Island Brake & Alignment

If you need recon or have a lowered/​lifted car, Island Brake & Alignment is the place to come to get your alignment. When I installed coilovers and new rims/​tires (wider than factory), I came to get an alignment. Here in Hawaii, people really care about their cars (my cousin from the mainland says, our cars define us, because we all can’t afford a house). After buying a new pair of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, I figured why not get an alignment so they wear evenly.
Island Brake & Alignment is located across from Waimalu Shopping Center (Jackie’s, Jin Joo, Chun Wah Kam, Zippy’s, Kapiolani Coffee Shop, too many to list!) and Ewa of Best Buy. It’s the last tenant in the center and parking can be tight. Make an appointment to ensure you will be seen; however, I have called the morning of and they have taken me. It’s a little more expensive than other places but I like how they give you the computerized printout of the results of your alignment so you can give the recon inspector to show it is within specs.
If you are particular and want certain camber or toe in/​toe out for those who do SCCA autocross like I have done, they will do it per your specs (although this can wear your tires abnormally). I now go once a year and its great!

Great service! They took my car in for a strut replacement. Guy called me back saying he tightened everything up and won’t need to change boots and struts for a couple of months. I went ahead with the change but he was honest enough to not just change it and charge.

Upfront: I didn’t get serviced by these guys. They seemed fairly nice, but when I called the day before and asked the woman who answered the phone when the soonest appointment I could get was, she said to show up first thing the next day, they open at 0800, and they would take care of it first thing. I showed up today at 0730; the guy opening the garage asked me to move to a spot outside. I asked how long it would take and he said they had all these cars on the rack and that they wouldn’t get to inspecting it earlier than 0930, and unlikely to start on it until after lunch. I said the woman I spoke to said that if I brought it at 0800 I would be seen first… He said they don’t normally tell people that… (So you’re saying I’m a liar?) I said well she did, that I have to work… He asked what time I have to work; I said at 0630… He said well you’re late… (No kidding…) I know, I’ve taken the morning off to attend to this, he said well, you’re already late. I don’t know what he’s trying to get at other than maybe teaching me how to tell time (?!).
Whatever’s… I thanked him and left. If your people can’t give me consistent and correct info, your inadequacy is contagious and I can’t do my job either.
All I called for was an appointment which I could have made and scheduled with work had that information been correct. As a result, my breaks are still unattended to, and I missed work this morning.
Ugh.

As the other reviews state, these guys are awesome. I was able to get a next day appointment for a wheel alignment and it was done as promised. Very friendly and efficient customer service on top of that. This is really a local, family run business evidenced bythe nice young lady (with the help of her 4 y/​o or 5 y/​o daughter) running the front office.
Another perk was that I could browse the Goodwill store and the bicycle store next door while I waited.

Have already brought our two cars on separate occasions for different things — one car needed a new A/​C compressor, and the other needed a new inner CV boot. A/​C leaked out the following day, but they took it back immediately and replaced the manufacturer’s o-​ring with one that actually worked. Fair prices. Professional, prompt service.

Just got back from my alignment and I must say I am very impressed.
I came in at 9AM on the dot. The lady that checked me in was very nice, and professional.
The waiting room was nice but small, not a big deal but if you are there and its a rush, it can be a tight spot.
Now onto the alignment, I came in with a very specific alignment request. My car is not stock by any means and they seemed to be the only shop that would align my car to my specs. The car was on the rack in about 5 minutes after check in. I was told it would take about an hour to an hour and a half. I saw the car go up and down about 10 times, the car went out on the test drive and came back in under an hour. I saw the spec sheet and it was PERFECT! Exactly what I wanted and on time to boot.
The cost was 146 I think, and yea that might be «a lot» to some people, but if you built a car why skimp on one of the most important parts of the setup? I am a very satisfied and if you have a modified car these are your guys!

Came here to get a alignment on my modified car so I could get a recon permit. Called on a Friday they said they could squeeze me in first thing Saturday morning! Excellent and fast service! No BS here!

I made an appointment with Island Brake because I live on a biiiiiiig hill and my brakes felt funny and sounded squeaky. I missed the appointment that I had made and called to reschedule — the staff were friendly and reassured me that they could take my car in «today before lunch» or reschedule. Awesome!
Service took less than an hour. Staff mentioned that my brakes were okay, cleaned them up and did not charge for the inspection and cleaning. Thank you for your customer service!

My Nissan needed TLC for the front end noise and not steering straight. I first support local small business. They have caring and quick service.
I will recommend this business to anyone. I’ve tried the national brand places and found them to treat you as a number with little to no customer service.
A+++ local business.

