# To align or not to align **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 3, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959 "2014-01-03T23:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/1 "2014-01-03T23:24:56Z")
It is early winter here our roads are a mess but my 2002 Kia Sedona mini appears to need an alignment. However with all the pot holes and horrible road conditions would it be a waste of monies at this point. I am going to make sure my front tires are balanced today but not sure if $80 is a worthy investment since I really need back shocks. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/2 "2014-01-03T23:32:56Z")
@bertrand I’d replace those shocks and make sure all of the tie rods, control arm bushings, ball joints, etc., are in good shape BEFORE getting that alignment Here’s some more advice: Don’t get new tires unless you also get an alignment ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/3 "2014-01-03T23:54:25Z")
3 out of four tires in very good condition so tires last of worry. ---
**Author:** ![gdawgs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@gdawgs](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gdawgs)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/4 "2014-01-03T23:59:50Z")
get it all fixed in the spring. save some money now and get it all repaired when the funds are available. you will chew up your tires fast if your alignment is out. a 3 year tire can be reduced down to 12 months of life it driven with bad alignment. so postpone only 2-3 months, not a year. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/5 "2014-01-04T00:20:54Z")
@betrand “3 out of four tires in very good condition” What’s up with the 4th tire? ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/6 "2014-01-04T00:21:56Z")
U can buy 1 good used tire. About 15 used tire shops in most towns. $30 for tire? Come on man, it’s easy ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/7 "2014-01-04T01:06:22Z")
My vote is to fix the shocks, check the front-end components, and get the alignment now. Otherwise you may be throwing money away by chewing up the current tires far more quickly than usual. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/8 "2014-01-04T02:17:26Z")
When I bought the van there were four totally different tires on it. 3 in great condition and one in good. Back in 2011 hit a pothole and had to replace one of the great ones now good one is nearing need. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/9 "2014-01-04T03:19:16Z")
@bertrand " . . . four totally different tires on it. 3 in great condition . . ." I’d rather have 4 good tires, all the same brand, versus 3 great, 1 good, all different brands! " . . . now good one is nearing end." If that good tire is nearing the end, it’s not that good C’mon, man! ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/10 "2014-01-04T03:57:48Z")
Why bother getting it aligned. You want all of the car ready for an alignment. And the stars at this time are not aligned for it. Hold off till spring/summer. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 6:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/11 "2014-01-04T06:03:32Z")
What concerns me with doing an alignment now is our roads are in horrible condition due to snow and ice and pot holes. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 6:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/12 "2014-01-04T06:36:23Z")
**^** That–precisely–is what would give me pause. My personal policy has always been to defer wheel alignment until the Spring, after most of the winter potholes have been repaired. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 8:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/13 "2014-01-04T08:10:05Z")
It might be a good idea to inspect the steering and suspension components prior to an alignment. Looseness in tie rods, tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings, etc, make alignment a moot point. Slop anywhere means the alignment spec is wandering as you drive even if the car doesn’t… A good alignment tech should go over things like this while it’s on the rack prior to making any adjustments. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/to-align-or-not-to-align/82959/14 "2014-01-04T18:46:56Z")
I looked at used car with 4 different tires. Salesman asked if I was a “car guy”? Is bad tire on front or rear? Front has tie rods while rear usually does not. Rear end is usually pretty robust. Any odd wear there means something big got bent. A tie rod is cheap. Usually \<$100 for repair. Tierod$100, tierod+align=200, tierod,align, wheel bearing=450. See progression?