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Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127081] Mon, 23 May 2011 09:21 Go to next message
Paul Cloutier is currently offline  Paul Cloutier   United States
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We're traveling from Chicago through St Louis and then down towards Wichita KS and looking for a good alignment shop along the way that can sort us out. The coach has been pulling to the right recently and there is an irregular wear on the outside of the front passenger tire.

There have been a couple of discussions here in the past about alignment shops in the chicago area and champion frame align in elgin has come up. I just called them and they say they won't work on them any more. Has anyone else come up with anything that they have had a good experience with?

We are also the couple on the year long road trip that stopped at Dan and Teri Gregg's last week (thanks guys!) to replace our CV boot which is holding up just fine.

-Paul
77 Royale
http://50statesorless.com
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127089 is a reply to message #127081] Mon, 23 May 2011 09:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
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Dang, I hate it. There used to be a shop in Carbondale but he would not allign my friend's last year. He did a good job on mine in 06. Maybe Ken Burton will come along. He is east of the Chicago area.
Paul, if you pass by a truck place maybe pull in and ask them.
Dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127108 is a reply to message #127081] Mon, 23 May 2011 11:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rvanwin is currently offline  rvanwin   United States
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Paul Cloutier wrote on Mon, 23 May 2011 09:21

We're traveling from Chicago through St Louis and then down towards Wichita KS and looking for a good alignment shop along the way that can sort us out. The coach has been pulling to the right recently and there is an irregular wear on the outside of the front passenger tire.



Paul,

I'm in Springfield, MO and have done front-end alignments on several coaches with good results. I can check all six for alignment but have not done much adjustment of the rears although I did help a friend straighten a rear bogie arm that was bent. Not sure of your time frame, but would be happy to have a go at it. I'm afraid timing might be an issue because we are leaving early to middle of next week taking the two oldest grandkids (Mary 13, Rachel 11) on a trip to Yellowstone and Glacier returning by the 22nd of June so couldn't help until we returned. Having to swap out a radiator before we leave so too much to do in the next few days.

Let me know your schedule and we will see if we can work out anything?


Randy & Margie
'77 Eleganza II '403'
Battlefield, MO
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127136 is a reply to message #127108] Mon, 23 May 2011 13:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Paul Cloutier is currently offline  Paul Cloutier   United States
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Location: Oakland CA
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Thanks Randy, I think we will out of the area by the time you get back but that's an awfully kind offer. We are actually headed to yellowstone and glacier as well after Kansas so we may pass you on the road.

-Paul
77 Royale
http://50statesorless.com
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127203 is a reply to message #127081] Mon, 23 May 2011 20:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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how about this place.
Champion Frame-Align Inc
864 Bluff City Blvd
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-9294
There was a post a while back and I can't remember if this was the place that was confirmed as good by a GMCer. You'll have to search this board.


John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127208 is a reply to message #127089] Mon, 23 May 2011 20:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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WD0AFQ wrote on Mon, 23 May 2011 09:56

Dang, I hate it. There used to be a shop in Carbondale but he would not allign my friend's last year. He did a good job on mine in 06. Maybe Ken Burton will come along. He is east of the Chicago area.
Paul, if you pass by a truck place maybe pull in and ask them.
Dan


Dan I have no ideas on this one.

Jim Miller had someone in the Dayton- Hamilton- Cincinnati area but that is hardly on the way. If all he wants is the front then anyone with a rack big enough the hold the coach ought to be able to do it. It's not any different than a typical Toronado.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127210 is a reply to message #127208] Mon, 23 May 2011 21:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
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Ken,
I need mine looked at but no one around here will do it. They say they cant get it on their rack. I know they can but they just dont want to mess with it.
Dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127228 is a reply to message #127210] Mon, 23 May 2011 21:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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I had a similar problem with one of hte locals. When I told them they had it on their rack before and aske dwhat changed thy said their rack was broken and they were waiting for someone from the company that made it to arrive to repair it. I gave up after 3 month of waiting.


