Where do you get Aligned at? / cv question

vovo850 · Post by **vovo850** » 17 Jul 2019, 21:01

Never taken the car in for an alignment.
I don't think I want to take it to firestone/goodyear/chain store place to have them do it, does it matter?
Do I need/must get a 4 wheel alignment or can it just be the front?
Who do you take it to? dealer? independent volvo repair place or the place around the corner?

I also plan on replacing the cv boot, is the axle popper tool that important
or can I do it without it? Will it be a fight without the tool?
Just looked like a fancy prybar/tie rod separator.
But I've read some posts about these axles not like coming out.
I've only done one on a vw rabbit and I didn't use anything special.
It fought me a little but it popped out.

Post by **erikv11** » 17 Jul 2019, 21:18

Here's my two cents:

Alignment: If you're going to bother taking it in it then 4 wheel is important (start with the rears) and it can be difficult to find a shop that will do it right. You can take it to the dealership but may pay an extraordinary amount. I like to take these instructions in when I am setting up the appointment (download/file.php?id=4006) and ask them if they can do the 4 wheel alignment that way. If they don't seem to pay attention to the instructions then I won't take the car to them. Sometimes a smaller body shop will be the way to go. For a while I used a tire chain shop because they had a good tech who did it spot on by the Volvo instructions but when he left, I had to find another place.

Which axle? Passenger side always comes out easily. Driver's side can be a hassle but a tapered wedge (e.g. 5/8 chisel, triangular piece of wood) straight up from the bottom will pop those right out 99% of the time. Definitely not worth buying a special tool for, I don't even know of one that works well on these cars.

vovo850 · Post by **vovo850** » 17 Jul 2019, 21:29

Thanks for the download link. Will definitely start shopping for a place.
It's the passenger side cv boot. Good to hear that is the easier one.
I only found out about the tool when I bought the boot, it showed up as a recommendation.

Post by **June** » 22 Jul 2019, 18:36

Both Osteen Volvo and Volvo of Tampa charge less than $100 for a 4 wheel alignment. That seems on par with the tire stores from my experience. I am curious who you ended up using and the price. June

Post by **erikv11** » 22 Jul 2019, 23:15

$100 is a great price, I would jump on that, especially since I would trust the dealer to do it right.

When I inquired about 8 years ago at the nearest dealer (an hour away), I was quoted $199. I have not called back since, maybe I should give it a try.

Post by **abscate** » 23 Jul 2019, 06:19

Obviously franchise opportunity

Chiropractic Auto Shop...”we will do your front and your back”

Post by **June** » 23 Jul 2019, 11:04

Here are recipes from Volvo of Tampa $99 and Osteen Volvo of Jacksonville $89 both 4-wheel alignments on the 2007 C70 and preformed within the last year. No coupon was used, just Regular price. Being hundreds of miles apart with other Volvo dealers in between they don't compete with one another. June

Post by **erikv11** » 23 Jul 2019, 11:24

You're also a customer with a long history of using Volvo service, that can't hurt where there are discretionary pricing decisions.

Post by **kranz** » 23 Jul 2019, 13:28

I recently replaced most of the front suspension on my 98 V70. I knew I needed to get an alignment but I agonized over where to go because I had a nightmare experience with two different establishments the last time I got a new set of tires. I was reluctant to go to any local tire chains and no longer could trust my local mechanic. Was reluctant to visit the VOLVO dealer.

This time around I took it to an indie Mercedes Benz shop that also claimed to service Volvos (Mercs everywhere but no sign of a Volvo). I spent I think $115, but the alignment is spot on with absolutely no issues. The money was well spent . I picked up a low mileage (1 year old) set of Michelin Defenders for next to nothing at the scrap yard, had em mounted and balanced. The car tracks straight down the road at any speed without a quiver in the steering wheel. I am quite pleased.

Post by **June** » 23 Jul 2019, 15:42

erikv11 wrote: ↑23 Jul 2019, 11:24 You're also a customer with a long history of using Volvo service, that can't hurt where there are discretionary pricing decisions.

Except the C70 is in my daughter's name. So at least in the case of Volvo Cars of Tampa it was a teenage girl being dealt with. Osteen Volvo knows I'm mom so you're theory could be the case.

Really $100 is the going price around here for a 4-wheel alignment so it puts the dealership on par with the likes of Tire Kingdom and Goodyear who regularly send coupons in the mail. June