Members Apendecto Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 After spending my labor day weekend putting new struts on my car I'm wondering if it's automatic that I need an alignment. I only did the rear struts and left the fronts. Do I need one? Also, I've realized the working on cars would be so much easier if you were left handed. (That is unless you're a lefty, then it's easier if you were right handed.) Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 Most cars with rear struts have at least a camber adjustment. Check the shop manual or ask this question on a forum for your make/model of car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hawkhuff Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 I've done shocks before but never struts. How hard was it? Did you need special tools? If I were you I would take it in and have it checked. If you need some adjustment it will save you a set of tires down the road, punn intended. I took my wifes' car into the shop and she needs new struts AND she has a broken coil spring in the front. When finished I know it will need an alignment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 If you just replaced shocks and struts? No. You do not need alignment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 If you just replaced shocks and struts? No. You do not need alignment. MacPherson struts, unlike a standard shock absorber, are an integral part of the suspension and an alignment is sometimes required with replacement. Best to check manufacturers recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 I've done shocks before but never struts. How hard was it? Did you need special tools? If I were you I would take it in and have it checked. If you need some adjustment it will save you a set of tires down the road, punn intended. I took my wifes' car into the shop and she needs new struts AND she has a broken coil spring in the front. When finished I know it will need an alignment. The only special tool is a spring compressor. On most cars it's a simple job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 MacPherson struts, unlike a standard shock absorber, are an integral part of the suspension and an alignment is sometimes required with replacement. Best to check manufacturers recommendation. Sometimes. It's optional. ANd, I personally wouldn't. The only time I ever brought my car in for alignment was after I lowered the car 1 inch. That'll {censored} up your camber badly, and can mess with toe a little. Since then, I"ve gone through two sets of shocks/struts. Haven't had to realign at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted September 4, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 It wasn't that bad of a job but the underside of the car was rusty as hell and there were a lot of bolts that were stubborn as hell. The struts I put in are similar to shock absorbers and they don't have the normal big ass spring associated with struts. My front end has the standard springs but the rear didn't. The only pain in the ass were these little figure 8 rubber "auxiliary springs" which I had to make a tool to compress them. Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 It wasn't that bad of a job but the underside of the car was rusty as hell and there were a lot of bolts that were stubborn as hell. The struts I put in are similar to shock absorbers and they don't have the normal big ass spring associated with struts. My front end has the standard springs but the rear didn't. The only pain in the ass were these little figure 8 rubber "auxiliary springs" which I had to make a tool to compress them. Yo. That sounds like a tougher than usual job. Congrats!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted September 4, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 That sounds like a tougher than usual job. Congrats!!! Pretty much ruined my weekend and I lost sleep over it. There were times where I was ready to throw in the towel, but that's what beer is for. Have you ever seen that Simpsons where they have prohibition and Homer says, "To beer: The cause of and solution to all of life's problems." Well I think I overloaded my car on my trip to PA with 8 cases of Yuenglins and a SWR 4x12 speaker cab....then I hit a huge pothole on the highway close to home. D'oh! Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 8 cases of vitamin Y! It's been two years since I had some Yuenglins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted September 4, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 8 cases of vitamin Y! It's been two years since I had some Yuenglins. Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 Woooooooooooooooooow. I didn't know there were so many different kinds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted September 4, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 Woooooooooooooooooow. I didn't know there were so many different kinds. There are a few more that I didn't get but they both had "Light" in the name. Screw that! The premium tastes like Budweiser, which I was a little disappointed with. I'm happy with the ale, black and tan, and the porter, but I haven't tried the lager yet. Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 There are a few more that I didn't get but they both had "Light" in the name. Screw that!The premium tastes like Budweiser, which I was a little disappointed with. I'm happy with the ale, black and tan, and the porter, but I haven't tried the lager yet.Yo. I think the Lager tastes like bud as well... BTW: Where the {censored} did you fit all of that beer??? The cab was smashed in there as is! Good job on making it work!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 All I've tried was black & tan in Philly a couple years back. I had heard so much about it, but never had a chance to try it in midwest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mike fitzwell Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 Yo. {censored}er. I'm down to 18 bottles of Lager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted September 4, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 {censored}er. I'm down to 18 bottles of Lager. I'll bring some over when I take the ferry. Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted September 4, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 I think the Lager tastes like bud as well... BTW: Where the {censored} did you fit all of that beer??? The cab was smashed in there as is! Good job on making it work!!! I played a lot of Tetris as a kid. The tent and other {censored} were crammed behind the seat and in front of the cab. And the girl I left really freed up a lot of space for beer. Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted September 4, 2007 Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 And the girl I left really freed up a lot of space for beer Yeah...I've been meaning to thank you for that, she does wonders cleaning up this house! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted September 4, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 4, 2007 Yeah...I've been meaning to thank you for that, she does wonders cleaning up this house! Glad she's doing something. She wasn't doing a damn thing over here. *Ouch* {Slapped by someone reading over my sholder} Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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