Darin and Chris are masters of their craft. This is the first pro 4 wheel alignment of my porsche 911 s and I cannot believe how much a difference it made. On the quick test drive after it I felt my back end being much more stable but only when I drove back on then freeway did i feel like "it runs like butter" wow. I never had my car be so compliant! thank you Darin! read more

Another satisfied customer. You already heard the good stuff about Darin. There is nothing else I can add because he's that damn good. I have a 1998 Nissan 200SX SE-R. A couple of years ago, I was hit by a diabetic (he fell asleep at the wheel). Luckily, he only hit my rear passenger tire and part of the body. His insurance took care of the bodywork and got me a new wheel and tire. They told me everything was straight (frame). Fast forward a couple of years later, I have noticed abnormally fast tire wear on my rear tires. The inner tires were wearing out a lot quicker than it was supposed to. The rear axle/beam was not straight, per the bodyshop experts. So I called Darin to see if he can straighten it out. I gave him a call on a Monday morning and told him what kind of car I had. Darin already knew that the B14 chassis has a rear beam/axle that comes out of the factory with 1/4" toe to prevent understeer. I didn't have to tell him about it. He is very knowldeable about any car, at least imports, and can give you info on your car like he was Mr. Google. It wasn't just my car either, trust me, I saw him do it with other customers. He gave it to me quick and simple, said he can try it, but can't guarantee it'll fix it. He told me to go and get a rear beam, which would have been the most economical and time saving way. At least this way, he would not have to waste time bending the beam on the car, only to find out it didn't work. So luck on my side, I found a beam from a forum member at sr20forum.com and made an appointment for the following week. I showed up an hour early and dropped off my car to pick up later. While at work, he called back and I got nervous right away. Usually when someone working on your car calls, it's usually a bad sign. The fear went away after he told me everything was going his way. He just wanted to ask me what my driving style was. I wanted the beam straightened to 0 degrees after he installed it. He told me unless I planned I taking it to the track or doing Canyon runs over the weekend, it would probably be best that I do 1/16". Since this is my daily car and I don't plan on taking it through canyons or the track anytime, that was my perfect solution. It was an sporty street set up and I'm glad he called before straightening it to 0. To tell you the truth, I just wanted the rear beam installed, but since he's well known in the sr20forum community, I wanted to kill two birds and have it bent to 0 also. I'm glad he called and told me the pros and cons before straightening it! My car runs better than stock now and I can't be happier. Remember, he takes cash or check only and he WILL sit there and answer ALL of your suspension and brake related questions. You won't be dissapointed! Call now and make that appointment...and don't be LATE! read more

This guy is pretty awesome. I've never had such an involved alignment before. I feel its worth the money due to the attention Chris is giving it. He is doing way more than what I use to do for customers many moons ago when I was a mechanic. read more

West End Alignment - I trust him with my car. - Auto Repair Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

As good as it gets.. Darin spent 2 hours on my car for $120, and got it perfect. I honestly felt bad with him spending so much time with me and had to throw in some extra cash. I have an E92 BMW and he used his air tools and drills and modified my strut towers to get me as much front camber as possible. This is the shop you only hear of in movies. It almost has a zen-like vibe to it, like a mythical Japanese tuning shop out of Initial D. Or an extremely precise German tuner who's getting ready to set a Nurburgring record. Whatever it is, it's an excellent atmosphere and they do work like how I do work. Precision and professionalism. It's very comforting to me. Cheers guys! P.S., the shop is just like it was 5 years ago, I was honestly expecting it to have slipped a little, but it has not. In fact, it's better than ever. Go here. read more

