NTB Alignments: Worth it?

Hi there folks,

I was wondering if anyone uses NTB's multi-year alignment programs to have their alignments done? From my understanding, you pay up front up to ~$220 for up to 5-years of unlimited alignments. Not a bad deal it seems.

For a basic alignments is NTB a good goto place, does anyone have any experience having them put the car to custom specs, or is a true performance shop/DIY method the way to go.

Thanks

That is just a scam to get you back in the door to sell you something. And I have a feeling if you install parts yourself they would find a way to weasel out of the contract.

Years ago, we had a B13 SE-R in the family, and NTB was the only one of the big box tire stores who could put a decent alignment on it that would hold longer than a week. Never did try a performance shop.

My experience with big-box tire store alignments is spotty at best and that's with stock specs. Throw in custom measurements and it can go downhill fast. I'm pretty sure it depends on a mixture of management policies and who's working the rack that day. They're not all bad, but it's like rolling the dice a bit.

Now I gladly pay $120 per alignment to a performance shop and leave happy every time.

I instructed my mom (who lived down a E36 M3ty gravel road full of potholes, put 30k a year on her car, and a lot of that on rough roads) to get their "lifetime alignment" which was like $40 more than a one time alignment (I think $70 vs $110 or $120) from NTB and she used to take her car back in every 6-12 months and they aligned it for her. it was hell keeping her car aligned, probably mostly due to the roads she drove. But her tires stopped wearing out prematurely, and it helped keep her maintenance on track (things like ball joints and tie rods and wheel bearings that most people let go until they are loose as a goose).
I dont' think they ever told her she needed parts that weren't worn out...

So, for a DD that gets driven a lot (5k miles in the past 2 months a lot) and sees dirt action I suppose more frequent alignments would be wise? Guess I should go make friends with someone with a rack....

there's a Firestone store near me that offers lifetime alignments ( don't know the $$$) haven't tried them since the prez of our local a-x club works as the front end man at an indy tire place and will put what ever alignment on your caryou want

Get the print out! have them print it when everything is tight. Just befor they take the heads off. A good alignment does not come from the name on the building. It comes from some one taking pride in there work. If you text me the pre specks ill tll you if you need one. I took my wifes car to Firestone on Fort Bliss for 4 tires last week. They called me to tell me the battery was going bad. They did not tell me the brak light is on and the cap was missing from the MC. So I told them no on the battry and to put a cap on the MC and flush the brake sys. They found the cap that they lost when they did my State Inspection. Put it back on and that is all they did. In short Firestone on Fort Bliss does not care about safty. Just fast and Ez.

I had a 5 year for my truck that they transferred to my Tahoe when I sold the truck. For free. I tow with the Tahoe quite a bit on rough roads and get it aligned about every 9 months. I say on a DD it's worth it.

-Rob

noddaz wrote: That is just a scam to get you back in the door to sell you something. And I have a feeling if you install parts yourself they would find a way to weasel out of the contract.

I buy tires from these guys - but it always comes with an arguement. NO, I don't want a fuel injection clean, NO, I just changed my radiator fluid.......BUT, I understand as I encourage my sales guys to constantly upsell our "stuff".

GVX19 wrote: ....A good alignment does not come from the name on the building. It comes from some one taking pride in there work.....

Yes this ^^

Having the machine properly calibrated helps too. Ask the last time it was done, you'll most likely get a blank stare and a fib.

Odd, on all of the cars I have owned, I never have had a professional alignment done. Never wore a tire due to misalignment. I did my own alignments on my track/iceracer but never on my street cars.

It is also car dependant. My 924s gets wiggly when it is just a little out of spec. Where as the mustang can be way out with no real driving difference. I used NTB for years with the 924. They had a tech that knew his stuff. He would get it close and then have me get in the car and finish with me in it. I asked him about it and he showed me that the added weight changed the alignment by a degree or two. I was impressed. Unforchantly he left the NTB I was using to run the service department at another store that was 200 miles away.