front outer cv boots changed=alignment necessity?

[Bdc101]

I never even aligned my car after changing the tension struts and ball joints a few years ago. I was ready to, since if the new ones had a different length than the old ones I could see that I might need to. But the car tracked perfectly fine before and after.


Honestly if you are bolting something on that is not adjustable, the only reason it would need an alignment is if it is a different size/shape than the original, or if you can bolt it on in a different position than the original.


It's my opinion, speaking as a mechanical engineer with a background in vehicle dynamics, that we align our cars way too much -- after a tire change for an example. There is nothing you can do during a tire change that would make you need an alignment. It is just an upsell from the tire shop. I actually have not aligned a car in almost twenty years. I would only recommend alignment if you have a tracking issue or if you have a tire wear issue. Otherwise I would suggest it's a waste of money and half the time the alignment is worse when you get it back. Alignment techs are generally sloppy with their work and they have wide ranges of "acceptable" alignments.