Track Alignment at Dealership

mspeed1LE · 06-07-2019, 06:14 PM

8am appointment today. It's now 4:10 pm. Still waiting. "Senior" tech working on car.
First time doing one of these. Funny thing is that the specs in his computer system are different from the ones in my Owner's manual! He's going with the manual but... zzzzzzzzzz.......

Move_Over · 06-07-2019, 06:25 PM

I’d leave. Go to a shop who knows what they are doing.

Badmojo · 06-07-2019, 11:05 PM

I got mine done at a shop that does Porsche stuff. I gave them the specs and they hit it within .05 with zero drama.

Stephen12ZL1 · 06-08-2019, 08:36 AM

most dealers have issues with a "track alignment" as the specs aren't readily available to them. Even if you give them a sheet with specs, they will likely F it up.

mblum · 06-08-2019, 03:21 PM

I also agree with the previous reply's, don't let the stealership do the alignment unless you personally trust them.

I made a photo copy of the alignment specs from the performance supplement and made sure the service director and tech both knew that I was asking for. I came back to pick the car up and looked at the spec sheet, it wasn't perfect but was close enough for me at the time. That weekend I had my first track day. I was not impressed with the car at all on track, it didn't feel stable and had a bunch of under steer. Pulled into the pits and could tell there was not enough negative chamber from tire wear. I tried a few more sessions before calling it a day. Once at home I got the car in the air to inspect the adjustment bolts that are used to set the alignment. Everyone of them was still aligned with the factory blue pen mark and showed no signs of being loosened or tightened. It appeared my dealer didn't even attempt to align the car and charged me for an alignment and gave me a bogus spec sheet.

I was lucky enough to find a local suspension shop that had a new Hunter in floor alignment machine that was willing to do the alignment. I was even able to watch the tech through the process. He hit the specs spot on and let me set in the driver seat to load the suspension as it would be on track. A few weeks later I was able to hit the track again and the car felt amazing. Nowhere near the under steer and the corner exit felt great and could put the power down.

Getting the specs right is well worth the effort if your going to track the car.

Rodan · 06-08-2019, 07:04 PM

I went with a local tech that has been doing my track alignments on other cars for years. Our ZL1 was the first '16 up Camaro the shop had done. I think part of the issue is that most shops just haven't seen a lot of these cars yet, much less done performance work. Dealers don't really have that excuse, but I would never take a car to a dealer for anything but warranty work.

LJenkins1LE · 06-09-2019, 08:51 AM

I wouldn’t blast dealers too much. My dealer’s alignment tech never had a 1LE in the shop before for the track alignment and nailed it. He even set it where I wanted it regardless of what the supplement called for.

I have used other shops for different track cars, and they could never get the alignment where I wanted it. It really boils down to finding a place, dealer or non-dealer, that you can trust to perform the work without issue.

MikeEM1 · 06-09-2019, 11:13 AM

I did the fronts in my friends garage, then went to a race shop for the final touches and adjustments. It was done in less than an hour for alignment.
Don't go to the dealer for race car stuff.

mspeed1LE · 06-09-2019, 01:11 PM

Lesson learned...��

KeithO · 06-10-2019, 05:04 AM

Years ago when I road raced a 4th gen Firebird, I also had problems finding a shop that would do a requested alignment rather than what was "in the computer". At that time, what I eventually did was visited shops and talked to the senior tech by just showing up at the shop without the car. You can tell in about 2 minutes whether the guy is interested in this or not. You don't want to take your car somewhere where the tech isn't interested in the work.

Believe it or not, I eventually settled on an NTB shop near where I worked. As they learned to deal with it and as they realized that having a full race car in their shop blew normal customers away (marketing), they welcomed me when I needed alignments checks and settings and allowed me under the car with the tech while the work was going on.

Take the time to check around and talk to people. You can go from being viewed as a PITA to a welcome customer very quickly if you find the right shop.

06-07-2019, 06:14 PM	#1
mspeed1LE Drives: ZL1 1LE SUMMIT WHITE Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: VANCOUVER ISLAND Posts: 318	Track Alignment at Dealership 8am appointment today. It's now 4:10 pm. Still waiting. "Senior" tech working on car. First time doing one of these. Funny thing is that the specs in his computer system are different from the ones in my Owner's manual! He's going with the manual but... zzzzzzzzzz....... __________________ 2018 ZLE * StudioRSR Half Cage * SkidmarkGarage Rear Seat Delete * ZL1ADDONS Lift Pads * Roto-Fab CAI * Forgestar CF5-V's * Michelin PS4S * Racequip 6 Pt. Harnesses * Sub-strap Brackets by Carmena Performance * Speedhut Shift Light * Leroy Eng. Hidden Hitch (for the TYR RAT)* Gen5DIY Rapid Flash 3rd Brake Light * KOOKS 2" LT * Green Cats * AWE Cat-back Track Edition * ________________________________________ 2005 NISSAN TITAN 1997 BMW E39 (Thug In A Suit) R.I.P. 10/04/18 2002 MAZDA Protege 5 (Time Attack, Hillclimb) SOLD

06-07-2019, 11:05 PM	#3
Badmojo aka BeastZL1 Drives: 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE, 2004 Cobra Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: NC Posts: 1,103	I got mine done at a shop that does Porsche stuff. I gave them the specs and they hit it within .05 with zero drama. __________________ 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE Racing for ALS Youtube Link

