Alfa Alignment

[stevewaclo]

Looking for a referral to a business that can do a front end alignment on an '87 Alfa Spider. This is not a routine operation. Carson City location is first choice, but Reno works too.

Thanks, Steve

[Kevin M]

I don't know anybody in Carson, but C&C in Sparks can probably handle it.

[sperry]

Benson Bros. Racing in Moundhouse? I know they work on Doug D's Alfa... but I'm not sure how setup for alignments they are.

[dsmith]

There's an Italian only shop on E 2nd at Kirman in Reno - Ital Motors. They've always got a couple of Alfa's out in front waiting for work, so they should be able to do it.

[stevewaclo]

Thanks for the leads...will check them all out.

Steve

[SteveM]

I've been running my own alignment on my '74 for about eight years. Tires are still in great shape. If you can't find anyone else, let me know.

[stevewaclo]

One of my major gripes on other BB's of which I am a member are threads that don't die with a bang, but with a whimper. Point being, it's frustrating to follow 3 pages of posts on some obscure issue, only to have it fade away without resolution. Those with way too much time on their hands may want to endure my rant on the Alfa BB:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/spider-1966-up/117421-not-bang-but.html

Anyway, just realized I am also guilty of letting a thread fade away (some would say a more serious transgression is starting a thread at all) and in an effort to correct that situation (yes, as a semi-retired card carrying member of AARP, I do have a lot of time on my hands...don't tell my wife;)) let me close out this front end alignment issue.

Though I didn't say it at the time, my first effort to get the Alfa alignned (following my replacement of tie rod ends) involved an unplesant experience with a large regional dealer here in Carson that shall remain unnamed at the advice of counsel. Granted, '87 Alfa QV's don't roll onto the rack very often anywhere anymore, but in the immortal words of Dirty Harry, "A mans got know his limitations". In other words, hey guys, don't practice on my car! I should have been suspicious when the process went beyond an hour and at least half the shop seemed to be involved at some point. "That's the best we can do" was the final verdict and, I know, I should have made a fuss when $50 bought me nothing more than toe wear on the rear tires I moved to the front.

Was down at Carson Nissan (no more Jeep) a few months later for routine maintainence on the wife's Altima Coupe, and I mentioned the Alfa situation. Bottom line, the tech's at the dealership showed me finished product in the form of a print out from their alignment equipment, and the Alfa's new Dunlop's have been wearing evenly ever since.

As I have observed in another post, anecdotal evidence should always be viewed with healthy skepticism, but I'm going to close out this post with a qualified endorsement of the alignment crew at Carson Nissan (YMMV). Perhaps of greater significance than recommending an individual company is the importance of working with high caliber organizations with clean shops, modern equipment and trained personnel.

For all the 5 year olds out there who have yet to learn this lesson, I hope my comments have been valuable:lol:.

One other thing...ever notice how some posters apologize in advance for the length of their post? As if somehow, by clicking through on a link, a reader has the fiduciary responsibility to plow through the entire article? What's up with that?...we are all free to bail at our discretion. Hey, what are you still doing here:lol:?

Cheers