Sam’s Alignment & Brake Service

My only complaint is they don’t provide other services, but I guess that’s why they excel in what they do provide. Been coming here for 2 decades, and never experienced outrageous prices or unnecessary up selling.

As a mechanically inclined person I will always support local businesses when I can’t do it myself. Such was the case when I brought my 73 corvette to them with an alignment issue. Once on the lift, experienced eyes found my problem quickly and they showed me the problem. Since it was a bigger job then what I wanted to do myself, I left my car in good hands inside their enclosed parking lot area.
While not the prettiest shop in the world, you can tell that this is a blue collar place. A place where people take their dirt track race cars because they want it done right the first time and after a few nights of banging fenders, they know then can return and still get great service at good cost. A few even give much praise and thanks, a testament from all the pictures and plaques on the wall from over the many years in the business.
Now that the transaction has been completed, I’ve never been as pleased then I am now with the handling of my car. Good job guys and thank you! — Ken /​Jan 2016

I’ve been coming to SAMs for over a decade and my father in law was a costumer from the 80s. I have always received great service and they give me the best prices in town. I was saddened to know that Sam passed away in September of 2015.
Blessings to the Sam’s alignment crew and family.
Thank you for always taking good care of me.

Sam the owner is really straight forward with you. .no bs or anything like that. Called for an appointment at 2pm and left before 230pm on my girlfriends car that needed an alignment. $ 40 for front alignment and $ 60 for all 4 if you need it. Waiting area isn’t that great but it didn’t matter to me since I didn’t even wait longer than 30mins. Lastly, they don’t give print outs so you can see your caster, camber and toe etc. I’ll be coming back. Thanks Sam!

I was referred to Sam’s Alignment by someone at Discount Tire. The prices are very reasonable $ 40 for 2 wheel alignment, $ 60 for 4 wheels. The problem is they don’t give the customer a computer print out of the alignment specs like most descent shops. This was my second time going there. I had no way of knowing how much my car was out of alignment or in what way (camber, caster, etc).
They are big on making appointments. You can usually get in and out quickly. The waiting area is very small. Nothing fancy. There is a TV.

Honest auto repair for people that don’t know cars is like going to Vegas and putting your life saving on 7. The odds are not in your favor. These guys are outstanding and honest. Evans Tire wanted over $ 500 in break repairs, Sam’s tells us we don’t need anything yet still have 40% life on the breaks. Done deal, never bringing our vehicles anywhere else.

This place is great and outstanding service, reasonable prices and takes appointments.

Seems like a great place. Came here for the first time today. Mike and Sam seem like cool dudes. Charged me $ 40 for front alignment adjustment, which I knew I needed. It would have been $ 60 if I had front and back. Seem like very honest people and I would definitely return here. One more note, I was in and out in 35 minutes with an 1130 appointment. That made me really happy!

I used Sam’s Alignment twice and was happy with my first job but felt the price quote for the second job was sort of pricey. I guess it was worth checking Sam out first, but in the end I found several other places quoted me cheaper for the same job.
I would still rather bring my car to them for a price quote before calling anywhere else though because this place has some of the most qualified mechanics I have met in National City. This is huge compliment by a fellow mechanic who used to work Smog off Highland. I was certified before I could even buy beer =P
This alignment shop was the only one I trusted in the area and I would recommend them primarily for alignment and suspension work. I would send brake jobs to Chewy on Highland because he is a compadre of mine, but if you like their quote then go with them.
Sam is a real character I only wish he wouldn’t chain smoke right in the customers face. One of the more reliable and trustworthy shops when there is so many other shops that dominate the Old Town landscape.

Ok well I found Sams on Unilocal and I saw the good reviews so I thought I would give it a shot. Made an appointment for 9÷26÷14 at 9:00 am. And I was in and out by 9:35! Wow these guys were awesome. Fast, no frills, honest, told me what work they did and I was out the door. I highly recommend Sams if you want it done right. Thanks guys!

