stupid @#%! know it alls!

[mizzou]

got into an argument

I think you should do an alignment check after installing new shocks or strut assembly

Others think it's stupid to even bother or a waste of time and $

who is right?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Depends on the car but generally struts=yes, shocks=no.

 

[shabby]

The alignment won't change if you're replacing shocks/struts so imo it's not really needed, if you're lowering the car then yes.
I did an alignment last spring on my lowered car, in winter i increased the height and in spring i brought it back down and went to do a more aggressive alignment. After checking the before specs they barely changed from a year ago.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Struts=yes

Shocks=no

 

[sdifox]

depends on where you drive.

It's a good idea to align every year here in pothole country.

 

[exdeath]

Depends on the car but generally struts=yes, shocks=no.

Struts=yes

Shocks=no

This. You might get away with it if the replacement struts are 100 percent identical (same mounting ear, bolt hole location, etc) if you're careful marking the eccentric bolt and the upper mount is the non adjustable type.

But consider that for most cars the average price for parts alone for a strut is about $150+ each (many cars the procedure is to replace the whole strut/spring/mount cartridge as a single assembly and single OEM part number), and a basic alignment is around $40. If using aftermarket struts, I'd say an alignment check is a must.

 

[DivideBYZero]

It never hurts to do an alignment. I get one done with each set of new tyres.

 

[pcgeek11]

Depends on the car but generally struts=yes, shocks=no.

This.

 

[StageLeft]

I did when I did struts on my van but I think it was a waste of money. There's very little option to align anyway; caster and camber are totally locked in. You have toe in and that's it. The bolt holes have only one option in my particular vehicle, so unless I somehow buggered up the toe-in while changing them I don't see how the alignment could have been altered anyway.

 

[BassBomb]

Get the alignment

 

[halik]

got into an argument

I think you should do an alignment check after installing new shocks or strut assembly

Others think it's stupid to even bother or a waste of time and $

who is right?

Why? You're not changing the geometry of the suspension.

Unless the things you're taking off allow for play in the places where they bolt up (eccentric bolts etc), there's no point in doing that.

 

[CraigRT]

TOTALLY depends on the car.
On some cars you can easily do a strut swap and the alignment is totally untouched for the most part. My Neon was like this. I never once got the car aligned in 5 years and I changed the struts twice (lowering springs once) It always drove straight and tire wear was perfect.

On my Saturn though, you have to get an alignment as the camber adjust is built into the strut, and it also effects toe when that value changes.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

TOTALLY depends on the car.
On some cars you can easily do a strut swap and the alignment is totally untouched for the most part. My Neon was like this. I never once got the car aligned in 5 years and I changed the struts twice (lowering springs once) It always drove straight and tire wear was perfect.

On my Saturn though, you have to get an alignment as the camber adjust is built into the strut, and it also effects toe when that value changes.

I don't see how you can lower a car and not get an alignment. I mean, you could do it 'by eye'... but lowering will screw up the alignment

 

[BassBomb]

I don't see how you can lower a car and not get an alignment. I mean, you could do it 'by eye'... but lowering will screw up the alignment

Some decently designed suspensions won't take such an alignment hit... my front for example can lower 3" and all that will change is camber (to -0.7 that is, pretty tame considering stock at rear is -1)

rear on the other hand, as soon as you lower it bam toe and camber are gone and the toe will rape the tire

 

[CraigRT]

I don't see how you can lower a car and not get an alignment. I mean, you could do it 'by eye'... but lowering will screw up the alignment

Not on that car, it's just the way the suspension is designed.

 

[Vette73]

The alignment won't change if you're replacing shocks/struts so imo it's not really needed, if you're lowering the car then yes.
I did an alignment last spring on my lowered car, in winter i increased the height and in spring i brought it back down and went to do a more aggressive alignment. After checking the before specs they barely changed from a year ago.

That is FALSE for many cars.

Shocks it shold not change; for struts it could be almost none to a lot.

 

[speedy2]

Look at it this way.

Most cars that need a shock/strut replacement probably are over due for an alignment.

 

[shabby]

That is FALSE for many cars.

Shocks it shold not change; for struts it could be almost none to a lot.

Should, could, none, a lot... is that really an answer?
I don't see anyone posting their experience with actual alignment specs, my toe went out 0.05 degree on the rear wheels since i removed the tie rod and my camber changed maybe 0.1 degree in the front at best after removing my coilovers.

 

[speedy2]

That's why I posted do it anyway. Most of the people that are worried about this are probably swapping shocks in their driveway and can't check the alignment. Even if it's slightly out of alignment they'll never know until their tires are chewed up. Err on the side of caution...as they say.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Shocks, no. Struts, I would for peace of mind at the very least.

 

[StageLeft]

Why? You're not changing the geometry of the suspension.

Unless the things you're taking off allow for play in the places where they bolt up (eccentric bolts etc), there's no point in doing that.

This is what I think but I want to know if it's correct. I think it is. When I did struts on my van the caster and camber are writ in stone. There is no way to change them. The bolts have no play, they go in the hole you tighten them down; there is no way based on the bolt hole to adjust a damn thing. So how will going from OEM struts to new OEM struts change anything on a car that has, as its alignment option, only toe-in?

"be safe" and "best practice" mean nothing. I really want to know how a strut on a vehicle like this can possibly require an alignment afterward.

 

[exdeath]

^ It won't, in that case.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Depends on the car but generally struts=yes, shocks=no.

/this

 

[jlee]

Should, could, none, a lot... is that really an answer?
I don't see anyone posting their experience with actual alignment specs, my toe went out 0.05 degree on the rear wheels since i removed the tie rod and my camber changed maybe 0.1 degree in the front at best after removing my coilovers.

Tie rods and coilovers are a completely different game than shocks...

 

[halik]

Tie rods and coilovers are a completely different game than shocks...

Ding. I don't think it's humanely possible to screw the tie rod ends to the same spot.