Seems my terrible tire wear is on one side only, definitely indicating an alignment issue. Anyone have a reputable shop in the SF bay area who knows 928's and can do an alignment?

The first shop I went to said "yeah we load it down with whatever sandbags the computer says to and do the alignment" never having worked on a 928 before. Not confidence inspiring.

Thanks in Advance!

 

Any "Big O" tires can do it.

You just have to impress upon them that they CANNOT lift the car before doing the alignment. If they insist upon lifting the car (they may claim that it's necessary to check tie rods, etc.) Tell them "fine, lift the car, do the safety checks and put it back down" and that you'll bring it back the next day after you've driven it enough to settle the front suspension.

James

 

Bill Ball has the DIY stuff needed to do your own alignment. Want to know exactly which way the wheels are pointing? Easy enough to find out with some rather simple tools and your calculator.

 

There is a place in Mountain View called "Custom Alignment". They are very familiar with the 928, and have done a good job on my 928.

The best alignment I ever got was at DEVEK when they were still in business. The car just felt right, and the steering wheel was 100% straight. I wish I knew where the tech works nowadays...

 

Try five point tires in redwood city. They have done tire changes on all my cars and they have a nice hunter alignment machine. They charge 125. Not bad

 

I take my car to Roger Kraus Racing in Castro Valley. I give them the specs provided by DEVEK, so far works fine up to 203 mph. But you can ask for the standard 928 settings for a street car.

George
90 S4 Grand Prix White (Murf #5)
94 GTS 5-Speed Midnight Blue
http://928.jorj7.com

 

Like George, I've had mine done at Roger Kraus.

My DIY alignment stuff is really only good for front toe setting.

 

Roger Kraus...yup.

 

I believe I had the alignment done when I put the tires on - obviously they did not do a good job - company was Topline auto in Burlingame.

I recently went to Custom Alignment in Mountain View to have a tpms sensor replaced on the Cayman. There were plenty of very nice cars being worked on. I was super impressed with their level of care and attention. If they say they can do a 928 I would take it there for sure.

 

Thanks for the advice all.

Ian: it is possible i knocked a curb hard enough to put the alignment out since you had it done but I'm not sure.

I think I'll try Roger Kraus as long as he can do it on a Saturday. Does anyone have those Devek numbers for an '88 S4?

I'll try to get a good pic of the tire wear on Sunday.

 

Doubtful Kraus is open on weekends, they are Kraus Racing for a reason.

I wouldnt give Custom Alignment a dime if it was on fire.

I got into a very loud argument with them about a year ago, when I decided that "Ok, maybe I can try them again" after a decade of treating them like a VIP TFR.

See..they used to kick ***, until about 2002 or so, then the good boss and the GOOD mechanics left, for good reasons.

But when I thought "I'll try..."..it was the standard "I know better than you" explaining at the counter "do not raise the car, align it, then change the front tires".

Next thing I know, car is in the air getting tires changed first.

I go to shop to eplain "just lower it when done, you cannot align it now"

I got an angry "we do this on cars all the time"..which turned into questions over how do you expect to align a 928 after you have raised it.."settle it back and forth, we know what were doing".


Paid for tires, left.


They're just full of themselves, always have been since the good people left.

 

i have heard many many good things on custom alignments. a few have reported poor experience as well. i think their legacy is played up too often for too long.

we are talking about alignment here. not engine rebuild

 

Yes, and there are limits to what one should cost compared to the aloof treatment they provide.

Especially when it goes pear shaped, they screw it up, and want to argue with you while admitting they do not RTFM before doing what you are paying OVER $200 to be done...a simple alignment.


But maybe you are right..maybe their rocky past is being stretched out. But they're not what they grew up to be..more a cult following.

Also: https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...tallation.html

 

I don't think it's as big a deal getting alignments as it used to be. Most shops these days have awesome, no-lift Hunters or similar so finding a shop that won't lift the car is pretty easy. Then it's just a matter of observing, I've never had a problem hanging out at the back of the bay, talking to the tech, watching the process. I'm paying about 90 bucks for a good alignment here in Santa Cruz. As ol' Ruiz used to say, YMMV, but it's less of an issue than it used to be.