Chromatic, you’re over thinking this too much! The small shops you mentioned that only work on high-end cars most likely don’t do alignments in house, they send them out to specialty shops. Simply ask which shops they use. Also don’t stress so much over the cost, a proper four-wheel alignment will run between 75 & 100 dollars.

At my independent alignment shop, I talk directly to the guy who works on my car. He inspects everything and gives me print outs of the before and after specs, does a test drive and lets me know about anything he sees that might be a little odd. At a dealership you talk to an entry-level employee who really doesn’t understand your problem, but somehow is expected to write a summery of it on a work order for the tech to decipher.

Re: your above concern about the lettering on tires. I think most every tire has the letters on both sides.

Re: the front wheel alignment, the 350Z only has adjustments for toe, Things like camber and caster are fixed on the front. However you do want these specs printed out to see that they’re even and within acceptable range.

Long before there were automobiles the wheels on heavy work wagons were carefully aligned so they rolled in a straight line. (The front wheels were arranged with an amount of toe in, because under load the axel would flex forward and they would straighten out) If one or more wheels had excessive toe in or out it would scuff along the ground as it turned. A good teamster could tell by the amount of sweat on his horses if the wheels were in need of aligning.

 

Took some pics today as the sun was setting.. didn't turn out as good as hoped.. but You get the gist

I put them in this thread:

https://my350z.com/forum/media-share...l#post10287869

** I'm trying to follow the forums protocols/rules,.. seems half my posts get moved, etc. So not sure if I'm allowed to upload pics in this thread.

Take care.

 

This is my personality,.. reason it's not resolved yet is because of all the conflicting information I get from you guys. -- Some say any shop can do the alignment, some say no "chain" shop can do it.. some say you have to take it to Nissan.. Some say many Nissan dealerships can't even do it.. some say take it to some specialty alignment shop... Some say get new tires, some say don't get new tires get them flipped around and aligned. Some say get the front tires "trued up" -- but most people/shops don't have the skill or tools to do this anymore,.. some say buy new bushings,... and on and on.

So you can see the confusion.

I believe you are right.. other people have told me both ways -- but it looks like that is the case.

Thing is,.. these are Asymmetrical front tires AND Directional front tires.. makes them double problematic. As flipping is going to keep the direction proper, but the tread pattern will be reversed and while it will roll I'm sure, it won't be on the car as the tire was designed.

That is absolutely spot on. Caster/Camber are not adjustable -- and Toe In is adjustable.. just toe - in. TSB mentions only Toe-in,.. (Which adjusting Toe-in is essentially adjusting "toe out" -- which this car is designed for a MINIMUM of 0mm Toe-in,.. Nominal 1mm Toe-in,.. and Maximum (Preferred setting) - of 2mm (0.08 in.) [0.2 Degrees] of Total Toe in.

I just called the local Firestone store -- and talked to a tech,.. I asked about their equipment,.. and asked if they Use Hunter Equipment Alignment Racks -- he said, Yes Sir! I said, from what I've been told if you use that equipment and it's updated regularly you will have the Nissan specs to align this front in properly.. He said Yes, Sir we do.

So that sounds good to me.

I then Got his advice on the flipping of the tires.

1) Yes, he can flip them.. it's $80 JUST to flip the tires.. then additional $80 for the alignment.

2) He said flipping them is still going to leave the feathered wear on the tires .. but I knew that.

3) I asked if flipping the tires would possible knock the alignment out just a little due to the odd tread wear.. he said no, the alignment should stay just fine.

So.. I told him about tirerack.com.. and the tires I was going to buy -- Bridgestone Potenza S04's. Asked him what Mount, Balance, Valve Stems, and then the Front end alignment all would be in total if I had them delivered to his Firestone store from Tirerack.com.

He looked it up,.. confirmed tire sizes with me,.. and said it was $197.95 for mount/balance and alignment. Which is about what I expected.

SO. I'm strongly considering getting the Bridgestone Potenza S04's that are $660 including shipping to the Firestone.. which will total everything said and done to $860 for new tires, mounted, balanced, and the new front end alignment.

OR,.. I can flip the two front tires and get alignment for $160.

The Potenza's are on sale/special right now.. about $150-200 off for the set.

The orig. owner is splitting the bill with me.. so I'm essentially getting out for about $400-440 with his half.

I'm thinking ordering tires tonight from tire-rack.. and bringing the car to firestone Thursday sounds like a plan.

Thoughts?

 

I've always had Bridgestones on my Z and have been through various versions, including one set of S04's.

Most recently, I have/had RE960's (now RE970's) and have had the best luck with them.