Trouble getting alignment in Chicago

Paul91

Paul91

Experienced Member
Joined
10 October 2006
Messages
402
Location
Chicago, IL
My local shop (which is also Tirerack recommended) can't get my car on their Hunter ramp. They are saying the side skirts will scrape on the way up the ramp, even with the use of 2x4s.

My current setup:

Stock 15/16 wheels with stock tire specs.
New bilsteins on lower perch with stock springs.
WingsWest skirts and front lip, 02+ rear valence.

Any chicago or burb recommendations as to where I can go?

Thanks
 
That is really weird. Where do you live? Talk to GRD (Genesis racing and development, Villa Park IL). They just purchased a newer hunter machine about a year ago and have been using it for many lowered cars. My skirts and bumper on my previous car were VERY low, but they had no issues getting it on the lift. They had to use some takata ramps to get me going, but other then that, no issues.
 
Stock 15/16 wheels with stock tire specs.


What??? What you do? You trackng it?

P.S. I bent a wheel today, I am so pissed. Repair place says...not dice, get a new one. Hello SOS :mad:
 
ALSWEL said:
Stock 15/16 wheels with stock tire specs.


What??? What you do? You trackng it?

P.S. I bent a wheel today, I am so pissed. Repair place says...not dice, get a new one. Hello SOS :mad:
Click to expand...

No tracking...yet.. More like the city streets have destroyed my 18/19 combo, and I refuse (for now) to put new rims + rubber on just to let it happen again.

The stock setup doesn't look as good, but it drives WAY nicer. I can hit a bump here and there w/o gasping for air like I got kicked in the junk.:smile:
 
synth19 said:
That is really weird. Where do you live? Talk to GRD (Genesis racing and development, Villa Park IL). They just purchased a newer hunter machine about a year ago and have been using it for many lowered cars. My skirts and bumper on my previous car were VERY low, but they had no issues getting it on the lift. They had to use some takata ramps to get me going, but other then that, no issues.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I just made an appt with them.
 
Before you go, please give them the floor to sideskirts measurements "just in case." Although they work with lowered cars ALL the time, I just want to make sure you don't waste a trip in case it's too low. Tell them the new NSX owner from ChicagoZ.com referred ya. ;)

Paul91 said:
Thanks. I just made an appt with them.
Click to expand...
 
synth19 said:
Before you go, please give them the floor to sideskirts measurements "just in case." Although they work with lowered cars ALL the time, I just want to make sure you don't waste a trip in case it's too low. Tell them the new NSX owner from ChicagoZ.com referred ya. ;)
Click to expand...

He mentioned you on the phone when I called. He spoke of the already legendary delivery of the Imola:biggrin:

Sounds like they work on a lot of 350s, Audis, and Subies. They are true car guys, which makes me feel good about going there.
 
Just got back from getting the alignment....not good...:mad:

First of all, GRD took 3 full hours to do the alignment. The tech said that he could not get the car aligned back to factory specs. He said he got it 'close' and tried to 'even things out'
FYI, they have a brand new Hunter machine.

Halfway home I noticed that the car didn't feel right. The front end is really squirrly and the steering wheel has a lot of play in it. Much more than before.

They didn't give me the spec/results sheet, and I forgot to ask for it.

Also, the steering wheel is cocked to the left and not straight. If I straighten it, the car will turn to the right.

I obviously have to go back to GRD. My question is this: With my current setup (Stock springs with new bilsteins on lower perch (7/8 drop)) is their any reason why they would not be able to align it to factory spec??

Thanks,

Paul
 
Crap! I'm sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. I remember having an extremely hard time finding a place to do the alignment when I had my car. I had the same setup - Bilsteins with stock springs on the lower perch.

Obviously, the place you went should make it right. But if they can't, try this place. Here is my original thread...

http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68974&highlight=alignment

Here is a direct link...

http://www.gocpt.com/

They also have a Hunter machine (it's an industry standard). But they do extensive track work on a lot of highly tuned German machinery. They dyno and tune as well. But most importantly, they were very careful and respectful of my car, and they took me on a test ride to make sure it was right before I left the facility.

Good luck. I know how frustrating it can be.

- Frank

PS: If I look, I can probably find the printout of the specs from that alignment if you are interested. The only spec that is not going to be factory is the rear camber - it increases as you lower the car not matter what. But with only 7/8 inch of a drop, you can get pretty close.
 