06-08-2019, 08:36 AM	#4
Stephen12ZL1 Drives: '21 ZLE A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 6,808	most dealers have issues with a "track alignment" as the specs aren't readily available to them. Even if you give them a sheet with specs, they will likely F it up. __________________ '21 ZLE A10 Wild Cherry PDR 2:00.78 VIR Full 10.68@131.69 1.68 60' '17 ZL1 A10 Mosaic Black PDR/Nav 2:03.08 VIR Full 11.003@129.2 1.75 (sold) '15 Z/28 #325 Black a/c & stereo. 2:10.1 VIR Full (sold) '12 ZL1 A6 Black 10.52@131 1.55 60' 2:13 VIR Full (sold)

06-08-2019, 03:21 PM	#5
mblum Drives: 2017 ZL1 Camaro Join Date: May 2018 Location: Iowa Posts: 100	I also agree with the previous reply's, don't let the stealership do the alignment unless you personally trust them. I made a photo copy of the alignment specs from the performance supplement and made sure the service director and tech both knew that I was asking for. I came back to pick the car up and looked at the spec sheet, it wasn't perfect but was close enough for me at the time. That weekend I had my first track day. I was not impressed with the car at all on track, it didn't feel stable and had a bunch of under steer. Pulled into the pits and could tell there was not enough negative chamber from tire wear. I tried a few more sessions before calling it a day. Once at home I got the car in the air to inspect the adjustment bolts that are used to set the alignment. Everyone of them was still aligned with the factory blue pen mark and showed no signs of being loosened or tightened. It appeared my dealer didn't even attempt to align the car and charged me for an alignment and gave me a bogus spec sheet. I was lucky enough to find a local suspension shop that had a new Hunter in floor alignment machine that was willing to do the alignment. I was even able to watch the tech through the process. He hit the specs spot on and let me set in the driver seat to load the suspension as it would be on track. A few weeks later I was able to hit the track again and the car felt amazing. Nowhere near the under steer and the corner exit felt great and could put the power down. Getting the specs right is well worth the effort if your going to track the car. __________________ 2017 Garnet Red ZL1 A10 Other Rides, 97 Trans Am, 72 Chevelle

06-09-2019, 08:51 AM	#7
LJenkins1LE Drives: 2018 1SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: La Posts: 78	I wouldn’t blast dealers too much. My dealer’s alignment tech never had a 1LE in the shop before for the track alignment and nailed it. He even set it where I wanted it regardless of what the supplement called for. I have used other shops for different track cars, and they could never get the alignment where I wanted it. It really boils down to finding a place, dealer or non-dealer, that you can trust to perform the work without issue. __________________ 2018 Summit White 1SS 1LE, PDR, Black Bow Ties

06-07-2019, 06:25 PM	#2
Move_Over Drives: ISO ss 1le Join Date: May 2018 Location: FL Posts: 764	I’d leave. Go to a shop who knows what they are doing.

06-08-2019, 07:04 PM	#6
Rodan Drives: 2018 ZL1 coupe Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Prescott, Arizona Posts: 589	I went with a local tech that has been doing my track alignments on other cars for years. Our ZL1 was the first '16 up Camaro the shop had done. I think part of the issue is that most shops just haven't seen a lot of these cars yet, much less done performance work. Dealers don't really have that excuse, but I would never take a car to a dealer for anything but warranty work.

06-09-2019, 11:13 AM	#8
MikeEM1 Drives: Tracks: 18' ZL1 1LE Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Irvine, CA --> ATX Posts: 141	I did the fronts in my friends garage, then went to a race shop for the final touches and adjustments. It was done in less than an hour for alignment. Don't go to the dealer for race car stuff. __________________ 18' ZL1 1LE Red Hot track toy Castrol SRF Ported TB/Rotofab dry intake AWE Track w/PLP APR GTC300 wing / Singular Endplates ASC Splitter / PA tunnels MFR Engineering Custom Diffuser Race Louvers Fender Vents APEX SM10 & ARC8 For sale: 2018 OEM ZL1 1LE Wing 12' Nissan GT-R SOLD

06-09-2019, 01:11 PM	#9
mspeed1LE Drives: ZL1 1LE SUMMIT WHITE Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: VANCOUVER ISLAND Posts: 318	Lesson learned...�� __________________ 2018 ZLE * StudioRSR Half Cage * SkidmarkGarage Rear Seat Delete * ZL1ADDONS Lift Pads * Roto-Fab CAI * Forgestar CF5-V's * Michelin PS4S * Racequip 6 Pt. Harnesses * Sub-strap Brackets by Carmena Performance * Speedhut Shift Light * Leroy Eng. Hidden Hitch (for the TYR RAT)* Gen5DIY Rapid Flash 3rd Brake Light * KOOKS 2" LT * Green Cats * AWE Cat-back Track Edition * ________________________________________ 2005 NISSAN TITAN 1997 BMW E39 (Thug In A Suit) R.I.P. 10/04/18 2002 MAZDA Protege 5 (Time Attack, Hillclimb) SOLD

06-10-2019, 05:04 AM	#10
KeithO Drives: 01 Z28, 1990 NASCAR Busch North Car Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Beaver, PA Posts: 36	Years ago when I road raced a 4th gen Firebird, I also had problems finding a shop that would do a requested alignment rather than what was "in the computer". At that time, what I eventually did was visited shops and talked to the senior tech by just showing up at the shop without the car. You can tell in about 2 minutes whether the guy is interested in this or not. You don't want to take your car somewhere where the tech isn't interested in the work. Believe it or not, I eventually settled on an NTB shop near where I worked. As they learned to deal with it and as they realized that having a full race car in their shop blew normal customers away (marketing), they welcomed me when I needed alignments checks and settings and allowed me under the car with the tech while the work was going on. Take the time to check around and talk to people. You can go from being viewed as a PITA to a welcome customer very quickly if you find the right shop.

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