flat rate time is one hour to 1.2 hours depending on if rear adjustment is required for a proper thrust or 4 wheel alignment.

shops that do front end alignments/2wheel alignments are short changing the customer. The rear alignment heads aren't compensated so the rear tire angles aren't considered for the front adjustment. Its a poor way to do alignments but make shop owners happy (if they charge 1 hour for 1/2 work) or customers happy if they charge 1/2 hour.....but short change the job.

If i was to put new tires on my AWD or 4wd for $800+, when matched tires are important, I'd want the better alignment.

 

I agree. Too often we choose the <$ route, and don't consider the long run effects on Tire Life AND the performance of our vehicles. Maybe I'm just naturally paranoid about this stuff, but I'm always trying to take that extra step to CMA

 

when the time comes to get one done, ask for a printout of the before and after alignment settings. All alignment equipment 20years old and newer as designed to provide this. You can verify what was out of spec and what adjustments were done.