I called to make an appointment and got in only 1 hour later. I got an oil change, alignment, rotors and brake pads replaced. They even went as far as dropping my daughters and I at the mall and picking us up. Excellent customer service! Thank you James and Porcha.

You will not find a more knowledgable, experienced, honest service provider in this state than Derek at Island Brake & Alignment. I’ve been going to him for years. He always saves me money and does the job right. Customer parts welcome. Good advice given. This is the way businesses used to be run. Honesty and customer focus. Don’t mess with Discount tire, Goodyear, Firestone, Lex Brodie. That’s for young college girls who think all tires are the same and that all you need to do is put gas in a car for it to run. Mahalo for reading this post.

Don’t let the kind of shady location in the corner fool you, from what i have experienced, they are professionals. They have helped me 2 times now. i replaced a Rack and Pinion and they did a good job on the alignment. no issues. Even though i knew already, they also informed me of my bad tires so good looking out. A little bit more expensive than other places but just might be worth it.

Good prompt service, affordable prices and very reliable workmanship. They are very polite on the phone as well as in person. They are the best on the island at realigning vehicles with modified suspensions. These guys were highly recommended by the guys who lifted my truck (Auto Customs) as well as friends of mine.

This is the place to go for a recon alignment. Customer service and workers are friendly. Taking my cars here from now on

Best service on da ISLAND, I called to make appointment on a Friday at closing booked it for Monday at 2pm, called to change to Saturday morning. Called Friday morning to change again said they had an opening in two hours, sweet!!! Came in early and the took my car early, dude came to me ½ hour later giving me updated on my car went the extra mile to do something he knew recon wouldn’t pass and told me «almost pau «sweet!!! I recommend ISLAND BRAKE AND ALIGNMENT to all my friends!!! Cheehoo!!!

I was recommended to come here when I got my 2012 Silverado lowered. I came 45 min early and I was seen during their lunch break. They finished my alignment under an hour. Good professionals.

I got into vintage VWs a few years back and got referred to Derek to check my alignment and brakes in order to pass recon. Since then I have brought my vehicles including VWs, trucks even Porsches to him. Always treated with respect, aloha and received first class service every visit. I trust their work and highly recommend this shop for all your brake, wheels and front end services.

Came here out of formality to pass Recon.
(Such a racket OMG! Also, Recon keeps your original spec sheet after inspection, so I would make a copy of it before going in. Not sure why they do that, must be part of the racket)
I have a Honda with shocks and ~2″ lowering springs. I installed adjustable front ball joints and rear camber arms before bringing the car here for alignment.
I had a 3:00p appointment on a Sunday. I left around 4:40p, and paid $ 146.60 for recon alignment (toe and camber).
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Called around 11a on a Sunday for a quote on a ‘recon alignment’. (I don’t know if they will fix camber in a ‘regular’ alignment; I just want to pass recon, so I asked for ‘alignment for recon’). The girl on the line was pleasant and gave a very straightforward answer of $ 140. I also asked if there were any openings for today, and she said there was one at 3:00p. After calling a few other places, I called back here and booked the 3pm opening; the girl said just come 5 – 10 minutes before.
(The other places I called sounded a little rushed, annoyed, and gave more ambiguous responses: «sooo, yeah, if we gotta adjust this and that, then we gotta charge you more, it depends on blah blah» etc. plus they didn’t have any openings that day, or were walk-​in only with a 1.5 hour wait at the time. Like wth, why is it so hard to get a quote for toe and camber? So I just ended up choosing Island Brake anyway. Plus since, a few years ago, one of the recon inspectors «didn’t» recommend going to this place).
At the store, the girl told me it would take 1 to 1.5 hours after it gets on the rack. At the end, one of the techs takes it for a test drive. He was kind of stink, but whatever lol. He also left the spec sheet in the car, instead of giving it to me at time of payment; not sure why. When I left, the girl reminded me that recon office is walk-​in only, and not by appointment like before.
Before coming here, I washed and cleaned the inside of my car real good. If I show pride in my work, hopefully the techs will show pride in theirs. That’s my thinking anyway; don’t know if it made a difference, but doesn’t hurt.
For alignment to pass recon, I guess I would come here again; no reason not to. But if I were doing it again, I might consider DIY’ing the camber at home (spec for mine was –1.0 to 0.0 degree camber), and take it to the cheapest place for toe, and a print out.

These guys did a great job! Moreover they can handle lowered cars like mine!!! So if you need an alignment because of recon go here!

Great service and they do quality work. I got coilovers and they knew just what to do. They gave me a printout of what they did and what I need to do for recon. Really great people