Don’t take your car anywhere else in San Diego!!! Honest business. Very helpful. I got my front hub bearings done (right/​left) for a total of $ 330. For one side alone Firestone wanted to charge me $ 374 BEFORE tax! If you need service these are your guys!

Very professional. No run arounds or weird lingo to upsell. They also said I have four months to bring it back if I notice anything wrong with the alignment, which I thought was nice. HMy alignment was completed and I was out the door. I will definitely recommend this place to all my friends.

I had just bought a used truck and noticed an odd sound from the tire gripping the road, and an unusual wear pattern upon further inspection. Internet tells me it is most likely an alignment issue, but could be other things. Brought it to Sam’s, quick in and out with the report «Yep, your toe was off by a mile.» Awesome, that was the culprit then, problem taken care of!
Honest, fair price, didn’t even mention another service much less try to up-​sell me on one. Was done in well under an hour. I called ahead and they said I needed to make an appointment, which probably helps with the no waiting. The appointment was the same day, so it’s not like I was waiting for days to try and get in.
On top of not trying to sell me anything extra, he informed me I could bring it back in about 4 months and get a re-​check for free. When I mentioned that’s nice, but I’m actually moving back to the midwest in just under three months, he responds with «Well just bring it in right before you leave. Just call and make an appointment for a recheck. It’s free!» Not many places will actually try and push their free services on you like that. The fact that he wants to make sure his service is right, especially before a customer takes a long road trip speaks volumes about the quality of their character. I’d be a customer for life if I wasn’t moving away.

So, it’s the morning of my birthday and I had to get my car’s brakes fixed. Dropped of the car and by mid-​day the car was done. So far it’s an awesome experience. The price was reasonable and I was told exactly the situation and there was no hidden agenda… Thanks Mike, Chris and all of the mechs… definately coming back…
Drew

Like the others said, honest and professional. They won’t try to sell you on some bs like other shops! Best alignment shop in San Diego county! Sucks they don’t open on the weekends tho! I was obligated to do the alignment else where.

For wheel alignments and brakes, go HERE. Better than most dealerships and easier on the wallet. Very honest and friendly. I’d give them 6 stars if I could.

After being continuously disappointed by other shops to include true line in Kearny Mesa i stumbled across these race car builders and excellent guys. I had some front suspension work done at another shop and they did a horrible job.
Sam greeted me and told me he would take care of my mustang. They replaced a defective heim in my outer tie rods and Sam himself went to the race shop to get it. Mike went to work and i was in and out and now my car handles like it should.
Thanks boys i will be back. And i am bringing my friends.

Just want to say that these guys are great… I dropped off my truck for breaks and tire rotation. They called me at 11am to tell me my truck was done. I have never had my vehicle done that fast. I ALWAYS have to call up an hour before they close and I always get the same response. We are just getting you vehicle on the lift we will call you once we know more. Jeff called me 11 to tell me it was done and what he suggested for my rear breaks. Didn’t try to sell me breaks on my rears just honest and THIS IS WHY I WILL CONTINUE TO BRING MY VEHICLES TO THEM AS LONG AS I LIVE IN THE AREA.
Thanks to al the good reviews on Unilocal about this place.

Have been back to these guys a bunch of times since and they are still fantastic. I went in for a 4-​wheel alignment last week after having all new suspension installed by another shop and after he was done Mike told me the rear settings were fine and he only had to adjust the front so was only charging me the 2-​wheel price. That kind of honesty you just dont find very often anymore.

I drive a Jeep 4×4 & ordinarily do routine suspension checks but having broken my back not long ago, I don’t climb under it quite as easily anymore. I noticed a lot of squeaks this week & planned to take it to Reliable Spring on W 16^th but they said they are not doing much light suspension work focusing on heavy vehicles but referred me to this place only a few blocks away. As it turned out, a few bolts had worked themselves loose on my springs. Considering I fully expected to pay serious money anticipating a more serious issue, they could have told me nearly anything and I would have been obliged to pay it. But they didn’t, checked the entire suspension, tightened everything in it & charged me very little. I’ll be back without a doubt!