I own a 2011 Audi S4 which has been lowered on Stasis springs and I've just had SPC UCA's installed by Eurocode Tuning. After the installment I went to Allen Tire in Torrance who did such a bad job they created serious issues. Allen Tire offered no apologies and no refund ($100 gone). Eurocode fixed these issues and I then went to Just Tires in Beverly Hill. After Theo gave it all the mouth about knowing what to do and almost destroying my front lip splitter, they gave up and refunded me my $190. I was in total despair about what to do! I posted for help on Audizine and everyone pointed me in the direction of West End. I gave them a call and spoke to Darin who booked me in for the following week. They're an independent shop and very busy so be patient, its worth it. From the moment I pulled up I was greeted with smiles and after a very short wait Darin pulled my at onto the rack and we chatted about what I wanted. Since I'm a big guy (220lbs) Darin had me sit in the car for the process to make sure my weight was compensated for in the alignment. Darin and Chris began working on the back of the car and I was told everything that was going on. They then moved to the front. After about an hour the whole process was done and the price was (extremely) reasonable considering the expertise involved. This wasn't a happy go lucky Just Tires "tech" following instructions on a screen and not having a clue what anything means, these guys are pro's and totally understand their busniess. They also do corner balancing here for the racers amongst us! So, to surmise, If you live in the LA basin area and if you love your car and have had ANY kind of suspension modification or it's a performance car of any kind, than you MUST bring your car here and no where else. No questions. Thank you Darin and Chris! read more

Sitting in the car now while Chris sets me up with some fun canyon settings for my '00 nb miata. I was late to my appointment due to the rear shock too mounts fusing to the car as I attempted to install them last night.. a whole lot of drilling later I managed to finally get the rear shocks in and myself in the car and on my way. Though I was late and they have a crazy tight schedule, Chris was kind enough to see me and do what he could in the time that he had. The service here is incredible. My brother and I have come here years ago for our sports cars when it was only Darin and it's no different now in terms of service, but I'd forgotten just how rad this whole experience is! Thanks for making time for me Chris, and for what I'm sure will be a great setup! EDIT: Chris was efficient and able to get all my settings figured out in the short time we had. Very impressed! Car is nimble and sublime and it's yet to even touch a canyon road! Thank you guys. :) read more

I have been coming here for years. I used to live in Diamond Bar which is quite a drive to Gardena. I now live in San Diego and still make the drive because it is well worth it. Darin has always setup my car to cater my needs whether it was my daily driver or my track car. Excellent service, and extremely knowledgeable in anything and everything to make your car handle. Now that he has his son Chris helping him out, everything moves more quickly and the appointment book isn't as backed up. You get what you pay for. read more

I thought I reviewed this place but apparently not. So let me review about my experience last year. I brought my car here after getting 22" wheels installed. I noticed that my car was pulling right, so I thought it was the alignment. I checked Yelp and this place was highly recommended. Not just on Yelp but by true car enthusiasts. I called and made an appointment with Chris (I believe the son). He told me they are extremely busy so if I make an appointment, don't flake out. I assured them I would not. I setup an appointment for a week or two later but after a few days, they said they had a cancellation and asked if I could come in. I'm local to them so I took the opportunity. I came in and Darin introduced himself to me, asked me what exactly I wanted done with the car, and what was wrong that I brought it in for. I explained that my car was pulling right so I needed an alignment. He took it for a test drive, came back, and took it into the shop. An hour later he took it for another test drive and explained to me that it wasn't an alignment problem, but I had a defective tire. I had a radial pull to the right which the tire was causing. We talked for a few more minutes and he told me to take it back to the tire shop and explain to them that its a defective tire. I took it back to the tire shop and explained to them that I had a defective tire, but the tire store would not acknowledge it. After going back and forth to the tire shop still with the defective tire and the shop not acknowledging it, I called Darin and he told me if they give me problem again, tell them to call them and they will explain they were full of shit. Finally after I told the tire shop this, they went ahead and changed the tire. And guess what? No more radial pull! Darin and Chris run a no bull shit shop. Don't waste their time and they won't waste yours. read more

Tucked away in the commerical area of Gardena is this lil' gem of a place. West End Alignment is known throughout the local racing community as thee place to get an alignment for your race car. Note that Darin doesn't really do general alignments but focuses his efforts on the race applications. Also, I discovered that Darin not only does alignments but offers services to do complete suspension installations. Packaged together (suspension installation + alignment), it's an attractive price. As mentioned already, Darin is meticulous and clinically obsessive about details :). And because of this, he is in high demand. You will need an appointment and it will need to be made in advance. Highly recommended. read more

