Alignment needed after Struts replacement?

definitely

Hi All:

I don't believe this to be the case all the time but is it necessary to have to perform a front-end alignment after replacing the struts? Be it on a truck or car?

I've replaced struts before myself (over 15 years ago) and did not have to have an alignment performed as did a friend of mine last month and they did not end up performing an alignment on their car. I'm thinking about replacing another friend's struts and know the steps/procedures to replacing the struts so that's not the issue. I just don't know how to do an alignment nor do do I have the expensive equipment necessary to perform one even if I "did" know how to do it.

Another friend told me that an alignment will most likely be needed. For some reason, I don't think this will always be the case. Now I admit that in order to remove the struts, I'll have to loosen the tie rod from the steering knuckle ever so slightly to remove the strut from the steering knuckle. This would be the "only" thing I can think of that would even jeopordize the alignment of the vehicle. Autozone's web-site (which lists these instructions out too) makes no mention of needing an alignment after replacing struts.

So would the best thing just be to replace the struts and then see how the alignment is and only get one if it's noticable?

thanks to all in advance!!!

It SHOULD be done! Depending on the car you can screw up the Camber adjustment by loosening, let alone removing the 2 bolts from the strut to the knuckle. The tie rod removing normally won't do much. I wouldn't wait until it's looking noticeable. Your wearing the tires out at that point, and once a wear pattern is set, getting a alignment at that time is not going to FIX the tires that are already on the car. Quite frankly not aligning a car after replacing struts is a Half ass job.

Ok. I'm convinced. Vehicles in question are Baretta and Cav. I'm just disgusted that AutoZone's web site (which contains step - by - step instructions) made absolutely no mention of needing to perform an alignment after strut replacement. I wonder how many other do-it-yourselfer's (like me) go by those instructions and don't do an alignment afterwards?

thanks for your answers.

Most automotive manuals/instructions that I've seen usually assume a certain level of knowledge within the automotive repair field.

Ian

figure it this way $75 for alignment or $150+ for two new front tires in the next few months, and then 2 more tires a few months after that. The $ you save installing struts yourself should deffinatly cover alignment cost. Replacing the stuts will more than likely through off the alignment. When you pull of old stut compare it to new one, I?m betting The old one will be alitle shorter due to years of compression.

A little shorter??? No. Struts have nothing to do with Ride Height. That's the springs. Depending on the brand of strut, some will Pop out all the way, (GAS Charged), but a lot will just sit in place no matter where it's at, and some will even slowly sink back in. All cases perfectly normal. Now a bad strut would be something like the shaft just falls in, and you can just pull it right out. No resistance at all. Seen that many times. Driving out the road you would think you were in a boat.

The reason for the Alignment is because the NEW strut might be slightly different then the OLD one in it's shape that could throw it off a bit. Also a lot of cars to adjust the CAMBER, you would do that at the 2 strut bolts that go though the knuckle. The toe may also possibly change from the placement of the new strut. In any case it's cheap insurance from having to buy new tires a short time later after half the tire wore off down to the belt while the other half looks new. If your replacing all 4, you better get a 4 Wheel Alignment. At least if you have Independent Suspension in the rear as there is also TOE and Camber adjustments back there depending on the car.