So I have been gone for a while. Previously had a 2012 3.5. Upgraded to the 2.7 and now I gotta start my build all over again. (darn). Here is the question. Puting some Bilstein 5100's on to level. Got a good deal for parts and labor. But they are telling me I have to replace the cams. Does this sound right. Asking close to 300 for alignment and cam replacement. What do u guys think. It's a 2019 fx4 package.
Lower control arm cams simply make it easier to perform an alignment. Are they mandatory? No! That said, some alignment guys won’t take the time or spend the effort to align one without these added. On most vehicles, when I performed an alignment I personally preferred not to have them. A strategically placed pry bar worked better for me but was not the case on all vehicles. It is a quick up-sell for the front end guys. You can turn a $60 alignment into $200 cams and alignment job and takes literally minutes to replace assuming the bolts aren’t frozen. Alignment shops, just like any other shop likes quick money and yes you do get something for the money. These Techs are taught to sell these kits.
I appreciate the response. I went to Ford and they basically said the same thing. This shop is doing the labor on a "Black Friday discount". I kinda figured the alignment was an upsell.
Likely need the alignment after the Bilstein’s. I suspect most do The control arm cams are the upsell to support the alignment. Now if someone had a feather stuck someplace special and just wanted to install the cams (I can’t imagine why) then they would likely mess up the alignment during the cam install and need it realigned.
Ford did not include cams from the factory and the trucks are still aligned. It’s the aftermarket that wants to make things easier on itself during an alignment and harder on your pocketbook. The control arm bolts slide in the slots whether the cams are there or not. If someone tells you that the cams are a must to do an alignment they are telling you a fib.
I am unclear on what it is that Ford told you when you visited them.
$600 labor, are you serious? This is a 2 hour job on a lift plus the alignment. I’m amazed. Did I misunderstand and that includes the Bilstein's? Given my share of artificial joints, I’m none too mobile. That said, I can knock these out in 3 hours in my driveway, on jack stands and using a vice to hold the coil over. I can’t hardly believe that price.
So I have been gone for a while. Previously had a 2012 3.5. Upgraded to the 2.7 and now I gotta start my build all over again. (darn). Here is the question. Puting some Bilstein 5100's on to level. Got a good deal for parts and labor. But they are telling me I have to replace the cams. Does this sound right. Asking close to 300 for alignment and cam replacement. What do u guys think. It's a 2019 fx4 package.
When I had mine done(at a local Goodyear shop) I paid $400 for the fronts to be installed and an alignment. Total job for both took about 4 hours. I didn't think it was too bad of a deal. I did the rears myself.
When I had mine done(at a local Goodyear shop) I paid $400 for the fronts to be installed and an alignment. Total job for both took about 4 hours. I didn't think it was too bad of a deal. I did the rears myself.
Ha! That's the shop that told me I needed the cams replaced! That's a great deal. I should tell them you sent me. Maybe try and get the same OTD price. Haha
So shop added the billsteins. Shocks were 260 and the labor was 150. They again tried to get me to do the alignment for 350. I politely (ish) declined and took it to my local alignment shop where they did it for $80. So all in all it was a little over 500. The level looks good and the shocks feel good. Happy. On to the next thing.
So shop added the billsteins. Shocks were 260 and the labor was 150. They again tried to get me to do the alignment for 350. I politely (ish) declined and took it to my local alignment shop where they did it for $80. So all in all it was a little over 500. The level looks good and the shocks feel good. Happy. On to the next thing.
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