Cash! Appointments only! M-F (usually) Beyond those specific points, WEA was fantastic. Not knowing this, I called on a Friday to see if they could take my car that afternoon. Told they were booked for the day, we made plans to come in a week later. Then the guy on the phone said they're coming to the shop the next day to finish up a few cars and could fit me in. Chris hooked me up; finished the car by noon and was very helpful in walking me through the service. Appreciated their customer service. 2013 VW JSW read more

Driving 70 miles out from the Inland Empire, I had scheduled an appointment for the early morning. I had the pleasure of meeting both Chris and Darrin, I was able to tell that these guys not only know what they are doing, but love what they are doing......passionate! Great service, great explanation of services done......I don't mind driving out 70 miles to get my car serviced for the level and confidence of service I received. Thanks for the great experience Chris and Darrin ! 5 Star rating!!!! read more

I've been a loyal customer for ~10 years. Darin has single handedly setup more racing and track cars than anyone else in Southern California. While he enjoys working on sportscars, he does handle the normal daily drivers as well. Do a search on any Southern California car owner's forum and you will find West End alignment raves. Be warned: book in advance! He has about a 2 week waiting list! read more

WEST END IS THE BEST END: Darrin at West End is a mastermind with suspension tuning and alignment. He works on race vehicles as well as normal daily drivers. He's heavily promoted everywhere on internet auto enthusiast forums. People drive from long distances to have this guy work on their cars. I had my alignment and corner balancing done recently, and I can't even begin to tell you how perfect my car feels right now. My alignment/balance was so off, it was equivalent to and 800lb person driving the car. Now, it's crossed balanced 50/50. For me, there's no messing around when it comes to my car. Of all the automotive services I've experienced, this has been the best hands down. THINGS THAT SET HIM APART: He's been working on cars since he was 10 years old; his step-dad owned a similar shop. He told me how a previous employer had not appreciated him, so he left and the previous employer soon shut down. He asks you about your driving habits so he can set your car up to your specific driving style. So meticulous, he asks you to sit in the car while it's on the scales to account for your body weight. He gives you advice about your car and how to optimize performance. He's a perfectionist who takes his time to make sure you are satisfied. When all is said and done, he let's you test drive the car around the block (He'll sit passenger if requested) PERFECTION COMES AT A COST: Unfortunately, West End is so popular that you'll need to book an appointment about 2 weeks in advance. Also, expect to wait for a few hours. A perfectionist needs time. Prices are a little higher than other places, but you'll be glad you paid a little more for his services, especially if you're into racing/tuning cars. Cash or Checks only. read more

What else can I say about this place? All the positive words on his yelp reviews are true. Darin is truly the man with incredible work ethic, skill, perfection, and overall is just a really nice guy ... not your typical grumpy mechanic. He does take a good amount of time, because he's getting your work done right. I had him set my alignment to spec as I wanted to protect my investment of new tires ... nothing more than that. If and when I decide for a more aggressive setting, I'll be sure to call Darin 2 weeks in advance to setup another appointment. While he was working on the car, I was chatting it up with his family and friends ... it's a really cozy shop. Most of his business comes from online and he doesn't even use a computer much. I asked if he knew about Yelp and he had no idea, ha. Next time someone goes, leave him with a sticker or a You've Been Yelped card. Cash or check only! read more

This place is legendary and deserves its reputation. The shop is clean enough to eat off the floor. Darin takes the time to come out to you and explain what's off about your car's suspension setup, and explains what he's going to do to fix it. I watched him fix a vintage Porsche, a 60s' muscle car, and my modern Japanese car, so he definitely has a range of talents. His pet peeve - if you make an appointment, make sure you make it (or call him early and say you won't make it). His services are often booked a week in advance, so don't waste the master's time by being lazy. Finally, bring cash or check, they don't take credit cards. This is the last alignment place you'll ever need. read more

