift.

 

A: any alignment shop can work on a Tahoe

B: first symptom sounds like a balance weight fell off

C: second symptom sounds like something created a big force and some piece of the suspension or chassis changed shape, perhaps only by a few thousandths of an inch (That is all it takes). A pot hole, perhaps; ...

D: Spring for the new rubber first and within the first 50 miles have the alignment done (possibly at the same place). Otherwise, you will be aligning the suspension to the way the old tires rolled on the road. Note: if you are getting an alignment (or cornerweighting) have the tire pressures at operating pressure not at cold pressures--it does make a difference sometimes.

 

Good point. I think I will do that.

 

I'm getting ready to put a new set of rubber on the 348, so I'd like to get that adjusted properly too. Rainbolt said he took it up to the NTB in the past, so I may see if I can get hold of him for a reference, and talk adjustment numbers.

 

Call our buddy Jano, his brothers shop has an alignment rack.....

 

I swear by T and T Brake/alignment Arlington.
Everyone in the shop has been doing alignments forever.

 

Do they do the racy type stuff, or mostly passenger vehicles?

 

Checked my local Chevy shop and they can fix me up. New set of tires in the morning and then headed to the shop for alignment. Got 58,000 out of the OEM rubber and they have been pretty darn good considering the way I drive. Not too shabby.

Thanks for the suggestions for the truck.

I'll try to get the 348 done soon. Should get tires in next week. I think I may do the wheel spacers too. Moving the wheels out a half-inch to an inch is supposed to be a good mod for the early 348s. Supposed to stabilize the twitchiness a bit.

 

Thanks Jim, I'll check there too

 

We can do alignmentns on most high end cars here at RUF. I am not sure about the Tahoe, but would be happy to ask for you if you would like.

Call or send me an email with the specs and I will see what I can do.

214.269.1576
[email protected]

Thanks,

JP

 

If you are willing to spend a day in Austin, Moorespeed, can ride height adjust, corner weight, and align your exotic.

 

I've just brought street cars.
I did my own on the race car.
That may explain alot.

 

I took a tour of AutoScope off Denton Dr. today not far from Norwoods, they have a alignment machine designed for lowered vehicles plus two Mustang dynamometers, a very impressive operation.

www.autoscope.net

 

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'll have to decide what I want to do with the 348 once I get it re-tired.

Ran by Discount Tire this morning with the Tahoe and got new BFGs all around. LOVE fresh tires! Both front tires were not looking good on the outboard edges. Rears still had some miles left, but they've had a long life, so time to set them aside. Ran it over to the Chevy dealership and dropped it off. It actually felt pretty straight on the way there. No highway driving at that point.

Got it back and they said the toe-in was off some. Service manager could give me no details no matter how hard I pried. They adjusted the tie rods but the A-arm adjustments seem to have been fine. So I don't know if it was just slightly out of adjustment or if some impact had really knocked it off. I think the former, due to the way it drove just after getting the new tires mounted.

So the pulling and vibrations I think were just a combination of some bad toe, and some old and oddly worn tires.