Short answer: yes — every time. If a shop lifts or levels your truck and hands you the keys without an alignment, they skipped the step that determines whether your new setup eats tires, wanders on the highway, or drives like it did in the brochure. Here's why, from a shop that does the alignment in-house on every install.
What lifting actually does to your alignment
Camber, caster, and toe — the three angles that decide how your tires meet the road — are all set by your suspension geometry. The moment you change ride height, you change that geometry. Even a 2" leveling kit rotates the control arms enough to push the front end out of spec. A 6" lift replaces half the parts that geometry depends on.
- Toe goes out almost immediately with height changes — this is the tire-killer. A truck 1/4" out of toe scrubs rubber sideways down every mile of road.
- Camber shifts as the control arms change angle — uneven inner/outer tread wear.
- Caster affects straight-line stability and steering return — the "wanders on the freeway" complaint after a bad lift install is usually caster.
What happens if you skip it
We've seen trucks come in from driveway installs and discount shops with tires cupped bald on the inside edge in under 10,000 miles — that's a $1,500 set of 35s destroyed to save a $150 alignment. Add darty steering, off-center wheel, and uneven braking, and the "savings" are gone several times over.
Why we include it instead of upselling it
At Lift Pro Customs, alignment is included with every lift and leveling install — it's not an add-on, because the job isn't done without it. Our starting-at pricing (leveling from $550, lift kits from $1,100) covers parts, installation, and the alignment on our in-house rack. One shop, one visit, done right. Pricing is a typical starting point, not a quote — your truck and parts set the final number.
When to re-check alignment on a lifted truck
- After the install settles — new suspensions settle in the first 500–1,000 miles; big lifts sometimes benefit from a re-check.
- Any time you change tire size or wheels — new load, new scrub radius.
- After hard off-road hits — curbs, ruts, and rocks move things.
- Uneven wear or a crooked wheel — the truck is telling you.
The bottom line
An alignment isn't an accessory to a lift — it's the last step of the lift. If you're pricing a kit and the quote doesn't mention alignment, ask why. Ours always includes it.
Planning a lift or level? Spec your build in the Build Planner or get a free estimate — alignment included, always. Call (936) 320-8120 — Willis, TX, serving Conroe, Montgomery & The Woodlands. Related reading: puck vs strut leveling kits and how long an install takes.