Albany Speed Shop Alignment Review

A few weeks ago I called Darryl@Albany Speed Shop to get some info and maybe set up an appointment for a full alignment. My main issues were whether or not the car could get on the rack, if these guys were going to be the typical know-it-all, listen-to-no-one techs, and whether they’d allow me to sit in the car during the process. I’m a big guy and wanted to make sure the setup was spot on so I could effectively make changes in the future. I was assured all of my needs would be met, and scheduled an appointment for an alignment a few weeks ago.

I showed up at the shop around 3:30 and after being introduced to Darryl, and consequently the tech that would be working on my car (SAABOOST on shift) I handed off my keys, and was brought back into the shop where I was allowed to observe the car being put on the rack (a safe distance from the rack itself-safety first of course :tongue). The guys took great care to make sure the car cleared the whole way up, which meant removing various parts of the rack as well as basically inching the car along on 2x4s for the full length of the Hunter Laser Alignment Rack.

Great care was taken mounting and zeroing out the “sensors” (the actual name escapes me) as they were mounted to the wheels, and after seeing where everything was at as the car sat, I gave them the specifications I wanted and they told me to hop in the car. I shot the shit with the techs while they were finessed the angles to my spec, and was relieved by the fact that they’re not the usual thick headed dipshit morons that alot of techs are. They took great care in getting camber and toe where I wanted it, and I was given a print out of the original, and current alignment settings. I then hopped out to watch them pull the car off the rack and talk a bit with Darryl. He’s got a lot of very cool ideas for the area and I hope they all pan out well for him.

After much coaxing from the techs in the shop, I waited until Darryl wasn’t looking and violated his back parking lot with a quick figure-8 or three, though he caught me and seemed impressed. Won’t happen again Darryl!

All-in-all it was the experience I’ve been looking for from an alignment for a while, usually you just hand your keys off to one guy, who gives them to another guy, who tosses your car on a rack and aligns it to ‘close enough’ to factory spec, and looks at you like you have two heads if you suggest your own specs. Not only that but you don’t have to sit in a waiting room flipping through year old magazines wondering how the car you’ve put so much time into is being treated. I’ll definitely be a returning customer and look forward to seeing some of Darryl’s ideas coming to fruition.

Awesome Benny. Darryl is a good guy. Cant wait to rent a lift and bay for a couple hours.

Good review.

Good to hear this, I’ve been struggling with a good alignment shop. Nice to hear there’s some out there.

albany speed shop seems to be helping out everyone pretty well , its good to hear that !

awesome times. how much did it run? I need to do an alignment badly after I notice that my camber is wayyyyy off on one side as soon as I mounted the slicks !

all together a full camber/toe “race” alignment is $135 out the door.

Oh I forgot! the guys also allowed me to loosen up the catback’s v-band and clock the catback so it stopped rubbing on the subframe while it was up in the air. No additional charge, I just asked and they said ‘yup, what do you need?’

good stuff.

THUMBS UP! Saw the drift pictures too, looking good.

you’ve sold me on this, just made my appointment. Sorry your lips were blue this morning, my bad.

how much?

legit!!! If I didn’t get shit like this for free already I would definitely go there. I’ve recommended several of my customers up there already and all were taken care of!! :thumbup

I actually didn’t work on your car. I was the guy that took your $$$ and missed the little show you put on. Harold was the older guy directing your car on and Neil was the tech that did the alignment. Reguardless, thanks for the kind words as all of us enjoyed meeting you as well.

Neil! that’s right, I could have sworn he said he was your username, but I have shit for memory.

:rofl

hit that bong again benny ! hahaa j/k

i told you shift and albany speed shop was a perfect marriage !

hey dave can you stay out of my thread please? thanks.

srsly ? :rofl

Benny knows big words. :thumbup

For real though. When the “draggin door ranger” is completed… we will be bringing it to you guys to help out with the alignment and really test your skills!!!

Just a heads up for your techs… Air ride, 6 link cantilever rear suspension, front is upper and lower adjustable controll arms. This should be fun! :rofl

love it and look forward to a challange!!

we’ll get pizza and wings and make a party out of it!!

DC

WIN!!!