Going to try and knock that out tomorrow, any mainstream places that can do a lifted truck competently?

 

any tire shop could do it for about 80 bucks

 

I get mine done at Merchants Tire. I bought a 5 yr deal. So I can take it in every other day if I want.

 

Unless it is lifted 12" with 44"s then most tire shops can do it. Actually the limits are probably a bit less than that.... and may depend on the lift and available overhead space at the shop.. Hard to do an alignment when the truck cant fit in the door. For a mild lift and mild tires nobody should really have a problem with it.

 

merchants sucks a fat one. some of them don't want to touch a lifted/modified vehicle b/c of liability issues, so i go to a place near my house back home where 2 of the techs are fellow jeepers.

 

I'm in VA Beach

 

Do the alignment yourself in you driveway. Takes about a half hour with common hand tools. Save yourself the 80 bucks. the only thing that can really be adjusted is the toe in, anyway.

 

Buck's right.... There isn't all that much to doing one in your driveway, just grab a friend, some toe plates and 2 sections of 1x4 steel tubing and some string...The rest is all tape measure and hand tools.

 

what? there's more to it than that. i know the camber can't be adjusted unless you have adjustable ball joints, but there is still caster which is adjusted by adjustable control arms. (pinion angle gets screwed). you still want to keep the stock xj wheelbase at around 100.4 inches.
there is also track if it has an adjustable track bar. and of course, toe in.
just nothing in the rear can be adjusted.
sometimes, it's worth the 80 bux.
if it's just a simple toe-in, yes, you can do it in your driveway. but you don't need toe-plates or square bars. just a tape measure, and having a buddy helps.

i used to work at an alignment shop during high school. the shop didn't have a single piece of computerized equipment. not even a wheel balancer. we did those while still on the vehicle using a strobe light. better than a shop balancer.
that shop still exists, new owner who has worked there for many years and still the same equipment. best shop around here.

 

I don't have adjustable control arms, yet. So, I'm screwed there. I adjust the track bar by eye balling it and I can drive down the road with my hands off the wheel for a fair amount of time so, I'd say it's close.

 

they are right alignment is easy for your garage....but.... dont go tooo far or you can end up with the death wobbles....which really suck when it happens as long as you are careful its pretty simple

 

I had the Death Wobbles with my son's 87 XJ when I first bought it. Scared the ever loving $hit out of me on I-5, in Seattle, during a rain storm. When I was driving it home. Ended up being the balljoint at the frame mount end was completely hashed. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO **** about nipping even the slightest DW in butt as soon as it happens!!!!! Whenever guys write in about DW, I'm usually one of the first guys to post up to help them. That is soooo dangerous when that happens, especially at HWY speed.

 

If you still want to take it to a shop Firestone is pretty good. I paid I think $120 for my JK with 4" lift and 35"s for a lifetime alignment.

 

X 2 I think I got it for a $100

 

I like the Firestone alignment. You can even specify where you want your toe in/out, and I asked them to verify the axle is centered with the adjustable trackbar. Just make sure to ask them not to "check" on anything else. Most shops have their little routine on checking maintenance items.

Plus, I bought the lifetime, so I can take it back anytime I want for nothing.