Alignment Shop Recommendations, RI

Any members here in Rhode Island? I am looking for a good alignment shop that can get my caster to 3 degrees or very close. I am running an OME lift with 285/75/16s. I have SPC UCAs up front with a top plate spacer and OME 885s. Just had an alignment done and asked them in advance if they could get the caster set to 3 or as close as possible and they assured me they could do it and that they had a good tech and a brand new Hunter alignment machine. Made clear that I did not want factory spec. alignment.

So I get the truck back and their definition of close to 3.0 was 2.0 caster. So I drive it for a day and it’s rubbing on the front fender where mud flaps used to be when I back up out of any level driveway and when I pull forward after backing up when turning the wheel. Worse when there is any grade. Never did that when I had it properly aligned with good caster angle around 3 degrees. Even 2.6 caster seemed to be fine in the past. Not pleased at all so I brought it back and told them and they said they would try to fix it no problem. They have my truck for another 5 hours and then I get a text 10 mins before closing saying they tried and it’s still rubbing.

When I get there he didn’t have a print out of the numbers they were able to get and when I asked him he said he can go and ask the tech. Came back still didn’t give me a print out or even the caster number. Said that maybe I need to take it to a 4 wheel shop. Asked him if he could recommend one and he said he wasn’t sure. So I was nice, but I said well I’m not too happy because I paid $150 for an alignment that I now have to have redone because you’ve created a problem I didn’t have previously. He said if I’m not happy with it I they will credit me, but didn’t seem like he wanted to do it then maybe because they were closing or maybe because he’s hoping I don’t follow up. Needless to say I won’t be going back here for an alignment and will be calling tomorrow for a credit! I guess their guy wasn’t as good as he said, because a good tech should be able to do it. And I’m thinking that since he was dodging the number question they didn’t do anything with it and caster is still 2.0. Sounds like a factory spec alignment to me.

Any good alignment shop recommendations in Rhode Island appreciated! I am not seeing any 4 X 4 shops on google that have speciality with lifted vehicles and alignments so I’m hoping someone can help me out from experience! I am in North Kingstown, RI if that helps, but will drive a bit for a good shop.

Thanks!

These are alignment specs from first time I brought it to shop last Friday.

 

Hello Andy, if you want to drive up to Woonsocket, I highly recommend Roger's Tire and Auto, they are on Cass Ave. Dave, the owner, and his team are top notch people, and if you ask to have your alignment set a certain way, he will do it (unless it can't physically be done). I have been using him for alignments for years now, and have recommended many people on the forum to go see him (I have also seen first hand that he does alot of alignments for people that take their cars to track days).

Speaking of Roger's, I have to make an appointment to have my alignment checked as well...

 

Hey, man! Another Rhode Islander (South Kingstown), new to the forum and the Tacoma platform.
Although I'm new to the Tacoma, I've had quite a few Jeeps over the years. I've had a lot of luck with the guys at Barrette Fabrication on Tollgate Road in Warwick, it's right down the road behind Bald Hill CDJ.
You can check out his website and Facebook and everything first, obviously, but he does literally pride himself in doing lifted/4x4 specific alignments right in-house. He's always got a bunch of cool projects in his lot and in my experience runs an honest business and pumps out services quickly.

 

Going to be hard to not have rubbing of some kind with 285's. Especially if your LCA's are older and bushings are more worn out and rubber is more pliable/ripped.

Also as a person from CA I find it quite funny someone can ask for recommendations for an alignment shop within the entire state as thats a feasible area to cover quickly. Boggles my mind, closest state east is like 5 hrs, north is like 11 from where im at ahha.

 

Have you done a CMC?

 

Haven’t done a cab mount chop, but the rubbing seems to be on the fenders only as far as I can tell with and has only been an issue this once in 7 years running this lift setup and tire size since these guys “couldn’t” get the caster over 2.0 degrees.

