jredmond1107
Active member
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 43
I am the dedicated alignment tech where I am at. All I do is 4 wheel alignments and install aftermarket parts (Specialty Products Company or the Raybestos/ACDelco rebrand parts) I thought this was the way to go when I started. Yes, I have "dead time" some days but the busy days make up for it. I can relate to getting paid like a human, this is the first time in the industry my checks were more than a consistent 500 bucks. I love what I do. If you don't have any common sense or control of your heat source you will fail. You can adjust camber front and rear in cars w non-slotted 2-hole struts by installing SPC's Cam Bolt in the upper hole- easy sell and takes 5 mins doubling the cost of the alignment. You need: Toe Hooks, Snapon is good but honestly the HF ones aint bad they stick on the sleeves and you have to tap them off though. You will need a slide hammer/ and an air hammer, to help with rear shims (also a good money maker if you get fast at them like me). Wrenches- SOLID ones no cheap bs and long pattern up to 32 mm bc trust me they are out there get yourself a cheater pipe too and LEARN how to use the torch well, the difference between a melted part and a part that comes loose and goes back in one piece is skill. A spray bottle and a blow gun too since time is money and you will need to cool down in a hurry, if in a real hurry use brakekleen- trust me sounds crazy but will cool the part down in a matter of seconds. A mechanics stool is nice for setting toe if youre lazy at times. like me lol. For rear cam bolts I use a long 1/2 ratchet or lately been using my Gearwrench XL Gearbox wrenches. If you use the big stupid monster snapon 1/2 ratchet the flexhead one on a cam bolt frozen in the bushing you will snap it in half and be hating your life for a while. If it won't go ship it to a frame shop too many snapped bolts and youll be bye-bye. A good 3/8 impact wrench and swivel sockets/extensions is a must I have a cordless 3/8 too but that's not necessary. Carbide bits yes rare but you can make money up-selling slotting upper strut plates etc- don't be an idiot and go blow half your check a week on the snapon truck. the only things of value to you that cannot be procured cheaper elsewhere if youre an alignment tech and only do alignments are:Flank Drive Plus Wrenches, Snap-On PWZ1 and pwz2, their toe hooks, and their long flexhead 1/2 ratchet. If you are really at a high volume place like me Knipex Pliers wrenches are great for repetitive movements on low-rust parts if not get the big and small Channelock nutbusters also known as "parrot nose" pliers. Prybars, don't waste your money on truck brands- those OTC ones are sturdy and so are the Mayhew and Craftsman brands. Last, a Harbor Freight cutoff wheel for accurate cuts on shims (sometimes you need to go in between the slots on the shim plate) and impact sockets- I know what its like to have to get all this stuff on a budget so that should reflect in my advice I gave you. Good luck-from an ASE Certified Undercar Specialist and Hunter Engineering trained Wheel Alignment specialist. By the way I can and have done 5 toe and go alignments in an hr- with the rim clamp targets- the new stuff must be nice- bet I could do ten in an hr with that. I try to upsell aftermarket adjustments though-that's where the real cash is.
