Tracking - Shall i, shan't I?...

[europeanme]

finally about to replace my corroded subframes and replace all the wishbone bushes/ARB's etc on my avant tomorrow. I will also be replacing my shocks for bilsteins, unfortunately they will not arrive until at least next week...

my dilemma is as I am off work this week shall i swap everything over, except the shocks, have it aligned then fit the new shocks when they arrive or....

shall i wait for the shocks and do it all in one hit, whenever that will be...
as i cannot see the next opportunity for it to be done...

will my tracking alter that much by removing the shocks??....

cheers for any tips....

[goodall]

Id say they wouldn't cause much a issue as the front struts still be the same and on an avant all spring/shock does is vertical location (am i right), so get tracked before the shocks, or just wait a week with the car set up by eye, or just where all bolts back in and just get tracked after shocks aslong don't do to many miles wont be to big a issue

[Jamo]

Mark the bolt holes with tippex and realign afterwards

[europeanme]

aslong don't do to many miles wont be to big a issue

Thanks for the tip....
the only concern i have a 60 mile round trip to work everyday!!....unless i talk very nicely to the wife and steal her car...

[goodall]

Ah just get aligned then after doing the work, and then get checked after the shocks, and even has moved shouldn't be by too much so if friendly enough place they mite do second time for less or even nothing

[lind4hl]

Mark the bolt holes with tippex and realign afterwards

doesnt matter unfortunaly, the new bushes will move the wishbones etc.

[s2driveruk]

if you disconnect the strut from the hub and the steering arm then why would the alignment change?

[europeanme]

Ah just get aligned then after doing the work, and then get checked after the shocks, and even has moved shouldn't be by too much so if friendly enough place they mite do second time for less or even nothing

i was thinking along the same lines.....take my car back after fitting the shocks and try "my steering feels funny after last weeks alighnment" and see if they will adjust it if needs be....

thanks for the help....

[andy10v]

mistook

It would be nice to do everything then have it aligned, however the shocks can be replaced without altering the alignment so that is not an issue. Either replace the shock in situ or remove the entire strut complete with hub carrier.

[Le S2 Audi]

For me... and I am no mechanic...

I would wait and then you don't have to worry about it being incorrect...

Just in case it don't go back together as you HOPE...

How much is a set of tyres if you get it wrong???

I understand the dilemma.... But why waste the money... for rushing the job through??

(Notice my spelling!!)