can I trust a big chain tire shop to align my 996?

Okay so here is my dilemma, I have a 2003 carrera that was lowered on H&R springs and the car needs an alignment bad. I was wondering if main tire shops like big ol tires etc have the ability to properly align Porsches especially mine that has been lowered? Or should I take it to the techs at the dealer that know the car better? I don't want a aggressive alignment just want the car to handle right. Thanks all!

A good indy that has a racing pedigree should be able to handle the alignment on your 996. If they can't do it, I bet they know someone that can. I wouldn't trust a big chain tire shop to even take the wheels off my 996, honestly. I bring my wheels in on the truck when I need new tires. Just my $0.02.

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The problem is none of my local independent Porsche mechanics have an alignment rack.

I took a strut from my other car to a tire shop to put on a new top mount. They did it wrong and eventually had to go to the dealer and pay 2x for them to fix it the right way. But, on the other hand, they did the alignment correctly.

I get my cars done at Firestone. One of the locations I use has a few guys who are racers and do a good job of setting the car up for what I want.

I think there are exceptions as noted above, but generally speaking it's not wise to have your Porsche aligned at a national chain tire shop.

Make sure they have done Porsches before and know where to look for all the adjustments. Second, make sure they have the latest Hunter laser alignment with TIRE hookup where the sensors are held in place by the tire and NOT the rims. One place I went to ended up scratching all 4 of my rims with the rim mounted sensors.

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Then they should have no conflict recommending a shop that does.

twice took my car in to national tire shops...twice had to have my rims refinished due to all the damage. not scratches mind you..severe damage.

I do all my own alignments in my driveway, after corner balance, ride hieght and any other adjustments required. So no never a major tire chain

My vote would be for the techs at the dealer (Porsche). So what if it costs a little more? They will have a better understanding of your lowered car/suspension, they will have all the right tools, lifts and parts if necessary, and I am totally confident they will understand $1000 wheel/tires setups and not put a scratch on them. My two cents....

Thanks for the input guys, I just called the dealer even with my discount the alignment is $345 seems a bit steep. My local Porsche dealer is very small and I heard overpriced and under qualified from reviews I have read yikes!

My indy just completed the alignment on my C4 for $260, so the $345 is a bit high, but not out of line. Your indy should know someone that can do it for you. Mind you, it doesn't have to be a Porsche shop, specifically.

I am super fortunate to have a local indy alignment specialist around me. All they do is alignments and nothing else. Been in business for over 40 years and is family run. The guy really knows his stuff but get this, he only charges me for things he actually had to adjust. Last time I got out of there for under $100. Plus since he does all the local auto-x/track guys, he knows all the settings too.

Knows all the settings???? as in all the requirements for all the different cars for Daily street, track and parking lot racing? Dang!!!!! last time I brought the settings i wanted for my car the guy said, Um we only bring them back to factory spec. I just went home and learned how to do it myself. Now I can fuss with it whenever i need it including track side. I know what will happen with 1/2 turn of this or that.

It might help if we knew your location so someone local can recommend someone. After a few appointment issues with my local dealership, they recommend a indy and $85 later I had a great alignment vs. the $250 alignment the dealer was going to charge.

You bought the car with lowered suspension and now it needs a four wheel alignment "badly". What in your opinion is the right cost - $50, $100, $150? Let's see, $100 alignment poorly done, four new tires and wheel refinishing $1200 later, another "correct" alignment $345...all in for say ~ $1650. Now that seems steep. You don't say where you are so we cannot help you there. Perhaps another dealer within 100 mile radius? Or someone on here will know of a Hunter Laser alignment shop near you. BTW - a correct 4 wheel alignment with your wheel/tire combination will more than likely last a very long time so it is almost a one time deal. Are you a PCA member? Many dealers will give you a discount for that. Also might check your PCA local chapter for advice. Another thought...a totally correct 4 corner alignment job, setup, suspension adjustments and balance, align and check is probably like a 2-3 hour process done right. So dealer/technician time all in for $345 doesn't seem way out of line.

