alignment

[ruthi]

Anyone know of a good place to get a front end alignment in Atlanta, Ga area?

[wildbob24]

Ruthi,

We've had pretty good luck with these guys:

Alignment & Frame Services Co
2441 Main Street, East Point, GA 30344-2601
(404) 767-1516 ‎

Here's a google photo of their shop. You can see a bus in the middle bay:

http://g.co/maps/u9zre

Bob

[Mike in GA]

Ruthi:
If you would prefer to get the work done North of Atlanta, here is the website of the company I have used successfully with my MCI for alignment, balance, truing, and even kingpin replacement.  It is in Gainesville GA.
http://www.keslertire.com/
Good luck!
Mike in GA

[uemjg]

How about Houston, TX? Average cost?

[ruthi]

Thanks Mike and Bob. We will be Northeast of Atlanta for the next couple of weeks. Bout how much should it run to get this done?

[artvonne]

  I was sent to a class put on by MOOG on how to find fault with steering components. Thats where the real money is in wheel alignments, parts and labor. The alignment rack is the bait and switch to get you in the door.

  A Bus (most) has a straight axle with king pins. There is no adjustment for caster or camber, its built into the assembly. To alter either caster or camber would require physically bending the axle somewhere.

  The only real adjustment that can be made to most Buses is the tire toe in/out, and then only after centering the steering box and steering wheel. Other than an adjustment at the gearbox to take out some play in the steering, everything else revolves around worn parts and their replacement.

  You should be able to count wheel turns from full left to full right. Count back turns half way. The half way point between full left and full right is center, or should be. In the center position the gearbox should be centered, the wheel should be horizontally centered to the normal straight ahead position, and the wheels should be straight ahead. To be 100% accurate this should be done with the linkage removed from the gearbox. Then you center the gearbox. Then you center the wheels. And lastly you attach the drag link to the gearbox.

  Generally, tire wear or driving/steering issues will tell you if you have a problem. The very first thing to look at is your shocks, second would be to inspect king pins. I would want to know what most here consider average or maximum play in king pins before biting onto that one. I would also suggest NEVER putting a vehicle on an alignment rack unless, or until it has two good matching tires on the front.

[luvrbus]

Their bus with the Torque suspension will be a independent front end just like a Eagle,you set the height then align they converted a seated bus and probably never set the ride height and the ride height will change the caster and camber on the independent front ends on buses   

[artvonne]

  Well, I did say "most", lol.

  Still need to center the steering before doing anything else. Its simply amazing how many techs try to worm their way around that, or simply dont take the time to do a thorough job, and then try to BS their way around it when you call them on it. I dont know if any of these Buses have variable ratio gear boxes, but it is extremely important to have those types of boxes centered in the straight ahead.

  Pulling the steering wheel off and putting it back on straight is NOT the correct way, lol.

  I took a Mercedes into this place to get it checked after I had a frame shop straight it out (I bought it with crash damage). I never had a rack of my own (did alignments professionally when I was young), so I went to this place called PTL tire up in Ham Lake, MN. PTL for "Praise The Lord". I get the car back and the wheels half cocked. I didnt drive a block away and I was back to point it out. The three criminals behind the counter, including the owner, Mr PTL himself, tried to BS me they couldnt straighten the wheel without doing an enormous amount of labor (like a MB is more complex underneath than a 65 Chevy?). I went home and did it myself in about 15 minutes. It was then I discovered the tool kit in the trunk missing, which I had put in there that morning before going to their shop.

  If the tires aren't wearing funny, if it drives nice and straight, and the steering wheel is straight, I would tend to leave well enough alone. Have someone you trust who is competent look it over for wear parts when you are able.

 

[ruthi]

luvrbus, The reason we are wanting to do this, is the tires are wearing. The front tires are wearing on the outer edges of the tire unevenly compared to the center. Dont know who to trust with this, but we have got to find someone as these are new tires, and dont want to have to buy new ones. No, we did not adjust the ride after converting it.