G35 Alignment

[tollboothwilley]

I was told by the service manager at the local Infiniti $tealership that in order for a proper alignment you have to go to the dealership.

He told me because the calibration system is specific and no shops have the ability. In essence, you could get an alignment at Big-O or similar place and the alignment can go right out because they don't have the right calibration system.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Is this true??? I need to get one done soon..

DJ

[SteveTheTech]

You guys need to be an educated consumer whenever you are about to turn over your keys and money to anyone. Use your better judgment.

Although there may indeed be qualified technicians in many places the equipment and moral of the employees will effect your experience more than any of the other factors.

The best thing you can do is make a mental note of steering wheel position, and any pull that you want to ideally connect. Make sure yuo get a printout and share it with us after they get it done. Also many people over look checking tire pressure so you may want to do that yourself. Oh and if you want to be a thorough PITA wherever you go give them one of these

Good Luck. You may be able to get it done at any garage but at the dealer that is the only model they align... But I am openly biased.

[SVTCOBRA]

Skip the 'Infiniti experience' and get it done at your local Nissan dealer and save some $$$.... Build up a good relationship with your Nissan service/parts department.Have your gf/wife/DIY bake them some cookies when they do a good job/give you a discount. Wonder how much Infiniti charges anyway.....

[cheapazz]

You really wanna be a PITA????? The only way to get a "TRUE" alignment is to have the vehicle set to how it is normally driven....Let me explain this fun little factoid. If you always drive your sedan with 2 people in it, the vehicle "should" have the same weight and position of the people in the vehicle at the time of alignment. The same for if only one person is in it. Perfect example...........if a guy takes his work truck in for an alignment and EMPTIES all his tools out of the vehicle to get it done....it will be wrong once he puts everything back in. The weight of the tools will change the geometry of the suspension.

SO BASICALLY.......If you want to be a TOTAL PITA.....tell 'em ya want to sit in the car during the alignment so its done right.

[tollboothwilley]

So the infiniti service manager was lying to me then? He told me the calibration was specific. I'd just never heard that before and wanted to hear what you guys think. I've never gone to a dealership for an alignment.