While it used to be the case that an alignment was warranted, and I had to get one done after replacing links on a car I once owned that had a mess of shims under the mounts for each of the wishbones, modern manufacturing practise is to tighten down the tolerances of the components, and the mounting positions on the body, such that they can be assembled on new vehicles without any setting up, saving time and labor costs.
Your Honda follows this approach. Castor and camber are fixed, if an alignment shows that they are out of spec, the indication is that something is worn, and can only be fixed by replacing parts with new ones. Of course, if your car has ever had any accident that has distorted the body such that the suspension mounting points have been moved, replacing suspension components won't bring the alignment back, and there are often aftermarket parts available with maybe eccentric bolts or elongated mounting holes that do allow for some adjustment, but factory parts are fixed geometry.
The only parameter that can be adjusted on the Accord is the toe-in, since this is affected by quite a number of tolerances, and this is then the one thing that does need checking. I've found that replacing track arms or ball joints generally doesn't require any change in the toe, but given the mileage on the car, it's worth doing the check to find out if anything else does need attention.
Joined
Apr 23, 2008 · 44 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Jul 6, 2009 Replacing both control arms and bushings. Do I need alignment after? Joined Sep 28, 2005 · 2,556 Posts
Absolutely. I just did mine and my alignment was totally messed up afterward Joined May 7, 2009 · 71 Posts
Replacing both control arms and bushings. Do I need alignment after? I recently changed mine. If I recall from my research here it is not always that you will need alignment after changing them. However I went ahead and got it done since I also installed all new tires etc.
Joined May 6, 2008
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1,370 Posts
It is recommended. (as with a lot of things on BMW)
Joined Jul 14, 2008
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586 Posts
What about after changing just the bushings?
Joined Jul 19, 2002
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939 Posts
Absolutely. I just did mine and my alignment was totally messed up afterward Absolutely not. Replacing the control arms will NOT affect the alignment. The only reason you would need an alignment from replacing worn control arms and/or bushings is if you had an alignment done with very worn parts.
However, an alignment is a maintenance item often overlooked or blown off. The cost of an alignment, just for easing your mind, will pay for itself in the long run. Replacing just one worn tire from a misaligned vehicle will easily cost double of the out the door cost of an alignment will cost you.
Joined Oct 14, 2004
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1,493 Posts
When I had mine replaced, the steering wheel was off center but no pull was detected. They did an alignment because of my concern and the front toe was slightly (.07) off. Tech said that most times nothing changes, but sometimes new parts can cause some very minor movement due to manufacturing variances. Or the alignment was off due to worn parts and the
new ones caused a need to bring things back to spec. Either way, replacing CAs and CABs should have little if any effect on an already good alignment.
Joined Sep 28, 2005
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2,556 Posts
My alignment was done with CA's and CAB's in good shape. When I recently changed CA's from Lemforder (left) and Febi (right) to Meyle, my alignment drastically changed. Both of my front wheels were toed out and my steering wheel was off center
Joined Mar 16, 2007
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1,123 Posts
Absolutely not. Replacing the control arms will NOT affect the alignment. The only reason you would need an alignment from replacing worn control arms and/or bushings is if you had an alignment done with very worn parts. Not necessarily true. When you consider the amount of banging on a
pickle-fork often required to free up ball joints and so on required by this repair, the likelihood that you'll knock something out of alignment seems pretty high. I'd suggest anytime you do major front end work you include an alignment afterward.
Joined Nov 4, 2008
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86 Posts
I replaced control arm bushings and my alignment was messed up...Alignment was mandatory
Joined Mar 7, 2007
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65 Posts
dont forget...you might need to ask them to re-calibrate your steering angle sensor too if your steering wheel is off-centered...which might cause the dsc/abs/brake like to be on (yellow). it happened to me, so just to give a friendly reminder here.
TL
Joined May 6, 2008
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1,370 Posts
I'll be checking by steering column rubber guibo too since the steering wheel still has some play after the replacement LCABs
Joined Jul 19, 2002
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939 Posts
Not necessarily true. When you consider the amount of banging on a pickle-fork often required to free up ball joints and so on required by this repair, the likelihood that you'll knock something out of alignment seems pretty high. I'd suggest anytime you do major front end work you include an alignment afterward.
You are one of the guys on the board that believes everything you read. Now all you are going to do by making stupid statements like this......is to make everyone who is as gullible as you believe they need an alignment after getting a window regulator replaced.
For one........if you are replacing a control arm, the ball joints are part of the arm. You bring me an E46......I'll knock the old control arm out with a bulldozer. Its not going to affect the alignment in any way, shape, or form. The adjustments for an E46 are in the shock tower and with the tie-rod ends. The control arms just hold the front end together and keep the geometry correct during vehicle operation.
To make it clear......you do NOT need an alignment after front lower control arms and/or bushings. The only reason you would HAVE to do an alignment would be if for some reason.....you had an alignment done with worn components.
Joined Jun 9, 2008
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2,099 Posts
Joined Apr 14, 2003
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3,303 Posts
Changing arms/bushings can absolutely change the alignment! Especially toe! This is clear from the comments about the steering wheel moving off center. If an alignment is not done after changing these pats, just when should it be done, never? Tires are too expensive to risk destroying them! Anyone who would advise not getting an alignment is full off
base.
Joined Mar 16, 2007
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1,123 Posts
You are one of the guys on the board that believes everything you read. Now all you are going to do by making stupid statements like this......is to make everyone who is as gullible as you believe they need an alignment after getting a window regulator replaced. For one........if you are replacing a control arm, the ball
joints are part of the arm. You bring me an E46......I'll knock the old control arm out with a bulldozer. Its not going to affect the alignment in any way, shape, or form. The adjustments for an E46 are in the shock tower and with the tie-rod ends. The control arms just hold the front end together and keep the geometry correct during vehicle operation. To make it clear......you do NOT need an alignment after front lower control arms and/or bushings. The only reason you would HAVE to do
an alignment would be if for some reason.....you had an alignment done with worn components. Gee, I wonder what it must be like to know everything with such certainty and clarity. Kinda reminds me of Don Rumsfeld, another know-it-all who consistently got it wrong, but will go to his grave convinced he was right.
Joined Jan 29, 2004
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607 Posts
i just replaced my control arms and bushing and the alignment is slightly off center. Going for alignment this weekend.
Joined Oct 9, 2006
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1,063 Posts
Yes, you NEED an alignment. I ate through $500 worth of tires in 2 weeks because I didn't get an alignment after my CA install.
Joined Apr 14, 2003
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3,303 Posts
Joined Dec 6, 2006
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50 Posts
its true! u dont need an alignment if u replace d fcab UNLESS theres more worn parts after u replaced d fcabs, my friend is a master tech at bmw for 10yrs and for marketing purposes they recommend alignment but in reality u dont except (ill b repeating my self 2x) u have other worn parts thats related to the suspension geometry or alignment of d
car. we just replaced my fcabs with uuc fcabs and handles like a dream, no need for alignment coz everythings in good condition except my worn fcabs w/c gives me a bad understeer, bumpsteer and steering jerks during braking. Do an alignemnt if ur replacing suspension parts like springs or coilovers, rcabs, arms or camber plates, also check for subframe mounts and bolts for torque settings coz they loosen up for some reason... My experience: after replacing my fcabs w/ uuc, i started hearing
creeking or clunking noise in my suspension but i spent d whole day figuring it out then started torquing each bolts under d front of d car and found subframe and steering rack bolts are not properly tight. After triple checking, put it all together and test drove my car and everythings secured and handles very well with no noise or vibration...