Front wheel Alignment
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Front wheel Alignment (benkapitanec)
I'd say anytime you do front end work, you should get your alignment checked. Take it to a shop that is experienced in Corvette alignment, I've heard of too many crappy alignments that made handling worse than it was before.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Front wheel Alignment (benkapitanec)
A question I have about alignments....I have had alignment guys say the tow in/out adjustment will allways tend to self center on the freeway, in other words, the wheel might not be straight, and the tires may not have a good tow angle, BUT the car will NOT PULL left or right, that pulling is caused by caster/camber adjustments....and to a degree, that makes sense to me.....unless it's radial tire pull, another issue....
so IF the above is true, let's assume it is for discussion here....which shim on the upper A arm is the one that MOST affects camber??? on a '72 vette....C3 chassis..??? I would imagine it's not the same one on all cars...with A arm suspension....
and for the life of me, most all alignmnent guys refuse to just lock the wheel with the key in the upright straight up position....for a toe in adjustment.....
I have a bit of wear on the inner tread of the passenger's front tire, so want to remove a shim there, then set the toe in myself after I get engine back in....any suggestions how I set the toe in the garage myself????
GENE
so IF the above is true, let's assume it is for discussion here....which shim on the upper A arm is the one that MOST affects camber??? on a '72 vette....C3 chassis..??? I would imagine it's not the same one on all cars...with A arm suspension....
and for the life of me, most all alignmnent guys refuse to just lock the wheel with the key in the upright straight up position....for a toe in adjustment.....
I have a bit of wear on the inner tread of the passenger's front tire, so want to remove a shim there, then set the toe in myself after I get engine back in....any suggestions how I set the toe in the garage myself????
GENE
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
Re: Front wheel Alignment (mrvette)
Gene
When the wheel is not straight when the alignment guy is finished he was lazy.
You add or subtract shims equally to change your camber setting. (same wheel) Negative camber is when the top of the wheel is leaning inwards / \ so you can see by the sticks too much negative camber is causing your inner tire wear. (assuming no worn parts frame damage etc..) caster is adding or subtracting on front or back bolt. Setting toe in at home is not very hard You can buy a cheap toe gauge from the Eastwood company. Or you can make your own. You need to be able to measure from the outside of each tire Sticks and string and tape measure work if you understand what your doing and why. I also have my opinion on alignment shops. Some times going with your settings to a NON Corvette Shop will result in a better alignment because your going to get what you asked for. One he doesn't have any other Preconcieved clutter as to what are good settings for a Corvette. (RANGE)
The operator of the alignment machine is the person that is either going to give you a good alignment or a bad alignment. The equipment only makes it easier or harder to do.
[Modified by paso, 7:02 AM 1/19/2002]
When the wheel is not straight when the alignment guy is finished he was lazy.
You add or subtract shims equally to change your camber setting. (same wheel) Negative camber is when the top of the wheel is leaning inwards / \ so you can see by the sticks too much negative camber is causing your inner tire wear. (assuming no worn parts frame damage etc..) caster is adding or subtracting on front or back bolt. Setting toe in at home is not very hard You can buy a cheap toe gauge from the Eastwood company. Or you can make your own. You need to be able to measure from the outside of each tire Sticks and string and tape measure work if you understand what your doing and why. I also have my opinion on alignment shops. Some times going with your settings to a NON Corvette Shop will result in a better alignment because your going to get what you asked for. One he doesn't have any other Preconcieved clutter as to what are good settings for a Corvette. (RANGE)
The operator of the alignment machine is the person that is either going to give you a good alignment or a bad alignment. The equipment only makes it easier or harder to do.
[Modified by paso, 7:02 AM 1/19/2002]
