I'm going to be replacing tie rods soon and taking the car for an alignment. As I understand it, the factory suspension does not have any adjustability in the rear. Do you all with factory setup get all four checked regardless? As a way to look for wear/damage I presume?
You need a front alignment, and a thrust angle alignment, but not a four wheel alignment.
While the rear is fixed, you have to make sure the front is in line with the rear, which is what a thrust angle alignment does.
When I did mine, I measured the length of the old ones, adjusted new to same length. All was good. Steered good and tires wore evenly.
The places I have been to (with other cars) automatically put devices on all four wheels right off the bat. Your question may date back to older technology in wheel alignment, which some shops may still use. Even when I get new tires on a vehicle they check the alignment with these portable things they clamp on the wheels themselves
Thanks guys, will proceed with as advised.
If you're up to the challenge: level surface, two jack stands, some fishing line and a ruler and you can align her yourself!
In the case of my e30, my rear trailing arm bushings and subframe bushings were really worn out and caused issues with the rear alignment. I had one tire wearing quite a bit. I ended up doing the bushings and it straightened everything out. Keep that in mind if they say something in the rear is out of whack!
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