that is about double what I'd expect to pay

makes me glad I work on my own car

 

BWHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Post of the month.

 

I paid $368 three months ago for a corner balance and alignment on my 911. Euroworks in Charlotte did the work. Perhaps work in NY carries a premium.

 

Was a reach around included at least ? For that I'd at least want to get a batch out.

 

I've had a similar experience once with a dealer, never again. The dealer always give customers the "it really took us 300 hrs but we charged you for 10hrs" BS. My advice is find a decent independant in your area. In NY you have a good selection of people to choose from. are you taking the car on the track? I wouldn't let a dealer anywhere near my car if that was the case.

He's one of the good independants to get your alignment done!
http://www.demanmotorsport.com/

 

Didn't you ask for an estimate first?

 

That work better knock your lap times in half!

I paid $180 for a corner balance, and alignment with toe, camber and caster settings to my specification. M-Workz in SoCal (Gardena) is GREAT!

 

Did they provide a sheet with the final numbers?
How did they do the alignment? Laser? String?

A few years ago, I think, I did a ride hieght, corner balance and string alignment in under 6 hours.

I'd have some double check thier work.

 

What is involved in the corner balance for 944's? Do you have coil overs?

 

Did they at least tell you what settings you ended up with?

 

By far the best comment I've ever seen!!!!!!

 

also ask how flat the floor they used was. If the floor is uneven at all that really expensive corner balance is no good.

 

holy *@#& !!! $85/hr....

in the uk the cheapest good independants are $150/hr. OPC's are $282/hr

 

Wow, that is high! I paid $600 for corner balance, track alignment, AND new toe links installation. I had Synergy Racing do mine (they are up at VIR).

 

The price does seem high, but there are many variables. The average corner weighting should take 2.5-3 hours, assuming you do not re-index the rear bars. the average 4 wheel alignment is about 2 hours work. The rear trailing arms/spring plates on cars in New England can become seized up due to corrosion, making accurate adjustment impossible without removing all of the hardware,cleaning and lubing all of the surfaces. This can add to the time taken. Also, done correctly, the sway bar drop links should have been disconnected for the corner weighting. Once the job is done, they should have been adjusted to eliminate any preload on the sway bars. These drop links if adjustable can be seized up and also difficult to adjust If they use rubber bushings, they don't hold up and thay may have needed to be replaced.....The point being, often times their is more time spent than one expects. In all fairness to the shop, it can't always predict this, but they certainly should have explained it to the client upon delivering the car. I also think a set up sheet is a very fair request and most competent shops should be able to supply that as well.

Just another perspective, Jerry