The OEM shocks on my '98 C2S are showing signs of senility, with only 31k miles. Planning to replace with Bilstein HD's. Do I need to have alignment performed, if there is no other reason to have this done? Thanks, all.

 

When you replace the shocks you are going to throw your alignment settings out of wack so you must realign the car. Have you thought about an upgrade to Pss9's?

 

An alignment is a must. Even if all the parts were put back in the same place...the spec from one shock to another might be slightly different.

 

Not just alignment, but you will need a corner balance also.

 

If your car is at USA ride height, and you will want to lower the car... this will be a good time to do it. Changing out the shocks, with alignment and corner balance is pretty labor-intensive. So, if you give a moose a muffin... err, I mean if you're going to change those springs, you may as well go with the PSS-9 kit... a better deal. If you're going to keep your springs, you can go either way; you'll save a couple of hundred bucks with just the HDs.
Along with that muffin, you may be thinking about some adustable sway bars. Oh yeah, don't forget the strut tower brace. And on, and on...

 

If I were to do it again, I would have gotten the monoball camber plates all at the same time.

You can get all the parts for about $3000 ( pss-9's, camber plats, sway bars ). Installation is about $1000, or you can save $500 by doing it yourself.

 

Careful Burt....the slope is getting slippery....

 

Well Jeff, it is not too late to get your front camber plates.. You are lowering your car a little more right? This means a corner balance and alignment anyway so why not just put on the camber plates in the front now and be done with it? I am ordering your front sway bar today (also a rear for Nelson), and I will get you the other pricing on the rest of the stuff..

Oh, and I have worked out a deal with Custom to try and prioritize appointments for my customers....

 

Wow -- so just a straight shock replacement requires corner balancing? I guess so when I think about it, since the shock bodies are all threaded. Is $500 a good amount to budget for corner balance and four-wheel alignment?

Chris.