This is a late review. I had Chris and Darin align my car back in June. I had new lowering springs and struts installed on my car, and they both were able to give me the alignment specs that I was looking for. At that time, I had to wait 2 weeks for my appointment because these guys are always busy, and that's because they are the best at what they do. I just wish they weren't so far away. After the alignment, my car drove straight as an arrow! I recently purchased a set of coilovers and once I have enough money I'm going to have Chris install, align, and corner balance my car. Can't wait! I am a fan of West End Alignment. read more

West End Alignment - Sitting in the car while they align it! - Auto Repair Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

No need to say more! Im speechless! Great job! First timer here. Heard a lot of good reciews and travel was all worth it! Diy mt coilovers and needed an alignment. Corner balance was awesome and no it rides and sits perfect Thank you Chris! read more

West End Alignment - First timer here! Definitely worth it! Good job guys! I will definitely recommend this place! - Auto Repair Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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I had coilovers installed and corner-balance done a couple of weeks ago. Chris asked a lot of questions during the install to make sure that I knew exactly what was happening and what kind of results I could expect from the choices I made concerning ride height and shock settings. I've had a lot of rubbing on the passenger rear, and I measured it (layman's style, rim edge to fender) and I noticed it was about half an inch lower on the passenger side. I called them to ask why it would be lower by that much on one wheel, and to see if they would fix it. Darin took the time to explain how measurements differ from the rack to the street, how things are effected by an uneven surface or an E-brake, and the fact that the same suspension setting side-to-side can have different amounts of rub because of the variances in bodywork from the factory. I just checked my car again in a level parking lot with the E-brake off and the measurements between the sides were spot on. I'm having my fenders rolled and pulled to fix the issue, as it is a body problem and NOT a suspension issue. If you want your car set up right and have a shop that gives you the time of day with questions after the work is done, West End is the place to go. read more

STOP! No need to look any further, Master Darin is the Man! The man that can Align your ride and even tune to your driving style and or needs. Very humble man with extreme knowledge of how our cars and roads work. I have to say, my car has never driven so straight in all the years I've owned my 1985 Porsche 911. He takes his time and won't let you leave until you have a smile on your mug . Yes I looked like a happy fool. Money and time well spent! Thank you Darin-Sama read more

Been going here several times for my 06 WRX and just recently went there the other day. Chris & Darren are really professional, friendly and very reasonably priced for the quality & accurate service they provided. I wouldn't take my Subie elsewhere after I first met them and had my car corner balanced and aligned. I highly recommend and have referred all my friends. Thanks Chris & Darren! read more

What more can I say, had another great experience at West End! Chris is such a straight forward honest guy and I couldn't be happier with the service here. Thanks again for another great experience! read more

No one compares. Darin is the best and one of the most meticulous guys I know. I've brought a number of cars to him and he has never failed to make the car a handling monster. It's true that there is a 2+ week wait for his services, but he's but a single man, and is involved in every vehicle that comes through the door. read more

Really cool guys here! If you installed any suspension parts (coilovers in my case) expecting for the ride to be awesome and it isn't? You need to have Chris look at your car! Corner balancing is well worth the cost, my ride now runs perfectly in the sweepers ;) read more

I have to say, I just left there yesterday, if you want THE BEST West End Alignment is The One! "Darin" was very courteous and a perfectionist to the least. All his reviews are a true. I took my car in for alignment, Ksport Kontrol coil adjustments, and corner balancing. When I got there my car was ok, but when I left my car was 10 times better. His shop is like a wharehouse, an easy place to chill while he works it all out. My appointment was at 9 and ended at 1, being more than just an alignment for my car. No worries just excellent service! I was referred to Darin by June from Signal Auto in Torrance, Ca. Again, keep in mind Darin is a perfectionist so it takes time. He knows his Sh**! NOTE: "Advance Appointments only!" Most appointments are booked 2wks in advance. I also hear he only works sports cars and racing suspension only, but he's the best in the business! If anything changes with your appointment you must let him know in a reasonable amount of time, no last minute changes, says himself. He values his time greatly to pace himself through the day. : ) read more

