Seeking a SUSPENSION/ALIGNMENT shop in LOS ANGELES

[The Eyesore]

EDIT: I just created this post and immediately remembered Bear Frame and Wheel in Glendora. A bit far, but I'll probably go there as they're experienced with old American stuff. *I don't see a way to delete my post--is there?

ORIGINAL POST: All the shops (in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles) that I've called or visited, say their lifts cannot accomodate high-top campers. This is for a 1999 PhoenixUSA Dodge Ram Van 3500 that's 10.5' tall and 17' Long.

Picture of my precious cargo attached to keep the post fun.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[jjrbus]

My experience with alignment shops has been poor. I have had a wandering issue for some time and had multiple alignments. My last alignment at one of the chain tire places after an hour the tech gave up and told me I needed an alignment specialist.

Make sure to get a printout of the alignment and post it here, hopefully Booster will check it.

I think you are lucky that the alignment shops do not have a heavy enough lift!

[booster]

Originally Posted by jjrbus

My experience with alignment shops has been poor. I have had a wandering issue for some time and had multiple alignments. My last alignment at one of the chain tire places after an hour the tech gave up and told me I needed an alignment specialist.

Make sure to get a printout of the alignment and post it here, hopefully Booster will check it.

I think you are lucky that the alignment shops do not have a heavy enough lift!

We have had a lot of discussions about alignment shops and their (lack of) abilities to go a good alignment to specific settings. Very, very few have ever been done.



I finally gave up and do my own it the driveway, and what I have found is that most things don't change much, except the toe setting. I haven't had to set the caster and camber in the van or my old Buick Roadmaster since I got them set right after getting the tools to do it and it has years since then.

[The Eyesore]

Okay, so I ended up going to a father and son place called Andy's Alignment in Glendale, CA for a quote. $1350 to install everything* and align. I'm going to bring it in for the work, next week. I will definitely report back here with the update of how it went.

*Everything:

• Inner and Outer TIE ROD ENDS with ADJUSTING SLEEVES
• Steering IDLER ARM
• Steering DRAG LINK
• Complete UPPER CONTROL ARMS (ball joints pre-installed)
• Lower Control Arm BUSHINGS and BALL JOINTS
• Coil Spring INSULATORS
• Sway Bar BUSHINGS and LINK KIT
• Strut Rod BUSHINGS

Booster. I know from your other thread, that you have done your research on alignment specs and have tweaked them to better suit a camper. Would those tweaked specs happen to be for a Dodge? I'm not sure where the alignment specs are to be found for my camper and I worry the shop will just go with whatever they can find for a 99 Ram Van 3500 with a 4000# front axle.

[booster]

Originally Posted by The Eyesore

Okay, so I ended up going to a father and son place called Andy's Alignment in Glendale, CA for a quote. $1350 to install everything* and align. I'm going to bring it in for the work, next week. I will definitely report back here with the update of how it went.

*Everything:

• Inner and Outer TIE ROD ENDS with ADJUSTING SLEEVES
• Steering IDLER ARM
• Steering DRAG LINK
• Complete UPPER CONTROL ARMS (ball joints pre-installed)
• Lower Control Arm BUSHINGS and BALL JOINTS
• Coil Spring INSULATORS
• Sway Bar BUSHINGS and LINK KIT
• Strut Rod BUSHINGS

Booster. I know from your other thread, that you have done your research on alignment specs and have tweaked them to better suit a camper. Would those tweaked specs happen to be for a Dodge? I'm not sure where the alignment specs are to be found for my camper and I worry the shop will just go with whatever they can find for a 99 Ram Van 3500 with a 4000# front axle.

The settings that I have commonly listed were for the Chevies, but also would be good for the Dodges, I would think, as most of the older stuff is pretty much the same design.


Usually, on the Dodges what we here from people is to put as much plus caster as possible with .3-.5* more on the right than left, around zero camber but even side to side, and 1/8" to 1/4" toe, in IIRC.



If the shop knows what they are doing, which is hopeful as you describe them, they will probably have a good idea what works best. I haven't seen a ma a pa shop around here in a long time, only chain now or big independents.

[jjrbus]

Originally Posted by booster

The settings that I have commonly listed were for the Chevies, but also would be good for the Dodges, I would think, as most of the older stuff is pretty much the same design.


Usually, on the Dodges what we here from people is to put as much plus caster as possible with .3-.5* more on the right than left, around zero camber but even side to side, and 1/8" to 1/4" toe, in IIRC.



If the shop knows what they are doing, which is hopeful as you describe them, they will probably have a good idea what works best. I haven't seen a ma a pa shop around here in a long time, only chain now or big independents.

I was surprised to learn there are 2 small alignment shops in Cape Coral FL. They are expensive $150 for my van and booked 2 weeks out. The alignment tech at Tire Kingdom, a chain gave up and refereed me to the 2 shops.

[The Eyesore]

Booster, thank you! I can see the logic in those specs and that's what I'm going to suggest to the alignment guy. Thanks!