Alignment - quick question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 0
From: Clifton Park NY
Alignment - quick question
Hello All,
I'm trying to find a shop to align my rear suspension, which was completely rebuilt. I'd prefer not to mess with the front now, afraid of opening a can of worms. Made a phone call, and the guy said he has to align all four wheels. "That's the way the machine works", he says. True, or BS?
Thanks in advance!
-Pedro
I'm trying to find a shop to align my rear suspension, which was completely rebuilt. I'd prefer not to mess with the front now, afraid of opening a can of worms. Made a phone call, and the guy said he has to align all four wheels. "That's the way the machine works", he says. True, or BS?
Thanks in advance!
-Pedro
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Re: Alignment - quick question (Pedro'74)
Somewhat true. There is a four-wheel alignment where all four wheels are brought to their specifications relative to the frame. This is the expensive one. He's probably talking about a thrust alignment where the front-end is referenced to where the rear wheels are located. Thrust alignments are dodgy at best for cars that have adjustable rear alignment. If your rear alignment is correct then you will have a true reference to the front alignment. If the rear is off, then your front will also be off relative to the frame. This is where you can have a car that crab-tracks even though the front alignment is technically correct (relative to where the rear wheels are pointing, anyway). While a thrust alignment is referred to as a four-wheel alignment, only the front wheels receive any attention.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 0
From: Clifton Park NY
Re: Alignment - quick question (gerry72)
Gerry,
Thanks for the response. I don't know anything about this stuff, and wasn't sure if the guy was BS-ing me.
Thanks again!
-Pedro
Thanks for the response. I don't know anything about this stuff, and wasn't sure if the guy was BS-ing me.
Thanks again!
-Pedro
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Re: Alignment - quick question (gerry72)
Gerry, that is interesting. My car hunts or crab-tracks after a front-end kit instalment and new GM strut rods and adjusters in the back. The latter were seized up solid.But now new. A four-wheel alignment was done but this car is scary on the highway and frightening on twisty roads. It just tracks every crack in the road. If I go to a GM dealer or a "good" shop what type of alignment do I ask for?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Moro IL
Re: Alignment - quick question (Pedro'74)
Well in order to set the rear toe correct you will need to reference the front tires, at least on our setup it is that way. now you can do camber and caster independent of the front since each wheel is adjusted seperately for these adjustments, so in most cases a 4 wheel alignment will be nescessary or at least highly advised.
Pat Kunz
Pat Kunz
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,908
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From: Manassas, VA, USA
Re: Alignment - quick question (Pedro'74)
Strictly speaking, you can align one wheel and quit (for that matter, you can look at the measurements and quit without aligning anything). The machine doesn't do the alignment, it just takes the measurements.
Now, having said that, the guy was giving you good advice. If you're going to take it in, you should get a 4-wheel thrust angle alignment. Otherwise, your fronts could be off relative to your rears, which can lead to dog-tracking, excessive pull, increased tire wear, and so on, and so on.
Also, some shops have a policy that they will only do it that way because of liability problems.
Go for 4 wheels; if done right, you'll like the results. :cheers:
Now, having said that, the guy was giving you good advice. If you're going to take it in, you should get a 4-wheel thrust angle alignment. Otherwise, your fronts could be off relative to your rears, which can lead to dog-tracking, excessive pull, increased tire wear, and so on, and so on.
Also, some shops have a policy that they will only do it that way because of liability problems.
Go for 4 wheels; if done right, you'll like the results. :cheers:
