Should I get alignment now or later?

I did many miles off road with no ill effect due to my spacer lift. They obviously have their limitations but so does any other suspension set up...

 

It should be fine as long as you take care to ensure the positioning of things. You will know if something is wrong if the steering wheel is off center or you get pulling to one side or the other. I was on my 5100's for a couple weeks before I got my alignment. It was off very slightly.

 

Thanks for that. Hopefully I can get it done on my day off, but good to know I can get away with it a little longer by taking care during the install.

 

100% incorrect. Also, never do an alignment on the "old" tires. As soon as you put new ones on, the numbers change due to differences in the tread pattern (not being perfectly worn, which most tires are not.)

 

Wrong bud. The alignment machine heads bolt up directly to the wheel itself. The suspension determines where the rim sits in relation to alignment. A worn tire won't affect where the rim sits alignment wise.

 

fake news

 

all based off the wheel hubs

 

Lmao. The only time this would only be true is if the shop used heads that attach to the tire and not the wheel. If the shop you go to uses the tire heads, get a different shop, that alignment will never be dialed. Go to a shop that uses wheel heads and the tire size is null, unless you are aligning specifically for larger tires and need to use them to set the caster for clearance.

 

Are you an ASE certified master tech? Please share if you are - and let me know how many alignments you've done.

 

Modern alignment heads attach to tires; not wheel hubs. You do realize the way the vehicle sits on the rack will be different with a tire that is not worn properly, correct? The truck is compensated on the rack - on the TIRES. Do some research. And - perhaps believe a professional (like myself) over Google.

 

No shop attaches the heads to the hubs - they new machines are not designed in such a manner. There isn't a technician on the planet (good one) that would align a vehicle with the old tires on it - knowing - new ones are going to be mounted.

https://www.hunter.com/alignment-machines/hawkeye-elite/?ns_clid=google,411398230,73357420028,hunter alignment machine,p&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj7CZBhDHARIsAPPWv3d79sKSu1FtnM13uBfZR5fOwRJNttX8sab-BqQAXq15Rays0azhQHkaAiHeEALw_wcB

This is the most common machine used today. Any tilt on the tire will cause an inaccurate reading - which can be caused by tires not evenly worn. The machine has NO IDEA what your tires look like. It will simply have you compensate with adjustments. Put new tires on, and BOOM - it's no longer compensated for those shit tires you replaced. Alignment 101.

 

LOL. Your clearly a lube tech at Valvoline.

Look at any Hunter machine(number 1 selling alignment machine in the US)
Standard Alignment Machines | Hunter Engineering Company®

The heads mount TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE RIM NOT THE TIRE....

 

That's a 10 year old model dumb ass.. You MUST be joking (at least I hope). Nobody uses those heads anymore.

 

Dude that head sits on the wheel face to get the reading FROM the rim not the tire.... You have clearly never used one lol. Go back to oil changes and using an adjustable wrench. I wouldn't trust you to replace an air filter.

 

This conversation is over. If you are too stupid to understand the effects of tire tread and alignment readings, there really is nothing to engage with. Then you post heads that are 10 years old. LOL Good stuff!

 

lol I'm sure you are the star tech at Jiffy lube.

FYI Hunter still sells that alignment machine....

70 Second Alignment Drill - Hunter Engineering - YouTube

20 seconds in looks how the head attaches. Clearly they keep you far away from the alignment machine lol.

Right from a dealer website

Yes, you can get an alignment before buying new tires.
Most experts agree that the only effect worn tires have on your alignment is a change to the vehicle's ride height which, given today's steering and suspension design, should be negligible

I guess every single article must be wrong...

 

HAHAHAHHA.. Nice job Google Tech! Man, I love these forums - they make me spend money on cool Tacoma shit. But - "kids" like you really ruin the pleasure. Serious question - why not take advice from a professional tech? I really don't get it?

 

Thank you for proving you are wrong.... . Literally everyone and everything thing you see online says YOU ARE NOT CORRECT.

I was a service manager for 10 plus years and am still in the auto industry.

 

Why? You still have yet to answer my question? And no, you were not a service manager. Judging from your comments - your 18. I just don't get it. I've been a tech/teacher for about 30 years - and still am - you would think folks would appreciate help and advice from a professional. But no, you just argue and try to prove me wrong. Such is life. FYI = 90% of what you read online is shit.

 

People don't appreciate advice when its clearly wrong. It doesn't matter how long you have been a mechanic. Wrong is wrong. Hunter will tell you the same thing.

What question did I not answer?