Front and Rear wheel alignment
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Front and Rear wheel alignment
Can anyone point me to a well written and easy to understand article on how to do my own front and rear wheel alignment?
I have found some good articles on rear whells only but I would like to try to do fronts as well and don't want to have my car beat on by an alignment shop.
Thank you
Kurt
I have found some good articles on rear whells only but I would like to try to do fronts as well and don't want to have my car beat on by an alignment shop.
Thank you
Kurt
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
You are correct regarding the accuracy but I thought I had seen some references on this forum on how to do it yourself.
The problem is that over the years I have had many alignments on many cars and found the shops don't give a damn about how they beat on your car. I just spent 10 years restoring my 68 and bundles of money and I don't want some grease monkey banging on my freshly painted suspension pieces or my LeMans blue paint job.
Been there, done that, don't need another shirt.
I've heard one can do it with levels and measurements. We didn't always have computers and the old Bear Alignment racks were manual.
I know, I'm ****, but this is more than just a car to me. Had it for 34 years and it looks like it was just delivered from St. Louis yesterday. I have only driven it 2-3 miles since I finished the restoration last September so you can probably understand my hesitance to have it abused by a stranger who could care less.
Kurt
The problem is that over the years I have had many alignments on many cars and found the shops don't give a damn about how they beat on your car. I just spent 10 years restoring my 68 and bundles of money and I don't want some grease monkey banging on my freshly painted suspension pieces or my LeMans blue paint job.
Been there, done that, don't need another shirt.
I've heard one can do it with levels and measurements. We didn't always have computers and the old Bear Alignment racks were manual.
I know, I'm ****, but this is more than just a car to me. Had it for 34 years and it looks like it was just delivered from St. Louis yesterday. I have only driven it 2-3 miles since I finished the restoration last September so you can probably understand my hesitance to have it abused by a stranger who could care less.
Kurt
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by ksbunting
You are correct regarding the accuracy but I thought I had seen some references on this forum on how to do it yourself.
The problem is that over the years I have had many alignments on many cars and found the shops don't give a damn about how they beat on your car. I just spent 10 years restoring my 68 and bundles of money and I don't want some grease monkey banging on my freshly painted suspension pieces or my LeMans blue paint job.
Been there, done that, don't need another shirt.
I've heard one can do it with levels and measurements. We didn't always have computers and the old Bear Alignment racks were manual.
I know, I'm ****, but this is more than just a car to me. Had it for 34 years and it looks like it was just delivered from St. Louis yesterday. I have only driven it 2-3 miles since I finished the restoration last September so you can probably understand my hesitance to have it abused by a stranger who could care less.
Kurt
The problem is that over the years I have had many alignments on many cars and found the shops don't give a damn about how they beat on your car. I just spent 10 years restoring my 68 and bundles of money and I don't want some grease monkey banging on my freshly painted suspension pieces or my LeMans blue paint job.
Been there, done that, don't need another shirt.
I've heard one can do it with levels and measurements. We didn't always have computers and the old Bear Alignment racks were manual.
I know, I'm ****, but this is more than just a car to me. Had it for 34 years and it looks like it was just delivered from St. Louis yesterday. I have only driven it 2-3 miles since I finished the restoration last September so you can probably understand my hesitance to have it abused by a stranger who could care less.
Kurt
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
The alignment isn't difficult, its been a while but I have done it several times. You can dial it in pretty close, but to get it right the computer really is a help. Talk to some of the custom shops around the area and see who they use. Find a shop that will let you watch and the alignment guy might even help you learn whats going on. Thats the way I do it.
dial it in close, set the camber with a level, wheels set straight, start with an equal number of shims in both sides of the upper arms, since yours is already together, start with that. I don't know the spec on yours, but its in the book. Then dial in the toe, measure the distance center to center on the front and back of the tires at the hight of the hub, adjust the tie rods to get it zeroed. The spec on mine (81) is -1/8" out to +5/8" in, I start at zero and see how it drives. Camber is next and is a bit more complicated, thats the part I leave to the machine. The whole procedure is in the Shop Manual. If you don't have one, get the single year book for your car.
