I just ordered tein s-tech springs for my '03 lx. I plan on doing the install myself with the stock struts and I forgot that I would have to get it realigned. I called my local mechanic and he said that normal realignment is $79.99. That's normal, but then he said I would need a camber kit which would bring the price up to $150. I looked up camber kits for the car and they're running under $50.... Do I need an alignment and if so, do I for sure need a camber kit?
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Questions about lowering
- Thread starter theevilm
- Start date
I'm all for doing it at home. How would I do that?
+1 on this
xtreme velocity
Member
- :
- 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege
You HAVE to get a alignment. Or bust out $ for new tires in less than 6 months beaut 2-3 days max. You do not need camber plates or kits. I'm lower than you on springs and my alignment was adjustable no problems but needed it for sure! Be very careful doing this at home as to the stock springs will be under pressure when removing top hat. My stock springs where not bad since they where shot. But please be careful though! Good luck with it! And pics are a must!
xtreme velocity
Member
- :
- 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege
That's what I did or if the shop has a warranty get the alignment same day then go bad in a couple days and recheck it. I had mine done at my work at Sears and they have a warranty so I was able to take it back in a couple of days after lower and realign it.
That's what I did or if the shop has a warranty get the alignment same day then go bad in a couple days and recheck it. I had mine done at my work at Sears and they have a warranty so I was able to take it back in a couple of days after lower and realign it.
I'll have to check about that warranty, hopefully mine has one.
Installshield 2
Gothenburg Superiority
^ i ran S-techs for 9 years without ever having a camber kit...while a macpherson strut design will increase negative camber as the suspension travels, the ride height with s-techs is not so low that it makes camber adjustments an absolute must...You will notice at the very end of a tire's life that the inner sections are a little lower on tread than the outer section, but the tire will be fully worn out by then anyway...
but yeah, for tire wear purposes, alignment for sure...Its a debatable topic in terms of DIY...some guys will tell you to get it aligned the second you start driving with the new suspension parts...others will say hold off as long as you need...when i did my install i waited about a month or so, with no abnormal tire problems in that waiting period...So i'd say that is a safe window, but the longer you wait the faster you'll eat up the tires...
but yeah, for tire wear purposes, alignment for sure...Its a debatable topic in terms of DIY...some guys will tell you to get it aligned the second you start driving with the new suspension parts...others will say hold off as long as you need...when i did my install i waited about a month or so, with no abnormal tire problems in that waiting period...So i'd say that is a safe window, but the longer you wait the faster you'll eat up the tires...
Well with all of the studying I have to do in the near future it looks like I won't be doing the install till maybe next weekend. I will most likely have the car aligned a few days after I install the springs. Thank you everyone for your input. I'll update when more happens.
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