Hey guys.....I just mounted new tires all the way around and I was planning on getting an alignment......

But, I am also planning on putting on new rotors and brake pads all the way around within the next two weeks...

My question is...Does changing the rotors afftect the alignment? So I am wondering if I should wait till after I do the brakes to get my alignment or if I can go ahead and do it now?

 

Two totally different animals. Wrnching and torque-ing on the rotors will not harm the alignment. Get the alignment right away. You don't want to be dragging a new tire down the road sideways (even slightly) for very long.

Consider the Euro alignment? I went to it last time and like it alot. Better turn in and the rear end holds better in sweeping turns.

Enjoy the new rotors as well. I am getting a set next week! No more OEM rusties........bye, bye.

Hockey

 

I just had the Euro alignment and it does corner better but feels a little twitchy at high speed. I may go back to OEM settings on my next tires. 100+ mph and you really have to hold on with the Euro alignment unless you are doing the a turn, then the car is locked into the road.

You should figure out how you devide your fast and cornering miles and go from there. Also consider that the Euro alignment wears the tires down faster on the inside and if $$$ is factor, you may want to keep it OEM.

Brakes shouldn't effect alignment at all, but I would wait until you do the brakes, to make sure there are no issues with the braking so if the car was pulling from the brakes, you won't have a false idea that the alignment is causing the pull.

The S2000 is effected by slight alignment changes and you'll really notice the alignment change (which ever spec you go to) after it is done. MAKE SURE TO GET BEFORE AND AFTER PRINT OUT'S ON THE ALIGNMENT and try to sit in the car while they do it if possible to correct the wieght balance and to keep a watchful eye over them...

 

i suggest that you wait until your new wheels/ tires are broken in before the alignment... prob about 500 miles on new tires.
just did mine- did an aggressive street alignment. the car tracks like its on rails (o.k., like its new!)- best mod i have done for the money!

 

Thanks for the info guys.....

In all honesty though, I will probably just go with the stock alignment (US) specs....I do not really drive my car hard and would appreciate the extra life on the tires.

But let me ask this: Under what circumstances is an alignment necessary in the first place....After I got my tires mounted, I drove my car home and it seemed to have no pull(side to side) what-so-ever. The car would go perfectly straight if I let go of the steering wheel.

I know it is reccommended that one should get an alignment after changing all their tires, but is it REALLY necessary if there seems to not be a problem with the car drifting/pulling....Or is there more to it?

 

A fair number of people have reported that their bone-stock cars bought new did not have spot-on alignment to OE spec; perhaps the car settled in the boat ride, but an $80 or whatever 4-wheel alignment to spec (for you) seems cheap insurance for a car with tires costing nearly $1k.

 

Road Rage has a damn good point

 

I've never heard this one before. In fact, Jim @ the Tire Rack told me that an alignment is NOT necessary, even after changing all four wheels and tires. I had an alignment done by Darin at Westend last fall, and I have not had it realigned after changing the wheels. Given that the wheels are independently balanced and fairly close to the stock diameter, which should this be necessary?

 

Well... I'm not of the thought that changing tires should warrent an alignment. Alignment after all is about the wheels, and not the tires. However... If your tires are all over the place in wear, then sure.

The "Euro Alignment" is a bit more "twichy" because it has more camber and it will tend to follow any groove in the road. I'm used to it - and I have to say that I like my ride a bit more unstable as it corners like a banshee on weekends at the track. The "twitchiness" is not unbearable for daily driving in the least bit. What is noticeable is that the car is much more responsive and holds better in corners.
For those of you that haven't done the Euro alignment, I highly suggest that you do it. The Euro alignment is by far, the most dramatic change to my car's handling for the buck. Before the alignment, my car was spinning out at least once every track event. Now, since the alignment, I have not experienced an off-track event since. It sticks like glue and is not so quick to step out.

CB