Hope this helps
dial it in close, set the camber with a level, wheels set straight, start with an equal number of shims in both sides of the upper arms, since yours is already together, start with that. I don't know the spec on yours, but its in the book. Then dial in the toe, measure the distance center to center on the front and back of the tires at the hight of the hub, adjust the tie rods to get it zeroed. The spec on mine (81) is -1/8" out to +5/8" in, I start at zero and see how it drives. Camber is next and is a bit more complicated, thats the part I leave to the machine. The whole procedure is in the Shop Manual. If you don't have one, get the single year book for your car.
Hope this helps
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I'm a Hunter certified alignment tech (non-practicing)...when I finally get my suspension rebuilt, I'm going to find a shop that will let me get under there with the mechanic. It's just going to be a condition of the job.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
corvettefaq.com
Originally Posted by ksbunting
You are correct regarding the accuracy but I thought I had seen some references on this forum on how to do it yourself.
The problem is that over the years I have had many alignments on many cars and found the shops don't give a damn about how they beat on your car. I just spent 10 years restoring my 68 and bundles of money and I don't want some grease monkey banging on my freshly painted suspension pieces or my LeMans blue paint job.
Been there, done that, don't need another shirt.
I've heard one can do it with levels and measurements. We didn't always have computers and the old Bear Alignment racks were manual.
I know, I'm ****, but this is more than just a car to me. Had it for 34 years and it looks like it was just delivered from St. Louis yesterday. I have only driven it 2-3 miles since I finished the restoration last September so you can probably understand my hesitance to have it abused by a stranger who could care less.
Kurt
The problem is that over the years I have had many alignments on many cars and found the shops don't give a damn about how they beat on your car. I just spent 10 years restoring my 68 and bundles of money and I don't want some grease monkey banging on my freshly painted suspension pieces or my LeMans blue paint job.
Been there, done that, don't need another shirt.
I've heard one can do it with levels and measurements. We didn't always have computers and the old Bear Alignment racks were manual.
I know, I'm ****, but this is more than just a car to me. Had it for 34 years and it looks like it was just delivered from St. Louis yesterday. I have only driven it 2-3 miles since I finished the restoration last September so you can probably understand my hesitance to have it abused by a stranger who could care less.
Kurt
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette IN
Just got mine done last weekend for $60 - all 4 wheels. I wasn't too worried about em banging on my suspension, but I stood there and watched the whole time. They were relatively nice and so far it seems they did a good job. Definitely an improvement from where I had it 
I called around for prices and who could get me in the soonest. Some people wouldn't even work on my '79. The only reason I went with the $60 job was because they could get me in that weekend. They seemed like a reputable shop for being local.
I haven't driven it much since, but I'm gonna check and re-tighten all their bolts and such.
I called around for prices and who could get me in the soonest. Some people wouldn't even work on my '79. The only reason I went with the $60 job was because they could get me in that weekend. They seemed like a reputable shop for being local.
I haven't driven it much since, but I'm gonna check and re-tighten all their bolts and such.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
From: North Alabama
Kurt,
I have found that there is usually one guy, or one shop in town that everyone takes their vettes to for alignments...might be a similar situation in your town. Ask the local vette club where they take theirs.
I am with you on DIY, but alignment is one of those things I personally want dialed in pretty tight.
I have found that there is usually one guy, or one shop in town that everyone takes their vettes to for alignments...might be a similar situation in your town. Ask the local vette club where they take theirs.
I am with you on DIY, but alignment is one of those things I personally want dialed in pretty tight.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
for those following this thread in metro saint louis area - O'brien Tire in Granite City has a forum member and a really knowledgeble alignment guy for C3's - 3 of us from the forum were there on Thursday alone - my car drives like a dream now. Find a local vette club and ask them for advice