West End Alignment is a place for people who love their cars. If you track, or OCD about your car take it to Darin. Why? Because he does the job right the first time around. I had friends Legend bring in their, IS300's for coilover and corner balancing work and they were amazed with the results of their suspension configuration after Darin was done. In response to the guy who gave him one star ... Darin is a one man shop. He gets alot of personality types who disrespect his business by not showing up to appointments. One of my friends quoted him saying 'its alot like going on a first date' You don't want to star off the relationship on the wrong foot by being late or making changes to your appointment. All my friends that I have referred here understand that. I remind them that you need to go and be prepared. Its like visiting a wise sage/god/master. Its a privilege that he is in so. cal, working on your car, and getting it dialed. Respect the master and he will treat you right ... West End is not a corporation its a 1 man shop. I think he's a chill guy to talk to about cars. Its a relationship worth keeping around. When you call know your facts about your car off the tip of your tongue. Year, model, parts, mods, goals. The guys is probably working on a car and answering the phone at the same time. read more

These guys really know their stuff. They are masters at their craft. I haven't seen anyone so detailed on an alignment. My previous alignment at discount tires took 15 minutes tops and I ended up with a crooked steering wheel and an average job. When I had to get an alignment on my 2003 Mercedes CL55 AMG. I took it to them. when it came back, the car was so balance and took the corners and curves so much better. They are into the details. !/1000th of an inch accuracy. And these guys spend the time explaining what they did. It took them 40 minutes to complete but well worth the wait. If you have a high-end car take it here and no where else. You will be sorry if you take it to any other alignment shop. If you have a regular car still come here. Best place in town and the two shop owners are really friendly. Keep up the great work guys!!! read more

I came here for an alignment and corner balance after installing a set of coilovers in my 3-Series BMW. Darin, the owner, was very thorough in explaining what they would be doing and made sure that the car would be best setup to my needs. Since they don't take walk-ins, a late appointment cancellation is likely lost revenue for them. Be considerate of that fact and be sure to make your appointment on time. read more

Great place for alignments! Chris did the corner balance and alignment on my 240. All hand tools! In my opinion it is the most accurate way for making adjustments. Took about 2 hours to complete. Although, he has you sit in the car while performing the adjustments, most people may not have the patience. It is absolutely necessary in order to get accurate results. Can't wait to see how it feels on the track! Thanks Chris! read more

What more can I say?! Id like to express my gratitude to West End for the quality of work you guys do when it comes to your forte. This is the only place I bring my track toys to. read more

It is RARE to ever see any store get virtually unanimous 5 star reviews. And I scoured the reviews for anything critical, as those are typically NOT written by fans of the stores, for a different perspective. So when I looked through hundreds of reviews and not come across any reviews critical of their work and service, I was skeptical at first. But West End has had some glowing reviews and endorsement from various sources, and it's the first and ONLY shop I called to have the rear caster tool for the C7 Corvette, I thought I give them a call on the day I picked up the new car. Chris was courteous, professional, and knowledgeable. And mostly, honest and straightforward up front. THE most important trait I look for in a good mechanic. He explained in detail his process to dial in the alignment as I needed for my purposes, what parts may or may not be removed in order to achieve my goals, and the amount of time required and cost estimated up front. Took most of the guest work out of it and put my mind at ease. During the alignment process, he checked in with me at each step to let me know what is going on, how he's going about adjusting the rear for a quick baseline, then fine-tuning to my specifications with some recommendation of his own based on what he sees on other customer's cars. I went with his toe-in suggestion to promote a more stable rear end, and his caster suggestion up front. Usually, whenever I get a car aligned, the steering is NEVER perfectly straight. It's off by anywhere up to 0.5-1º even though the "computers" tell me the steering should be straight. On the short test drive after the alignment it was very apparent that the steering was DEAD ON. Chris suggested that I use this as a baseline, and then come back for adjustment in camber up front depending on how the car balances on track. This place is as PROFESSIONAL as it gets for an alignment shop. Now I understand why it gets the unanimous 5 stars and glowing endorsement from people in the know, regardless of how hard it is to get an appointment. read more