I just got a message off-net from a GMCer that said he had his aligned at Brown Tire in Portage, Indiana

You might want to give them a call.

Brown Tire of Portage Inc
6755 Melton Road
Portage, IN 46368-1292
(219) 762-7702

http://www.browntirecompany.com/



Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127240 is a reply to message #127081] Mon, 23 May 2011 22:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMCNUSA is currently offline  GMCNUSA   United States
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Paul Cloutier wrote on Mon, 23 May 2011 10:21

We're traveling from Chicago through St Louis and then down towards Wichita KS and looking for a good alignment shop along the way that can sort us out. The coach has been pulling to the right recently and there is an irregular wear on the outside of the front passenger tire.

There have been a couple of discussions here in the past about alignment shops in the chicago area and champion frame align in elgin has come up. I just called them and they say they won't work on them any more. Has anyone else come up with anything that they have had a good experience with?

We are also the couple on the year long road trip that stopped at Dan and Teri Gregg's last week (thanks guys!) to replace our CV boot which is holding up just fine.

-Paul
77 Royale
http://50statesorless.com

Paul, I just had my coach aligned in Indianapolis and there are 2 truck spring, brake and alignment garages who said they would do it. I chose 1 shop and told them I wanted 0 camber 0 toe and as much caster as I could get. I replaced bushings, tie rod ends and ball joints. I took it to them with the ride height already set. The rest of the alignment is straight forward and any truck shop that does alignment should be able to do it for you.


Larry Dilk
Indianapolis, IN
76 Eleganza II
Patterson 455,Turbo City TBI, Just LOVE It!
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127277 is a reply to message #127228] Tue, 24 May 2011 09:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Paul Cloutier is currently offline  Paul Cloutier   United States
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Location: Oakland CA
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Hey guys,

Thanks for the info on this. John, I called the guys at Champion in Elgin but they said they won't do GMC's anymore. Basically the same story that Dan and Ken told about their local shops. Larry, that's good info on getting the coach aligned at local truck shops, there is no reason most alignment shops shouldn't be able to do this esp. if you have everything ready to go like that.

Ken, thanks for the info, I just called the guys in Portage and they said they could do it. We are actually camped about 5 miles from them right now at Indiana Dunes State Park, so that is a perfect location.

-Paul
77 Royale
http://50statesorless.com

[Updated on: Tue, 24 May 2011 09:44]

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Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127278 is a reply to message #127277] Tue, 24 May 2011 10:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
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Ken, thanks for the info, I just called the guys in Portage and they said they could do it. We are actually camped about 5 miles from them right now at Indiana Dunes State Park, so that is a perfect location.

-Paul
77 Royale
http://50statesorless.com[/quote]


Dog gone, how cool is that? Thanks Ken for weighing in on this.
Let us know how it goes Paul.
Dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Re: Front End Alignment In Chicago or St Louis [message #127309 is a reply to message #127277] Tue, 24 May 2011 12:30 Go to previous message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Paul Cloutier wrote on Tue, 24 May 2011 09:44

Hey guys,

Thanks for the info on this. John, I called the guys at Champion in Elgin but they said they won't do GMC's anymore. Basically the same story that Dan and Ken told about their local shops. Larry, that's good info on getting the coach aligned at local truck shops, there is no reason most alignment shops shouldn't be able to do this esp. if you have everything ready to go like that.

Ken, thanks for the info, I just called the guys in Portage and they said they could do it. We are actually camped about 5 miles from them right now at Indiana Dunes State Park, so that is a perfect location.

-Paul
77 Royale
http://50statesorless.com


I'll be about 15 miles straight south of you on Indiana 49 at US 30 all day a and well into to the evening at my hanger at Porter County Airport. I'll be changing some tires on one of my Honda's. Also tonight is Two Wheel Tuesday so we'll be around hanger N37 or L1 until 9:00 to 12:00 PM. Feel free to stop by or call if you need anything.

Ken B.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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