Check your "factory" Z51 alignment ... BAD
06-15-2005, 04:18 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Check your "factory" Z51 alignment ... BAD
This is my 3rd C6 (Z51) and just for grins I thought I would have the alignment checked. No issues with the car, just curious. Well hold on to your cams folks .... not only was the car badly out of alignment, it was not even within GM spec. Car has 950 miles on it.
So .... checked the 2nd car and not to my surprise it is equally bad. The shop I used has the latest and best Hunter 4 point digital laser system (DSP 600 or something) that is right on the money. I was there with the tech the whole time and he spent 1.5 hours on the car to dial it in PRECISELY to my wishes. $60 .... and they felt bad because a standard alignment is only $49!
When the tech was done he sort of grinned and said that's the best alignment I have ever done and he was pleased with himself .... so I gave him a $50 tip and said thanks for getting it just right. I thought he was going to pass out or wet himself! Too funny.
Drove it 60 miles home and it sure does feel different and tracks straight down the road. I am shocked at what a crap poor job GM does. I saw them doing the alignment in BG and thought it was fast ... but I think more like a drive by and the probably have a fixture or something. A good investment for $60 and I wonder if this is a part of the premature tire wear on the Z51 cars folks complain of.
Go here for full Z51 specs. http://www.corvetteforum.net/c5/toom...6alignment.htm
Here are the number before we started with the factory alignment.
L-front camber .... -0.4
R-front camber ... -0.4
L-front caster ... 6.9
R-front caster ... 5.9
L-front toe ... .25
R-front toe ... .21
Total toe ... .46 (wow ... no wonder it didn't pull)
================
L-rear camber ... -.30
R-rear camber ... -.70
L-rear toe ... .22
R-rear toe ... .10
Total rear toe ... .32 (wow)
=============================
This is what I set it to:
L-front camber .... -0.8
R-front camber ... -0.8
L-front caster ... 7.9
R-front caster ... 7.9
L-front toe ... .10
R-front toe ... .10
Total front toe ... .20
L-rear camber ... -0.6
R-rear camber ... -0.6
Total rear toe ... 00.00
So .... checked the 2nd car and not to my surprise it is equally bad. The shop I used has the latest and best Hunter 4 point digital laser system (DSP 600 or something) that is right on the money. I was there with the tech the whole time and he spent 1.5 hours on the car to dial it in PRECISELY to my wishes. $60 .... and they felt bad because a standard alignment is only $49!
When the tech was done he sort of grinned and said that's the best alignment I have ever done and he was pleased with himself .... so I gave him a $50 tip and said thanks for getting it just right. I thought he was going to pass out or wet himself! Too funny.
Drove it 60 miles home and it sure does feel different and tracks straight down the road. I am shocked at what a crap poor job GM does. I saw them doing the alignment in BG and thought it was fast ... but I think more like a drive by and the probably have a fixture or something. A good investment for $60 and I wonder if this is a part of the premature tire wear on the Z51 cars folks complain of.
Go here for full Z51 specs. http://www.corvetteforum.net/c5/toom...6alignment.htm
Here are the number before we started with the factory alignment.
L-front camber .... -0.4
R-front camber ... -0.4
L-front caster ... 6.9
R-front caster ... 5.9
L-front toe ... .25
R-front toe ... .21
Total toe ... .46 (wow ... no wonder it didn't pull)
================
L-rear camber ... -.30
R-rear camber ... -.70
L-rear toe ... .22
R-rear toe ... .10
Total rear toe ... .32 (wow)
=============================
This is what I set it to:
L-front camber .... -0.8
R-front camber ... -0.8
L-front caster ... 7.9
R-front caster ... 7.9
L-front toe ... .10
R-front toe ... .10
Total front toe ... .20
L-rear camber ... -0.6
R-rear camber ... -0.6
Total rear toe ... 00.00
Last edited by rbl; 06-16-2005 at 10:16 AM.
06-15-2005, 04:25 PM
#3
Instructor
Member Since: Mar 2005
Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by rbl
This is my 3rd C6 (Z06) and just for grins I thought I would have the alignment checked. No issues with the car, just curious. Well hold on to your cams folks .... not only was the car badly out of alignment, it was not even within GM spec. Car has 950 miles on it.
