Rear suspension work. Wait for alignment?

[HawkeyeScott]

Taking the wife's FWD Chrysler in for some rear suspension work tomorrow. Doing shocks, springs, sway bar links, some bushings, etc. I did front struts in January. Ive been waiting for this rear work to do an alignment. My question is: should I have them do the alignment tomorrow once the install is wrapped up? Or does it make sense to wait, drive it a few hundred miles and then take it back in? I'm leaning towards waiting, but welcome your thoughts.

 

[JamesBond]

I think new springs take some time to settle. I would wait.

Measure the ride height right after the work is done, and then again after a few hundred miles and post your results for your knowledge and the benefit of the board.

 

[NO2]

Do the alignment immediately after the work. You should not see any appreciable change.

 

[zrxkawboy]

I'd have it aligned right away.

 

[2010Civic]

I would wait.

 

[Wolf359]

Well the the stuff in the rear shouldn't really affect the alignment. But having the struts done probably did affect the alignment so after it's done, you should just get the alignment. You might want to consider some alignment warranty, various companies like Goodyear, Firestone, NTB offer anywhere from 3-5 to lifetime alignment warranties at various prices.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Get it aligned and if it need another after everything settles in get another.

How does it drive and how do the tires read for feathering inside or outside?

What car is this? Avenger? I like those. Car had personality. Unlike most of today's garbage.

I hope its not a Dart - those were worse than the preceding Neon. Very poor cabin and windscreen rake and intrusion.

 

[HawkeyeScott]

This is the Pacifica. Cleaning up some worn components at 125k. Reinvesting in an otherwise great car my wife still really likes. Still rides okay, just not as nice as it did.

Tires on front are wearing on the inside after the front end work. Moved them to the rear last week to get another few weeks out of them. They're near the end of their safe life anyway, which is kind of what prompted me to go ahead and do the suspension work now.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

So you have excessive toe out and possibly positive camber up front. Positive camber is not an issue if it is the design geometry.

 

[2010Civic]

If the tires are worn poorly and at the end of their life why not wait for everything to settle out? Or even wait until you get new tires.

 

[HawkeyeScott]

Had the new equipment installed. One rear shock was shot so the ride is definitely better/tighter/quieter.

On the alignment, the shop owner suggested waiting a few weeks, letting any settling that might happen happen, get new tires, and then bring it back after the tire install so he can do the alignment. He says he occasionally sees tire installs knock a car a tick out of alignment.

Think that's a good plan. Happy to have found this place. They called during the install and asked if I really wanted them to install some bushings I'd bought. Said it would be 3 hours labor and they didn't really think it would change anything in the ride. Their honesty saved me around $175. Think I might send over some pizza for the shop guys to have at lunchtime as a token of gratitude.

 

[HangFire]

I was leaning towards alignment, but if new tires are only weeks away then yeah, just wait.

I solved this dilemma with my latest ride, bought a Firestone lifetime alignment the day after I got it. But I have two others that I ask this question about every time I work on them. If the lifetime thing works out, I'll get one every time I buy another car, early on so I can get my money's worth.