I've had good alignments from a VW dealership.
And I've had bad alignments from shops that have been in business for many
years.

There is no safe formula,

but if you take a copy of Derek Drew's Alignment article (Aug 8 1996) in and
they don't show any interest in it... that's not a good sign.

Generally these guys just want to put it on the computer and they don't want
to think. That may work with your average car, but not for the Vanagon....
especially the Westy which can be loaded heavily and most of the weight is
on the driver's side.

The best thing is to get a recommendation from other Vanagon owners AND make
sure your Van is loaded like you typically use it... i.e. don't take your
Westy in empty if you only use it to go camping. And fill the gas tank half
full. And insist on a 4 Wheel alignment... (many shops just knock out a 2
wheel alignment at a cheep price).
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
-----Original Message-----
From: Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 10:28 PM
Subject: Re: ?? SYNCRO WHEEL ALIGNMENT ??

>I have been a bad boy.  After redoing one side of my Syncro front end last
>year, I put off having an alignment.  It was steering arrow straight so, I
>didn't think about it.  Needless to say, I shot two front tires.  Today, I
>sought the advice of the two local Vanagon experts.  Neither could tell me
>where to take it for the alignment but, they both told me where not to take
>it: the local VW dealer.
>
>Other than the wheel geometry specs, is there anything a competent
alignment
>shop needs to know in order to do a proper job on a Syncro?  The shop I
>booked to do the work has been around for at least 50 years.  They even
wind
>their own springs.  They confidently told me they can even do an alignment
on
>a wheelbarrow but, I doubt if they have ever seen a Syncro.
>Rich
>