Darin's alignments and corner balancing the the best. He's extremely knowledgeable and charges a fair price. I would recommend this shop for any suspension adjustments. read more

A+ experience here at West End Alignment. Darin & Chris are very friendly and are experts on what they do. They make sure your car is dialed in to your specific driving style. I will definitely be back for any suspension work and alignment for any of my vehicles. read more

Darrin turns what some people think of as a rote mechanical exercise into an art. He will keep working on your car until it's perfect. It is well worth the wait. West End should be the only shop you ever let align your car. Just one thing - he hates it when people are late! So be on time. read more

Darin / West End Alignment is only place i would go / recommend I have taken my suv several place such as mercedes dealers, and some others which cost me a lot of money on new tires and services, but noone was able to fix the issue, honestly tell me what is going on with the car. Mr. Darin looked at my car and corrected issue 1) he honestly informed me what's actually going on with the car. 2) possible part replacement i might have to but he was saying wait and replace only tire wears abnormal 3) very well mannered/very nice person 4) happy with price It was worth waiting for 2 weeks and emptying my schedule in advance to see Mr. Darin. AWESOME PERSON, AWESOME WORK. more than star 5 for Mr. Darin @ West End Alignment read more

Thanks Darrin & Chris for doing what you guys do. I drive a 2011 BMW 328i coupe and Darrin did an excellent alignment. Now my car feels, and drives better now. It's my first time coming here and onced I entered the front doors Chris greeted me and knowledged me about alignments and he knew my make and model and since this is my dd car he knew exactly what to do. Other shops including the dealership told me they won't touch my car since its lowered (eibach pro kit). They said they can't align my car since they do computer laser alignments and they can't bring my car to specs. it's not slammed ! Love my pro kit btw. Darrin worked on my car, he was pretty fast. Once he was done we both went for a short cruise and wow! Darrin did a great job and he also took his time and knowledged me about his work.They don't do computerized laser alignments here. Everything done here is old school which is hard to find nowadays. West End knows their stuff. Now I know where to take my bimmer for alignments.Thanks guys! read more

Chris at West End Alignment is as good as it gets. He is very knowledgable, professional, and super friendly. He understands what it takes to have his clients leave happy, educated and comfortable/confident. Only place that will perform an alignment to my cars from today forward. read more

I was referred to WEA by a friend of mine and his recommendation was spot on. Darin was friendly, and super knowledgeable. He walked me through what he was going to do to my car, and performed exactly that for the price (extremely reasonable, at least IMO) he said he would. I'm so pleased. A+ read more

This is by far the BEST shop I ever set my feet in it. Darrin & Chris are a high class professionals. They are a walking encyclopedia when it comes to high performance suspensions. My CD5 Accord drives straight as an arrow & the steering is very responsive. I highly recommend these guys...trust me!! read more

West End Alignment - The best wheel alignment shop in SoCal!! - Auto Repair Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Darin and Chris are amazing at what they do. I was hit with a lot of traffic and came in late for my appointment but they still took me in. As soon as I drove in Darin mentioned that I must track my Miata. I told him I take it to the canyons and will be tracking it. His son chris attended to me and asked me what I wanted for my car. He explained everything perfectly even using a 1/10 scale of how my car will be aligned and what the max and min comparisons would feel like. They have excellent customer service. After it was all done they told me exactly where to drive and how to test the car to see that everything was right. I came back and mentioned my steering wheel was a hair off. They popped me right back up on the lift and adjusted it then told me to test it again. Everything was plum straight. He mentioned how bad my alignment was and I told him I immediately felt a difference. The steering felt super tight and the handling soooo much better. I will be coming here for as long as they own the shop. I highly recommend them to everyone. Best alignment shop I've ever been to. read more

Car feels like a completely different car. Chris broke everything down for me. Even my dumb questions. Very knowledgeable and cool dude. He worked on my '14 Charger RT and left it driving smooth! Great place to get great service! read more