[fmxona500]

Please read the entire post, as it contains information about my quest for an alignment in the Fayetteville, NC area on a modified car

Background:

Last month I installed all new suspension up front. Consisting of the following:
Tokiko D-Spec
MM Camber Caster Plates
MM Steering Shaft
New steering rack from O'reilys
Lower Control Arm Bushings
New Sway Bar End Links
New Sway Bar chassis bushings
Steeda Bumpsteer Kit
Moog Ball joints
(H&R springs, my bilstein struts (which are for sale now!) and an Eibach sway bar were already up front)

After the install I took the car around town to a bunch of different alignment shops around the Fayetteville area. Most shops wouldn't touch my car because of it not being 100% factory (to no fault of their own, I understand liabilities.) Firestone also could not help me because of my "R"compound tires, as the vehicle "might" be used for competition. Blah. I found a place and for the standard front end alignment price of $69.99, add $10 for non factory 17" rims, add $10 for lowered suspension, add $10 for the front tires being over 245s (I have 275 up front) total came to $100 for an alignment. Decided that it was absolute robbery to charge that for an alignment, so I folded and went to a shop that rhymes with Flacks Tire.

They absolutely terrified me. After dropping the car off, and looking over the car with their tech, I shortly received a phone call that their alignment tech needed to see me. I came back from breakfast to see that he had my lower control arms unbolted and was told that to adjust my camber to where I wanted it, they had to drill out the sub frame. I showed him again that the camber caster plates were there for that specific reason. I contemplated taking my car out of there immediately, but because of lack of any other options at this point I decided to allow them to continue due to the fact that I felt I was out of options. End result, worse alignment ever. I did not receive a print out to what my specs were at because their "printer was broken." I know that a car with 2 degrees of neg camber, 5 degrees positive caster, and a .5 degree toe in should be alittle touchy, but after two weeks the alignment was absolutely sloppy.

So after three and a half weeks with this alignment, I accidently clipped a pot hole one night and my steering was shot. Wheel turned to the side and the car went wherever it felt.

Competition Auto
I heard from about a shop in Spring Lake, NC (about 5 minutes north of Ft. Bragg) this week and this morning brought the car in on a "first come first serve basis"

My experience was pleasant. They have a good amount of performance items with competitive prices for all year mustangs in stock (including 315 drag radials, which up until this point was only a mail order option in this town), and a cute, friendly, and knowledgeable woman working behind the counter. They also offer great prices and alot of different services. Best of all, my alignment is where I wanted it and drives good. Out the door for my alignment, I paid $58.

I spoke with one of the their techs, and I'm bringing my car for a new F/I tune in a few weeks since they also do dyno work at what I feel is a pretty decent price. They also have experience tuning F/I to run with nitrous, so I might end up picking up some juice here soon.

They have a website, which isn't much to write home about, so I recommend calling them if you have any questions.

This shop is coming from me, as highly recommended.

Competition Auto
http://www.compauto.net/
1118 N. Bragg Blvd
Spring Lake NC, 28307

(910)497-4769
(910)497-4711