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Paul91 said:
I know their reputation is stellar, but I refuse to drive to Wisconsin from Chicago for an alignment:wink:
Click to expand...

I don't doubt that it is far to go, but you probably would have enjoyed the drive home a lot more with a good alignment. :wink: I no longer trust anyone else but AoB.
 
Yesterday I spent 3.5 hrs at GRD. The lead tech was working on my car that entire time. When he looked at the aligment specs the other guy set it at the day prior, he was shocked. It was WAY out of spec.

They seemed like good guys in there, but perhaps they are just not used to working on NSXs. They did mention that the owner had one previously.

They felt awful about me spending 6.5 hrs there in a two day span. They forced some free merchandise on me and promised a discount the next time came by.

The car feels a lot better.

Here at the specs.
 

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nsx2tall said:
I don't doubt that it is far to go, but you probably would have enjoyed the drive home a lot more with a good alignment. :wink: I no longer trust anyone else but AoB.
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Yeah now that I think about it, driving up the AoB would've probably taken less time:redface:
 
I got my Tire Alignment done This weekend at

Autopractor
630-444-1414

www.autopractor.com

Sean Kellett did a smash up job on both of my cars. I have a lifted 2007 FJ cruiser that a nummber of alignment shops turned me away because it was lifted up or the tires were too big, he got it done perfectly in spec!!

Then I turned my NSX over to the guy and he knocked it out, the car drives soo much better and he was able to get the car back to spec. I even had him decrease the rear toe in by 1 degree to help out the tire ware issues in the rear.

Super good guys to do business with! Super satisfied!
 
skynet0419 said:
the guy there used to work on professional race cars and works on all of the Addison Police Department's cars.
Click to expand...
Including this one :biggrin: :

nsxjpolice.jpg
 
Paul91 said:
Any chicago or burb recommendations as to where I can go?
Click to expand...
I would just take it to Woodfield Acura in Hoffman Estates (847-519-9550). They have an alignment rack and they can handle pretty much any NSX, even one with big wheels, etc. Ted, their long-time top NSX tech, will do the alignment, and I gotta tell you, I think he's the best suspension guy I've seen. I've had various suspension issues over the years (on the NSX as well as the Integra Type R) and he's pinpointed and fixed problems when nobody else had a clue. Highly recommended.
 
Frank Oles said:
Obviously, the place you went should make it right. But if they can't, try this place. Here is my original thread...

http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68974&highlight=alignment

Here is a direct link...

http://www.gocpt.com/

They also have a Hunter machine (it's an industry standard). But they do extensive track work on a lot of highly tuned German machinery. They dyno and tune as well. But most importantly, they were very careful and respectful of my car, and they took me on a test ride to make sure it was right before I left the facility.
Click to expand...


Yep, Al and his crew are excellent! They are heavy into racing and know how to do alignments and many other things. Thats where I plan on going once i get my coilovers installed.

They were the only ones who touched my Audi when i had it.
 
nsxtasy said:
I would just take it to Woodfield Acura in Hoffman Estates (847-519-9550). They have an alignment rack and they can handle pretty much any NSX, even one with big wheels, etc. Ted, their long-time top NSX tech, will do the alignment, and I gotta tell you, I think he's the best suspension guy I've seen. I've had various suspension issues over the years (on the NSX as well as the Integra Type R) and he's pinpointed and fixed problems when nobody else had a clue. Highly recommended.
Click to expand...


^ Didn't you say that you needed to bring the NSX in to look at the suspension, issues resolved?
 
synth19 said:
^ Didn't you say that you needed to bring the NSX in to look at the suspension, issues resolved?
Click to expand...
Yes! I was really there just for a diagnosis at this time. I was having some unusual tire wear on the front tires, including nasty "tire cupping" on one tire - not quite as bad as the photo of cupped tires on Kal Tire's website, but not good, either. Ted checked out my suspension and found that one ball joint is severely worn and needs replacement (likely the principal cause) and one tie rod end is also somewhat worn (a possible contributing factor). I don't have any events planned the rest of this year in the NSX, so I'm going to wait until spring to have Ted do the work (including another alignment). That way, I can see how the suspension feels. (I hate having work done only to put the car away for months, leaving me to wonder if everything's okay.) Besides, the ball joints are on a national back order right now so I would have to wait at least a few weeks anyway, but this gives me lots of time before I have to pay for it. It ain't cheap, of course. (On the NSX, when the ball joints go, you have to replace the entire assembly, including the knuckle.)

You get all your work done to your satisfaction?
 
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