replace a cv joint? I need to know if puting a cv on will throw the alignment off.

If you do anything with the suspension, yes. If you do it without touching the suspension, then no. I'm not familiar with the precedure for CV-Joint replacement, so I don't know for sure.


-justin

If the car still drives nice then I wouldn't worry about it. I think either way I would get it checked out to be safe.

I think the steering knuckle has to come out in order to get the CV out. Although, I'm not positive. If it does have to come out, then an alignment would be needed.

I believe the strut bolts have to come out and the strut bolts are what holds the camber in place...the tie rod end just has to get unbolted at the end so toe wont change, if you wanna save some money see if you can borrow a camber bubble tool from a parts house, there a strong magnet with a leval inside that allows you to see exactly where your camber is before your ft end was taken apart and then you can set it back there after its put back together......::insert corporate plug::......or you can spend 60 bucks and a local Sears Auto Center can do a professional 4 wheel alignment with the best equipment around they come with a 6 month 6000 mile warranty even if you hit a pot hole and throw it it they will still align again for free within the warranty!!!! ......sorry I manage one sometimes its hard to get away from it all. LOL

Yout don't need an alignment for ALL suspension work. Simple Endlink swaps are fine. But when you change and/or unbolt anything that deals with the wheel position you will need an alignment.

If any mouting bolt on the strut is undone, ball joint is changed, or tie rod adjusted, you should get it done. Use a marker on touching surfaces to get it close when you put it together will get you close when it'* back together, but not necessarily spot on.

Tires plus will do a 4 wheel alignment for $70, or 3 years all you can align for 100. I figure since i plan on struts this summer, i'll need it then too.

To replace a CV joint you haveto take the steering knuckle loose of the strut and the control arm, so YES you should get an alignment.

I ran into a weird one today, for some reason GM didn't see fit to include eccentric camber bolts on the PA Ultra, so my camber(which is off by 1* on the right) is NOT ADJUSTABLE! Is the 2000+ Bonnie like this?

seperate the ball joint and pop it out
i did this on my car and i didnt get a alginment and its fine

This is how I removed an axle shaft. The strut-to-knuckle bolts did not need to be touched and therefore no alignment was necessary

I recall my dad saying that he made markings on suspension part positions and replacing stuff exactly to where it was, but I imagine that'* still not awfully accurate.