Question about alignment after installli

[blue06mazda6]

When i put my springs on.
Will i need to get the alignment done right away?
Or would it be ok to wait till the following week to get it done?

The reason is i'll be doing the springs on a Saturday and will need to go some place like Sears or other shop in on sundays to get it done where as the following week i can get it done at my usual mechanic.

[jd42]

QUOTE (blue06mazda6 @ Mar 17 2009, 11:45 AM)

When i put my springs on.
Will i need to get the alignment done right away?
Or would it be ok to wait till the following week to get it done?[/b]

Many people like to drive on the new springs a bit to make sure they fully seat into the perches before aligning the car. You may add a bit of tire wear, but a few days shouldn't be anything significant.

[tbealmear]

I have a similar question. I have Mazdaspeed springs installed (have been for a while). I need a front alignment because the car is pulling to the right. Because I have the car lowered, will that cause a problem in getting the wheels aligned? Do I need a four wheel alignment? If so, wont the shop need the specs for alignment because I don't have stock springs? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated guys.

[jd42]

QUOTE (Tedders @ Mar 29 2009, 10:01 PM)

Because I have the car lowered, will that cause a problem in getting the wheels aligned?[/b]

Some shops may have trouble driving the car up onto the alignment rack if the ride height is too low. Other than that, there is no difference in the alignment procedure.

QUOTE (Tedders @ Mar 29 2009, 10:01 PM)

Do I need a four wheel alignment?[/b]

All cars should have all the wheels aligned. Rear wheels are important for performance and tire wear too. The exception would be certain vehicles with a live rear axle that can't have the rear alignment adjusted.

QUOTE (Tedders @ Mar 29 2009, 10:01 PM)

If so, wont the shop need the specs for alignment because I don't have stock springs?[/b]

If you aren't performing the alignment yourself, any good shop should be able to align to the specifications you request. I'm assuming you are probably going for the OEM specs, which should be fine. Expect a bit more negative camber in the front compared to stock. This is a good thing, since the factory camber is very close to zero (and sometimes positive on some cars). Unless you have adjustable ball joints installed, the shop will only be adjusting toe in the front, anyway.

[Lavaboy]

QUOTE (jd42 @ Mar 30 2009, 04:27 AM)

Some shops may have trouble driving the car up onto the alignment rack if the ride height is too low. Other than that, there is no difference in the alignment procedure.


All cars should have all the wheels aligned. Rear wheels are important for performance and tire wear too. The exception would be certain vehicles with a live rear axle that can't have the rear alignment adjusted.


If you aren't performing the alignment yourself, any good shop should be able to align to the specifications you request. I'm assuming you are probably going for the OEM specs, which should be fine. Expect a bit more negative camber in the front compared to stock. This is a good thing, since the factory camber is very close to zero (and sometimes positive on some cars). Unless you have adjustable ball joints installed, the shop will only be adjusting toe in the front, anyway.[/b]

Does lowering create positive camber? Seems the rears create negative camber.

[jd42]

QUOTE (Lavaboy @ Mar 30 2009, 10:25 PM)

Does lowering create positive camber? Seems the rears create negative camber.[/b]

The front double-wishbone suspension and rear multi-link suspension both will reduce camber (i.e. become more negative) with reduced ride height. In general, the fronts can use all the negative camber you can get (unless you have adjustable ball joints), so this is a good thing. The factory rear camber adjustment enables increasing the camber should lowering springs create too much negative camber.

[KevinK2]

QUOTE (jd42 @ Mar 30 2009, 10:27 AM)

........ I'm assuming you are probably going for the OEM specs, which should be fine........[/b]

oem spec's are too vague, check alignment thread:

http://forum.mazda6club.com/index.php?s=&a...st&p=969088

[jd42]

QUOTE (KevinK2 @ Apr 1 2009, 01:00 AM)

oem spec's are too vague, check alignment thread:[/b]

I agree that the OEM specs do permit a wide range of values, and better results can be had by targeting specific values of camber and toe. Tedders's question was whether a different set of specs was needed because lowering springs were being used. I was trying to say that I would use the same alignment specifications for stock or lowered ride height.

[frytek]

I have a simillar question, but it pertains to shocks only. Do I need an alignment after replacing front and rear shocks on my M6?

[jd42]

QUOTE (Beer Good @ Apr 10 2009, 10:46 PM)

I have a simillar question, but it pertains to shocks only. Do I need an alignment after replacing front and rear shocks on my M6?[/b]

Checking the alignment wouldn't hurt, but you can probably get away without one. Replacing shocks does not require disassembling any of the suspension components that directly control the alignment. However, since the front springs will be removed and re-installed, there is a chance the ride height may be slightly changed, which can have subtle effects on camber and toe.