Hi.
Just a thought. In having my geometry and 4 wheel alignment done next week but in a month or so, I’ll be replacing my stock shocks on my 1.6 MK2.5 with Bilstein shocks from a 1.8 SVT.
Will get have to get all the 4 wheel alignment re-done after changing the shocks?
Would the same answer be true if I fitted adjustable coil-overs at a later date?
Thanks
Hi Fraz
This is quite an expensive process, isn’t it?
Any height or camber adjustment would generally require a repeat of this process.
I would put off getting this done until you are happy with your basic setup.
It depends on how you remove the shocks where you “have” to have an alignment done. You “should” have it done though; there is a difference.
If you remove by undoing the alignment bolts, yes, you have to have an alignment done, as its likely to be all over the place, even if you mark up the bolts. If you remove by other means, it moves to a"should" condition. Stock to Bilstein OE doesn’t change height by much. If the adjustable coilovers are set up to be the same height, you may find there is little adjustment to do. At least, that has been my experience, after multiple alignment checks folowing shock/spring swaps (Bilstein/Racing Beat shock/springs, Apex’i shocks/springs, Protec/P5 shock/springs, Meister-R shocks/springs, Corns-Racing Gear Shocks/springs).
If getting any of the cheap Chinese made set-ups, where the shock length can be adjusted as a means of setting height (in reality, this was a sales gimmick invented by a Japanese shock maker to bundle a generic (=cheap) shock tube with a custom lower eye, this follows on from Raceland who came up with bargain “adjustable coilovers” by fitting a Nissan Micra (or similar) cartridge into a externally threaded tube), users are frequently encouraged to play about setting up their height during ownership. In theory, this would necessitate a full alignment everytime, but people don’t. Some would say, and its probably correct, a full 4-wheel alignment should be included in an annual service.