Front end alignment? What adjusts?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Front end alignment? What adjusts?
I'm rebuilding my front end and am wondering what adjustments will I need to keep close to spec in order to drive the car to an alignment shop. I've read about matching lengths on the tie-rods, but not sure about any other adjustments.
Thanks in advance,
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Thanks in advance,
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
The main thing is to adjust the toe in to the approx spec (.25"). The camber and castor set by the shims on the upper A-arm shaft shouldn't make much difference unless you need to drive hundreds of miles to the alignment shop.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Mesa az
Toe in is the most critical. You'll wear out your tires before you get to the shop if it isn't close. Equal tie rods won't do it either. The tires have to be close to pointing straight forward before you drive it anywhere. If you see tread marks on your driveway it's BAD. You can either "eye ball" it, get a friend who knows how to "eye ball" it, or trailer it to the shop.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
From: Atascadero Ca
count the shims on the a-arms before you take it apart. Put in the same amount when you put it back together and that should be close enough. I used the ole string and jack stands method to set the toe. It actually came out so good that I didn't even bother to get the thing aligned after that. It goes perfectly straight down the road and the steering wheel is perfectly aligned.
http://www.vtr.org/maintain/diy-alignment.html
http://www.vtr.org/maintain/diy-alignment.html
