alignment needed after adjusting coilovers just a little?

[17708]

so i adjusted my coilover ride height, waited a few days of driving for it to settle in a little. then i measured the height again and it was perfct..so i made an appointment for an expensive alignment..then i left it sitting in the garage for 2 days and when i measured the height again last night, it was off on 2 wheels. front driver and rear passenger. the car is now at the shop getting aligned.
my question is, when i get the car back, would it effect the alignment if i lower the front driver and rear passenger wheel by just a fraction of an inch? i mean its only 1 or 2 marks down from where i want it to be originally. i dont want to have to get another alignment :| anyone?

[walky_talky20]

If it's just a minor height adjustment, no need to re-align it. It doesn't change that much. That would be akin to getting an alignment because you installed a carbon fiber hood, or went on a weekend eating binge and gained a few pounds.

The setting you'd worry about when changing ride height is the toe. The change is is more drastic as you approach the ends of the suspension travel (ie: tucking tire).

It really depends on how much you're worrying about tire wear. The Audi Allroad (C5) has the same front suspension geometry as our B5's. They have 3 different ride heights right out of the factory, and you don't see those guys getting an alignment every time they go to a different level. Generally it is aligned at the middle ride height (normal height) and the toe is "acceptable" at the higher and lower levels. Tire wear is lowest when using the normal ride height as that level has the ideal toe specs. Tire wear is increased at the other levels somewhat. So the "toe curve" of our suspension is flat enough to makes a height change doable, but if the ride height change is permanent - you would ideally want it aligned at that height for longest tire life. This is even more true when the car is lowered enough to have extra negative camber. But for the very minor change like you are talking about, probably nothing to worry about. You probably have it set with too much toe-in anyway, and lowering will help dial it back toward zero.

[17708]

If it's just a minor height adjustment, no need to re-align it. It doesn't change that much. That would be akin to getting an alignment because you installed a carbon fiber hood, or went on a weekend eating binge and gained a few pounds.

The setting you'd worry about when changing ride height is the toe. The change is is more drastic as you approach the ends of the suspension travel (ie: tucking tire).

It really depends on how much you're worrying about tire wear. The Audi Allroad (C5) has the same front suspension geometry as our B5's. They have 3 different ride heights right out of the factory, and you don't see those guys getting an alignment every time they go to a different level. Generally it is aligned at the middle ride height (normal height) and the toe is "acceptable" at the higher and lower levels. Tire wear is lowest when using the normal ride height as that level has the ideal toe specs. Tire wear is increased at the other levels somewhat. So the "toe curve" of our suspension is flat enough to makes a height change doable, but if the ride height change is permanent - you would ideally want it aligned at that height for longest tire life. This is even more true when the car is lowered enough to have extra negative camber. But for the very minor change like you are talking about, probably nothing to worry about. You probably have it set with too much toe-in anyway, and lowering will help dial it back toward zero.

thank you!! that was a really good and detailed response, just what i was looking for.
appreciate your help!