Hey everyone,

I was wondering if any of you could offer up a recommendation for an alignment shop in Calgary? The 240SX needs one bad, and the S2000 is going to need one soon as there are some KG/MM Race springs lying around here. Quite a few people on beyond.ca have recommended Tirecraft on Macleod, but if anyone knows of a small independent shop who does quality work, I'd be interested in hearing about it. And obviously for the S2000, they would have to be willing to do an alignment on a lowered car. Thanks all.

Chris.

 

Chris,

While I haven't given them my patronage personally (yet), I hear that Auto Pro in the NE is very good, and reasonably priced. To my knowledge they are located just north of the Budget Rent A Car on 27th St NE. I think it's 27ST at least. If your'e familiar with the area, it would be NE of the Sheraton Cavalier, directly across the street from the Greenwood Inn, and North off of 32 AVE NE.

I have to take my XR there, having recently installed new control arms/tie rods. To my knowledge, they charge around $50 and have no qualms working on cars with modified suspension.

Hope that helps!

Asif

 

I deal with "Bashir" at Kal Tire on 42nd Avenue SW.

This Kal Tire sponsors solo racing with the Calgary Sports Car Club and supplies most of us with race tires. They will set your allignment to any specification that you want and are familiar with all kinds of cars including lowered vehicles. A lot of road race guys use them for custom set ups.

I give them the thumbs up.

Mike.

 

Asif, Mike,

Thanks for the referrals. I'll be checking both out.

Chris.

 

Let us know how it goes.

 

Hey all,

So, I just got the 240 back from Bashir over at Kal Tire. $70 + tax. I dropped it off, and 2 hours later I got a call saying it was done. They adjusted all four wheels and straighted the steering wheel. The back end is a little more banged up than expected. The rear camber adjustment is sitting at the max allowable range. I guess I'll just have to stop hitting stuff. The car is noticeably easier to drive in this snow with the wheels straight. I think it was money well spent.

I asked about getting the S done, and they replied that to do a lowered S2000, they would only do it on their hourly shop rate (around $75 to $80/hour). They wouldn't guess as to how long it would take. Any of you guys have any experience getting an alignment done on an S2000? Mike, have you ever let Kal Tire put your S up on their jig? If they have the experience, a rep for doing good work, and getting it done right the first time, I don't mind letting them have the car, but I also don't want any surprises like a bill for 5 hours of work just to get an alignment done. What do you all think?

Chris.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chrissa

 

Tim,

I think that an alignment would help this issue. Despite the fact that some tires do track more than others, if you're noticing a change from when you bought the car, an alignment might help. I've noticed the same thing on my Merkur, having changed the Control Arms, ball joints, tie rods and tie rod ends. An experienced Mechanic/friend who drove my car on the Deerfoot incidentally, recommended an alignment to take care of the problem you describe.

It does beg the question as to why you would need an alignment so soon? New suspension components? Did you hit a curb or some other object? I can't think of any other reasons why the alignment might suddenly be "off" Anyone else?

Asif

 

"Noticeably easier to drive" for me refers to keeping the back end of the car in line when I have to accelerate. The 240 is a rear wheel drive car with an LSD, just like the S2000. When it's super slippy out, the back of the car had a habit to drift a little to the right every time I pulled away from an intersection. I'm quite sure the rear wasn't quite balanced properly (in fact I know it wasn't as shown by the rear camber and toe adjustments made!). Now the car pulls straight as an arrow.

About your S being darty, could it just be the car sending you feedback about every little imperfection in the road? I find my S can be a little darty as well. I don't feel nearly as isolated from the road as in other cars (like the 240 and that car has a rep for being a good handling package). If there is a small bump or rut, I know about it through the steering wheel. But at the same time, I move the steering wheel a fraction of an inch, and the S moves. Could just be the cost of living with a high performance package like the S2000?

Chris.

 

No, I don't have these issues when it is warm and dry. You're right, I do feel every imperfection in the road and love it. I can drive at 'arrest me' speeds and feel perfectly in control.

No Asif, no curbs.

No new suspension components either, but I've had numerous tire/wheel swaps.

It isn't suddenly off; it's been that way since I got it. Maybe the alignment was off when I got it? Doesn't make sense though, because it seems perfect when the roads are warm and dry.