Rough alignment 1971
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 780
Likes: 68
From: wantagh ny
Rough alignment 1971
Hi, Iam in the middle of a suspenion rebiuld. I did the front and drove it and its great. The rear is not done (waiting for parts). I figure by the weekend. I was wondering how to get the rear close to alignment? I have to drive to the alignment shop 20 miles away.Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Index the camber bolts before you remove them. Set them to the same marks at the conclusion of the rebuild. If T-arm work is included in your rebuild, index the inner shim stacks and each arm and mark them left and right. Reinstall in the same postions.
Drive to the alignment shop.
Drive to the alignment shop.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Aug 29, 2012 at 09:38 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
as easy mike said use your old measurements as a starting point. if you didn't record the old shim count on the trailing arms, use the 'string' method to set the toe-in. do a search and you'll find posts on this 'high' tech, but surprisingly accurate, method.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 780
Likes: 68
From: wantagh ny
I took pictures of the rear strut bar marking and counted the shims I took out and put them in there own bags labeled. I had to install new struts bars because the old one the rubber was in horrible shape. The front is close. its the rear I worry about. May I ask what the string method? thanks Anthony
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 780
Likes: 68
From: wantagh ny
Is this it?
if you want to ballpark set the toe in. tie a long piece of masonry string to the inside of the rear and run it across the back wheel around to the front wheel. adjust the toe so it hits the front and back edge of the rim at the same time. that will get you close enough to get you to the alignment shop.
if you want to ballpark set the toe in. tie a long piece of masonry string to the inside of the rear and run it across the back wheel around to the front wheel. adjust the toe so it hits the front and back edge of the rim at the same time. that will get you close enough to get you to the alignment shop.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
For rear camber tape 2 equal length sockets to a bubble level so the sockets contact the rim at the top & bottom. Adjust until it is level. That's zero camber and fine to get to a shop (will not wear/damage tires).
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,454
Likes: 328
From: Indy Indiana
just eyeball set it straight up and down ( camber ) and straight back and forth ( toe ).. don't make it more complicated than it is.. don't worry about strings or tape or indexing or measuring where it was.. this will get you 95% and get you to the alignment shop.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Remember to take extra T/A shims along with you to the alignment shop. Might be a good idea for the front shims as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
when you get to the alignment shop two things are going to happen when they realize you want the rear aligned. one, they'll quote a fee of $300, because they don't want to mess with it(the tech can do 10 toe adjustments on modern cars at $50 per in the same time he can do the c3). or two, they'll totally screw it up. or both.
do 'the string' properly and put the $300 into a gift for your wife-she deserves it for putting up with our obsession.
do 'the string' properly and put the $300 into a gift for your wife-she deserves it for putting up with our obsession.