 

Kinda confused. Why didn't you have them just do a toe and go for you here? Your before measurements seem to be where you wanted them to be but toe is a little off..

 

Well I’ve never had any rubbing on this lift setup so it’s clearly a botched alignment from a shop that doesn’t know how do do it.

I’m not sure what boggles your mind about asking for a recommendation for a good shop in my state. RI is very small, but I researched and didn’t find any 4 X 4 shops that have experience with aligning lifted vehicles so I thought I’d ask here and I got some very useful recommendations.

 

I was way overdue for an alignment so I didn’t think it would hurt to dial the caster back in. Didn’t think they were going to lower it to 2 degrees.

I know I what my caster closer to 3, but what would you recommend for the toe and camber settings?

 

Realistically if you end up not getting a refund for some reason; go back and ask for them to return your truck back to what it came in like and just adjust the toe... Clearly the tech who did the alignment didn't get the memo on your caster request because all he simply had to do was adjust your tie rods...(in my opinion that is)

 

I think what boggles his mind is that you can request somewhere ANYWHERE in the state because of how small it is vs cali being almost the whole length of the east coast, not the question in itself.

 

Most shops don't want to put specs outside the factory recommendations. It looks like your shop just put everything back into the basic factory specs!

 

I think he was just making a funny comment about the differences in sizes between your state and his. No malice intended.

You could do a quick check and see if there is still range on the adjusters. If its not possible one of the adjusters should be maxed out somewhere. I can't imagine why the wouldn't be able to do it but simple enough to take a quick look (or snap a photo)

 

It has its benefits being able to get from the northern most border to the ocean in around an half hour.

At least you guys over on the west coast can have some diversity, with landscapes at least. "Oh, I want to go the forest today, tomorrow I want to go to the desert, and Friday I am going up to the mountains to ski!" Granted, I know that is not everywhere in California, but it is better than the Northeast (trees or some large rocks, and then ocean...)

 

Exactly, just making a Joke as to the size difference and that its feasible to actually ask within an entire state a suggestion.

 

Made an appointment with Barrette thanks for the tip! Ran into a guy that just had them do a lift for his gladiator and he was really happy with their work. They want $300 for an alignment which seemed a lot higher than 4X4 shops I used to go to in SC, but at least I know it will be done right!

 

Yikes! A little steep. I honestly didn't know what to expect price-wise before sending you that way... I've been overseas for a few years and haven't had any work done in a while. I do think you'll get good work done and leave with whatever works best for you and your truck, though. Good luck!

 

Yeah I mean the 4 X 4 shops in SC were charging close to $180 for an alignment which used to be $120ish a few years ago (4 Wheel Parts). Prices are going up with everything I guess. And I haven’t had an alignment in a long time so I figure hey if a decent price is $150ish I’m overdue so if I pay $300 this one time and it’s done right by a good 4 x 4 shop that specializes in lifts and alignments then I’ll give them a try. We see where $150 got me this time lol factory spec and rubbing. And this other shop that said they could “probably” get me the numbers I want couldn’t even commit to a price. Said ballpark for a light truck is $130, but he said depends how long it takes them and he said “should” be less than $300. Umm no not giving you my truck with wide open pricing for an alignment lol

 

Another RI Tacoma owner here. Let us know how is goes. I will be installing a lift in the next 6-9 months and was looking for a good shop to do the work.

 

Barrette is probably the shop for you. I couldn’t find any 4 x 4 shops in Rhode Island using various google searches for off-road, 4x4 and alignment shops. Definitely seem more prevalent when I lived down south. If you check out their website they say they specialize in Jeeps, but do a lot of Toyota lifts. Spoke with them and confirmed this. Owner and his wife were very nice on the phone and answered all my questions.

Guy I talked to today said they let him bring his own parts he purchased and said price was good for lift labor and alignment. A lot of shops don’t let you order parts separately so that may save you some cash. He had a nice looking gladiator they put lift and 37s on.