What a headache I called the indie shops and they recommended specific big ol tire and another big brand tire locations. I call them up and they say they don't want to work on it go to the dealer. Meanwhile the local dealer wants an arm and a leg and they are under qualified according to reviews. Man I cannot catch a break.

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I am located in Bakersfield California our local dealer is tiny and shares the service center with Audi and vw the reviews are bad and they are overpriced. Yes I bought the car knowing the alignment was bad after he had lowering springs installed.

I get 46 Google yellow page listing for alignment shops in Bakersfield, some with 5 star reviews. Looks like the phone will be your best option http://www.yellowpages.com/bakersfie...alignment-shop

These guys say they have the latest Hunter Laser alignment equipment http://www.fmautobody.com/

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That will be of great help to OP.

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I appreciate the search, I just rang them up(mind you they're owned by the family motors auto group that owns the Porsche dealer) they said they no longer do just alignments. I guess they only use that rack when they do insurance jobs etc they're a bodyshop .

If I were you, I would get in touch with the local PCA chapter. http://gem.pca.org/ There is the "James Dean" Autocross on May 3rd. Get in touch with either of the autocross chairs (Greg Fullmer & Omar Olivas) and find out how they are getting their vehicles alignments done. Hell, maybe even head out to Shafter for the event and ask some members that are competing. There has to be a shop close to you that handles their work.

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Yeah shafter is real close to me, but is there a cost to just show up and watch? I know there is a fee to participate with your car.

Perhaps you guys can educate me but I thought with the new laser guided, computerized systems, it was idiot proof. No?

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There shouldn't be a fee to watch. They might have a gate agent at the airport, tops. A quick email to either autocross chair should cover any entrance anxiety.

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Not as idiot proof as it should be. Early in my ownership of my 996, I was having tires installed at a big tire chain and they offered an alignment. I reluctantly agreed. Not long after I agreed, they called me back to the shop floor and said that they couldn't do the alignment because there was too much wear in the suspension bushings and this resulted in play in the suspension. I told them to leave it alone and I would get an alignment elsewhere. My independent Porsche mechanic aligned it perfectly. There was no play in the system at all. They were either idiots or crooks. I prefer to stay away from either of these options.

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Appreciate it, are you attending?

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I won't be attending. Have an event at Qualcomm down here in San Diego this weekend. I might have to make the trip in the future if the Chargers move to LA and we lose Qualcomm's parking lot for autocross fun.

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Well if you ever do just pm me and you can show me the ropes, I always wanted to do an auto x event.

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Crooks, of course. When I did my tires about two months ago, a guy came over and said you should change your brakes. I went and looked at the pads and there was at least 60% left on them. So I said no thanks. The reality is they try to make a buck in every angle possible.

To the OP - RE: Family Motors. Although I am in NE PA my C4S came from Bakersfield and was serviced by Family Motors. They were extremely attentive and responsive in working with me long distance. I had a PPI performed by them and they noted the service work that they had performed on the car. I then had a Post Purchase Inspection performed by my dealer when the car arrived. Family Motors inspection report was spot on accurate and the work they performed was of high quality, even my local tech was impressed with the quality and completeness of their work. Specific to the alignment, I still have the e-mail where they state alignment previously performed and in spec. 2 years later I was having a rear axle seal replaced and an alignment was a part of that repair. My dealer captures the alignment specs prior to and after performing the alignment. The prior specs were still in spec. Alignment here costs $285.00 at the dealer so $345.00 for your area sounds reasonable. Note my C4S is stock so I can't vouch for their work on after market components. It has been over 3 years since I dealt with Family Motors and perhaps things have changed. Service advisor I worked with there was Tambi Perazzo.

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There is a different service advisor now. But I've only had a PPI done that the potential owner paid for and a key fob programmed so I can't say I do or don't trust them I am just stating their reviews aren't the best and they have a small dealer.