Suspension work before alignment?

[Bordtea]

Hi guys - just a small query looking for some advice.

I have a Megane RS250 that has an as yet undiagnosed suspension knock from the front end. I suspect it's the common ball joint problem but could potentially be anything. I am also intending to take the car in for a 4 wheel hunter alignment in the near future and was going to ask them to check out the suspension while it's up on the ramps. It then occurred to me that suspension work could well end up knocking out wheel alignment so if there's impending work that needs doing it would be a waste of time getting the alignment before that's done.

Am I correct here or does it not matter? I suppose it depends on what the fault is, but if it does end up being the ball joint or wishbones etc rather than a spring would this make a difference?

Any advice appreciated!

Cheers
Dan

[thebraketester]

You'd ideally need the alignment checking after doing any work to the suspension or ball joints etc etc. Get the issue sorted out first

[E-bmw]

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

If you make adjustments when some worn part is at one end of the wear travel and then replace it with no wear travel it WILL be in a different position & depending on what the worn part is it is likely that this would then put your expensive alignment back out.

[xjay1337]

Fix the suspension.
Then get the alignment done.

[Bordtea]

Thanks guys - much appreciated.

[NotBenny]

Bordtea said:

... and was going to ask them to check out the suspension while it's up on the ramps. ...

there's two sides to this coin.

heads: don't ever ask people "to check XYZ while it's up on the ramps". If you want someone to inspect your suspension, pay for a mechanic to inspect your suspension. Don't ask someone to do a job, and while they have the car in the air ask them to check something else.

tails: when having wheel alignment done suspension should be checked anyway to ensure that there isn't an underlying issue causing the pulling/uneven tyre wear/wayward handling etc etc that the customer is concerned about (unless the vehicle is being presented for alignment because the suspension/steering has been worked on, but even then it's worth casting an eye over it).