NineVettes

I have a '19 M7 Z that needs some alignment attention from a qualified an recommended shop. I have access to the CH-47960 alignment tool to set rear caster. I live in North Central Florida and none of the dealerships or "specialty" alignment shops around here (Gainesville) have the expertise to do a proper alignment to DSC specs.

If any shops in Jacksonville (North of me) or places like Orlando-Tampa, or even further south of me can do a top notch alignment, I am open to talking with them.

Suggestions sought - thanks!

Viking0728

I'm looking for one in the Orlando area as well.

usrodeo4

Have you tried contacting the Corvette Club of Orlando?

NineVettes

Just to re-state my original post, for me, it does not have to be Orlando, although Orlando is fine. It can be either North of me ( I am in Gainesville) or as far south from me as Tampa/St Pete/Fort Lauderdale. It shouldn't be so hard to get this done, but at least where I live, it seems to be.

patron1992

I live about two hours from Gainesville. I would suggest calling Sterling Chevrolet in Deland, Florida. They deal with a lot of corvettes. If they don't have the rear caster tool Stringray Bartow will, they are one of the biggest corvette dealers in Florida and are a sponsored vendor on here.

MSG C5

I can recommend a great alignment shop in Bradenton if you want to travel that far.

1stls7

Webber in West Palm Beach , or look up Ernie Bellows

Flame Red

In Orlando, I highly recommend Robert aka @mrr23

He has been in the area forever and he is the best there is with Vette alignments. Sadly I have lost touch with him recently, but I would PM him. Last I talked to him he did not have the rear caster jig thingy but that was years ago. He has always treated everyone's vette right!

Null Pointer

Try sending a PM to

eboggs_jkvl

he is a moderator on the c7 forums and is affiliated with one of the Jacksonville Corvette Clubs.

I haven't heard of any shops around JAX, but perhaps Mr. Boggs knows of one.
Good luck with your search.

mrr23

Still don't have the caster measurement tool for c7. Personally, it's a minor thing needing adjusting on the rear.

mrr23

If the car is lowered, it will most likely hit at the rocker panels under the door as I drive it on my lift. Other than that, I can do the alignment. From my understanding, the caster tool is just an attachmentto the steering knuckle to be able to read the angle of it. Never used it, so not that well versed in it. Read about it.

dbletap_ed

Not sure how far you want to travel.

Eismann’s Corvette in Jupiter. I drive down from Treasure Coast.

eismannscorvettecenter.com

pewter99

Try Advance Performance in Tampa http://advanceperformance.com/

NineVettes

Thanks, Bradenton is probably the closest to me of all the recommended shops so far. Can you provide me some contact information for them?

NineVettes

Thanks, checked out Jacksonville months ago, even checked with the local clubs - no Bueno.....

MSG C5

I thought the shop was in Bradenton, but it’s right over the county border in Sarasota. Tell him that Al from Skyway Corvette Club sent ya.

Null Pointer

I am not surprised. Lots of vettes around Jacksonville, but no indies work on them, just Chevy dealers. Good luck with your search. I'll probably end up taking mine to Orlando when the time comes, unless I can find something highly recommended in Daytona.

NineVettes

Do you know if they are still in business? Called a few times last week and got no answer. Left voicemail several days ago and never received call-back?

Not sure why it is so hard to get someone competent to do an alignment on this car!

NineVettes

So, thought I would post this update re my continuing search to find an alignment shop in Fl who is experienced with C7 Z alignments AND knows about/possesses the all important alignment tool to perform a proper rear caster alignment.

1. Multiple calls and VMS' to the shop in Sarasota over 10 days - never a call back.
2. Advance Performance in Tampa discussed this with me on the phone. They do C7 Corvette alignments, but have not done the rear caster alignment. They do not have the proper tools to do it, and after considering the cost of obtaining the correct tool to perform the rear castor alignment, have decided it was not an investment they wished to make.

Pretty sad the GM sells a performance vehicle that requires proper support from its dealers to perform a competent, complete alignment, and their dealerships within a few hours drive of me do not care enough to participate in the GM CH-47960 loan program. Nearly equally sad is that no performance alignment shop who provides C7 alignments is either aware of or has made the decision acquire the specialized to allow them to properly do a full alignment (including rear caster) on my 19 Z06.

Honestly, its sad that I have a "track model" car that is currently less stable at 120 MPH than my DD '16 Audi SQ5.

Makes me start thinking again about the possibility of switching into a '16 or '17 911 Turbo S. I can get tons of support for that car in Jacksonville - and a "certified" car will give me two years of warranty.

mrr23

Yep, it's unfortunate that most shops don't want to spend almost $1000.00 for a digital inclinometer and attachment just to set rear caster on a c7. GM never cared about rear caster on any model until the c7. I looked into it as well, not going to spend that kind of money and take 5 or more years just to break even. It's such a minute thing, in the big scheme.