So .... checked the 2nd car and not to my surprise it is equally bad. The shop I used has the latest and best Hunter 4 point digital laser system (DSP 600 or something) that is right on the money. I was there with the tech the whole time and he spent 1.5 hours on the car to dial it in PRECISELY to my wishes. $60 .... and they felt bad because a standard alignment is only $49!
When the tech was done he sort of grinned and said that's the best alignment I have ever done and he was pleased with himself .... so I gave him a $50 tip and said thanks for getting it just right. I thought he was going to pass out or wet himself! Too funny.
Drove it 60 miles home and it sure does feel different and tracks straight down the road. I am shocked at what a crap poor job GM does. I saw them doing the alignment in BG and thought it was fast ... but I think more like a drive by and the probably have a fixture or something. A good investment for $60 and I wonder if this is a part of the premature tire wear on the Z51 cars folks complain of.
Here are the number before we started with the factory alignment.
L-front camber .... -0.4
R-front camber ... -0.4
L-front caster ... 6.9
R-front caster ... 5.9
L-front toe ... .25
R-front toe ... .21
Total toe ... .46 (wow ... no wonder it didn't pull)
================
L-rear camber ... -.30
R-rear camber ... -.70
L-rear toe ... .22
R-rear toe ... .10
Total rear toe ... .32 (wow)
=============================
This is what I set it to:
L-front camber .... -0.8
R-front camber ... -0.8
L-front caster ... 7.9
R-front caster ... 7.9
L-front toe ... .10
R-front toe ... .10
Total front toe ... .20
L-rear camber ... -0.6
R-rear camber ... -0.6
Total rear toe ... 00.00
So .... checked the 2nd car and not to my surprise it is equally bad. The shop I used has the latest and best Hunter 4 point digital laser system (DSP 600 or something) that is right on the money. I was there with the tech the whole time and he spent 1.5 hours on the car to dial it in PRECISELY to my wishes. $60 .... and they felt bad because a standard alignment is only $49!
When the tech was done he sort of grinned and said that's the best alignment I have ever done and he was pleased with himself .... so I gave him a $50 tip and said thanks for getting it just right. I thought he was going to pass out or wet himself! Too funny.
Drove it 60 miles home and it sure does feel different and tracks straight down the road. I am shocked at what a crap poor job GM does. I saw them doing the alignment in BG and thought it was fast ... but I think more like a drive by and the probably have a fixture or something. A good investment for $60 and I wonder if this is a part of the premature tire wear on the Z51 cars folks complain of.
Here are the number before we started with the factory alignment.
L-front camber .... -0.4
R-front camber ... -0.4
L-front caster ... 6.9
R-front caster ... 5.9
L-front toe ... .25
R-front toe ... .21
Total toe ... .46 (wow ... no wonder it didn't pull)
================
L-rear camber ... -.30
R-rear camber ... -.70
L-rear toe ... .22
R-rear toe ... .10
Total rear toe ... .32 (wow)
=============================
This is what I set it to:
L-front camber .... -0.8
R-front camber ... -0.8
L-front caster ... 7.9
R-front caster ... 7.9
L-front toe ... .10
R-front toe ... .10
Total front toe ... .20
L-rear camber ... -0.6
R-rear camber ... -0.6
Total rear toe ... 00.00
06-15-2005, 05:22 PM
#8
Racer
You mentioned GM spec and then stated "This is what I set it to:" Are those settings the GM spec or did you use another source for your settings? Just curious.
06-16-2005, 01:47 AM
#10
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Mar 2005
Location: Anaheim Hills California
Posts: 2,676
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06
I'm thinking of doing the same. If i let go of the wheel Vert pulls a little to the right and with the prices of these tires it's worth it to be safe.
06-16-2005, 02:41 AM
#11
Team Owner
I got a free $200 alignment from Chevrolet
The Chevy Tech told me it is normal for the alignment to be off and that the alignment should be checked once a year. He spent 2 hours on my car as I watched him turn alot of stuff underneath the car mostly up front. 
