I have a 2007 deluxe converttible that is out of alignment. I was told them can put in a plate to relpace the upper strut mount and align caster and camber for $617.00. They can also install a camber kit but there will be no caster adjustment for $150.00.l I told them I would pick the car up tomorrow and not to touch it. I've never heard of such a thing. Can someone validate this or am I right in not letting them touch my car.

 

I'm no suspension guru; not even close; but that sounds like a scam if I ever heard one.

 

You're right...

Get your car outta there pronto!!
Over $750 to align a car, yeah right.
If your car isn't lowered, it's a $49 job.
If it's lowered, buy the $150 caster/camber plate.
It's an hour and 1/2 job by a trained professional, so the labor can't be outrageous.

 

What are the indications of your car being out of alignment?

The stock suspension has very little adjustment. The toe can be adjusted but camber and caster have virtually no adjustment. If they are replacing the upper strut mount with a "plate" as you describe it for $617, what I believe they mean is they want to install a set of "camber plates" or "camber/caster plates". These parts are pretty pricey parts but even so $617 sounds high. For example - the MM caster camber plates are $350 retail. Throw in installation and alignment and it should be under $500. Ask them specifically which plates they are talking about.

To change camber only, a much cheaper solution is camber bolts, which I think they are saying they want $150 for. Camber bolts, installation and alignment for $150 is not cheap but also not outrageous.

What I'd really like to understand is why they think you need camber and/or caster adjustment.

 

I recently purchased the J&M camber plates and installed and adjusted the camber myself.

 

I've got a litle wobble in the steering wheel and the inside of my front tires are a little cupped. I've told them not to touch it and I am picking it up this morning. I appreciate the responses on tis as it sounds like they are trying to scam me.

 

Your camber settings can be fixed with the camber HD plates or camber bolts. I used the bolts with my Steeda Sports and my settings came out great.

 

They are almost certainly talking about caster/camber plates, which are a valid way of tweaking suspension alignment settings. Sort of. On these cars, the OE caster setting is entirely adequate for most any sort of driving, so unless the caster is way out of whack there is no real need for having caster adjustment even available (it becomes one more thing to try to keep straight, with no real benefit for having to do so). A simple set of camber plates (that don't provide caster adjustment) is enough.

Steeda's HD upper strut mounts incorporate quite a bit of camber adjustment and are another option. If you're lowered (or ever plan to be), I'd recommend going this way for I think ~$300-ish plus the alignment, as they're better than stock upper strut mounts for lowered cars.

I'm not comfortable with the camber bolt "option", particularly on this chassis. If you drive the car very hard around corners very often I will specifically tell you to avoid them like the plague. So will Sam Strano.


It may not be camber at all - it could be toe and/or excessive play in one or more tierod ends or possibly the condition of your struts, in which case C/C plates would not be the proper fix. Do you have any idea where your cambers are now? If they are in fact "way off", why?


Norm