06-16-2005, 08:03 AM
#13
Drifting
Member Since: Sep 2004
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by rbl
This is my 3rd C6 (Z51) and just for grins I thought I would have the alignment checked. No issues with the car, just curious. Well hold on to your cams folks .... not only was the car badly out of alignment, it was not even within GM spec. Car has 950 miles on it.
So .... checked the 2nd car and not to my surprise it is equally bad. The shop I used has the latest and best Hunter 4 point digital laser system (DSP 600 or something) that is right on the money. I was there with the tech the whole time and he spent 1.5 hours on the car to dial it in PRECISELY to my wishes. $60 .... and they felt bad because a standard alignment is only $49!
When the tech was done he sort of grinned and said that's the best alignment I have ever done and he was pleased with himself .... so I gave him a $50 tip and said thanks for getting it just right. I thought he was going to pass out or wet himself! Too funny.
Drove it 60 miles home and it sure does feel different and tracks straight down the road. I am shocked at what a crap poor job GM does. I saw them doing the alignment in BG and thought it was fast ... but I think more like a drive by and the probably have a fixture or something. A good investment for $60 and I wonder if this is a part of the premature tire wear on the Z51 cars folks complain of.
Here are the number before we started with the factory alignment.
L-front camber .... -0.4
R-front camber ... -0.4
L-front caster ... 6.9
R-front caster ... 5.9
L-front toe ... .25
R-front toe ... .21
Total toe ... .46 (wow ... no wonder it didn't pull)
================
L-rear camber ... -.30
R-rear camber ... -.70
L-rear toe ... .22
R-rear toe ... .10
Total rear toe ... .32 (wow)
=============================
This is what I set it to:
L-front camber .... -0.8
R-front camber ... -0.8
L-front caster ... 7.9
R-front caster ... 7.9
L-front toe ... .10
R-front toe ... .10
Total front toe ... .20
L-rear camber ... -0.6
R-rear camber ... -0.6
Total rear toe ... 00.00
So .... checked the 2nd car and not to my surprise it is equally bad. The shop I used has the latest and best Hunter 4 point digital laser system (DSP 600 or something) that is right on the money. I was there with the tech the whole time and he spent 1.5 hours on the car to dial it in PRECISELY to my wishes. $60 .... and they felt bad because a standard alignment is only $49!
When the tech was done he sort of grinned and said that's the best alignment I have ever done and he was pleased with himself .... so I gave him a $50 tip and said thanks for getting it just right. I thought he was going to pass out or wet himself! Too funny.
Drove it 60 miles home and it sure does feel different and tracks straight down the road. I am shocked at what a crap poor job GM does. I saw them doing the alignment in BG and thought it was fast ... but I think more like a drive by and the probably have a fixture or something. A good investment for $60 and I wonder if this is a part of the premature tire wear on the Z51 cars folks complain of.
Here are the number before we started with the factory alignment.
L-front camber .... -0.4
R-front camber ... -0.4
L-front caster ... 6.9
R-front caster ... 5.9
L-front toe ... .25
R-front toe ... .21
Total toe ... .46 (wow ... no wonder it didn't pull)
================
L-rear camber ... -.30
R-rear camber ... -.70
L-rear toe ... .22
R-rear toe ... .10
Total rear toe ... .32 (wow)
=============================
This is what I set it to:
L-front camber .... -0.8
R-front camber ... -0.8
L-front caster ... 7.9
R-front caster ... 7.9
L-front toe ... .10
R-front toe ... .10
Total front toe ... .20
L-rear camber ... -0.6
R-rear camber ... -0.6
Total rear toe ... 00.00
06-16-2005, 08:09 AM
#14
Drifting
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by jchazr
Where did you get it aligned? Because I am in VA and will be getting my car aligned next week when it comes in. Thanks,
Joe
Joe
I am in the SW tip of VA and I went about 50 miles over to Middlesboro, KY. I was really suprised that the car was that bad as it drove prety good.
Be sure your tire pressure is right on before you take it. Make sure they have the top of the line digital machine, no more than 5 years old. This one was a year old. Also, most of them just want to dial it until the bars are all green (in spec). I asked them to work on it until they had the exact numbers and that takes some time to do. When one thing is changed all of the others are so it takes allot of tweaking to get it to dial in.
The numbers I had it set to are within GM spec. and are less than a moderate track setting but a bit more negative Camber than GM would use.
06-16-2005, 08:13 AM
#15
Drifting
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by corvette1
You mentioned GM spec and then stated "This is what I set it to:" Are those settings the GM spec or did you use another source for your settings? Just curious.
What is most important is the Caster and 7.9 is the OEM prefered spec.
06-16-2005, 08:58 AM
#16
Instructor
Member Since: Apr 2005
Location: Oak Ridge New Jersey
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
500 miles and mine drifts to the left. I have to put slight pressure on the wheel to the right to make it go straight. It goes back to the dealer on Wednesday to have the alignment fixed.
06-16-2005, 09:50 AM
#17
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jul 2003
Location: Offical CFOT MustangChick Texas
Posts: 8,455
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Well this would explain the Z51 tire wear.
wow, well i'll add MY first thought...
with the soft compound of the Z51 Supercar tires... all that toe (and the rest of the poor factory alignment) could DEFINITELY be leading to the premature tire wear that some Z51 owners are seeing.
Hmmm... at least that makes sense and explains why some people are getting 4000 miles life and some are at 10,000+ and no problems.
Check those alignments.
with the soft compound of the Z51 Supercar tires... all that toe (and the rest of the poor factory alignment) could DEFINITELY be leading to the premature tire wear that some Z51 owners are seeing.
Hmmm... at least that makes sense and explains why some people are getting 4000 miles life and some are at 10,000+ and no problems.
Check those alignments.
06-16-2005, 09:53 AM
#18
Drifting
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by rick229
500 miles and mine drifts to the left. I have to put slight pressure on the wheel to the right to make it go straight. It goes back to the dealer on Wednesday to have the alignment fixed.
My first car did that and even in the right lane (road is crowned) it tended to climb up to the center. My dealer could not do the job with their old machine (I would not let them). Your dealer will likely just change the Caster a touch and send you off. Will fix the problem but it is a long ways fron correct. My $.02
Spend the $60 and ask your dealer to pay for it.
06-16-2005, 10:34 AM
#19
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jul 2001
Location: Southwest Florida
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Are the specs that you set yours to what you'd recommend for the base coupe also or are the base/Z51 different? I'm going to take mine to get it aligned but I want to bring the specs with me to be sure the shop has them correct. Are the numbers you posted under "what I set it to" all I need to take them?
A quick answer would be great since they have an opening today where they could fit me in. I suspect mine is out of whack too.
Thanks,
Mike
A quick answer would be great since they have an opening today where they could fit me in. I suspect mine is out of whack too.
Thanks,
Mike
06-16-2005, 10:54 AM
#20
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by rbl
Be sure your tire pressure is right on before you take it.
The way to find the operating pressures is to set the cold pressures and go out for a good long drive in the style you want the car to be optimized for, and then immediately stop and measure the pressures (on the side of the road or in a gas station) and write the numbers down. Average the fronts and average the rears. and use these pressures while on the alignment rack.
If you want the car optimized for interstate driving, run your car on the interstate for 20 minutes. If you want you car optimized for back roads, run you car on the back roads for at least 20 minutes as hard as you want to run on the backroads. If you want a track setting,.....
Since I track my car a lot, I have the pressures set ot 40 PSI before alignment, and back to 32 PSI afterwards. Most of us will want the tires in the 36 PSI range 'on the alignment rack'.
However, as long as we are shelling out $60+ for an alignment (and getting them at least once a year) in order to preserve the life of $1000 tire sets. I seriously suggest getting a $100 digital probe tipped pyrometer and measuring the tire temperatures, and using this information to dial your car in even better than the simple set of numbers above. And if you are really serious about alignment, stability, and performance, get the car cornerweighted--you will feel the difference.