diy alignments?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 8
From: Sumter South Carolina
diy alignments?
Anyone do their own without a rack? I've seen those leveling things that go on the rim. Not sure how those work on toe and caster adjustment.
Thinking of ways to save myself some money in the long run and maybe some friends too.
Thinking of ways to save myself some money in the long run and maybe some friends too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
If your DIY adjustments are "off" you can kill a set of tires in just a few miles. Tires ain't cheap....and your friends may get pissed.
If you know what your doing and the car is/has settled you can get stuff super close with just a tape measure, piece of flat bar and a level (camber).......but the smart money is still to take to an alignment "shop" and let them break out the mirrors and lasers to dial it in.
When you take your car to the shop for alignment ask for before and after print outs.
If you know what your doing and the car is/has settled you can get stuff super close with just a tape measure, piece of flat bar and a level (camber).......but the smart money is still to take to an alignment "shop" and let them break out the mirrors and lasers to dial it in.
When you take your car to the shop for alignment ask for before and after print outs.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 8
From: Sumter South Carolina
Another reason I ask is that only one shop can get my car on a rack. I trust this guy but it is 100 bucks for a 4 wheel, which is not outragous but still, to me that's a lot of money.
I do my sandrail with a tape measure but everything is exposed. Ill have to look up how to fab my own setup.
I do my sandrail with a tape measure but everything is exposed. Ill have to look up how to fab my own setup.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
you can get a pretty good alignment doing it yourself, it takes time, there's excellent tech on here for it as already posted, theres a procedure that needs to be followed or you will eat tires. a four wheel alignment at firestone runs bout $80, so $100 isnt that far off
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I do all my own alignments (street and race car, and customer cars). I use pieces of angle for toe plates, and two tape measures to measure toe. I can use a flat straight edge, level and tape measure to measure camber and caster. For slip plates I have used thick stacked magazines, or two pieces of steel with grease in between. It is really simple to do once you have done it a couple times. I can now do alignments quicker and more accurate than the alignment shop.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
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From: Cary illinois
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
The biggest challenge is to find a leveled area. In my three car garage there is one spot.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Interesting.
I have set toe several times using the "string" method. I am confident that I can do that well.
I have not set caster/camber yet, but I think I am going to try it too. I haven't decided on what the best low cost equipment would be though.
I have set toe several times using the "string" method. I am confident that I can do that well.
I have not set caster/camber yet, but I think I am going to try it too. I haven't decided on what the best low cost equipment would be though.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 8
From: Sumter South Carolina
Well I feel like I get an alignment like once every year. However, maybe its just my imagination but the car seems rougher at 60 after the first 6 months. After a fresh align the car feels very planted at any speed, even over 100.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
I do it the easy way. It's so simple that anyone can do it. I paid for a lifetime Firestone alignment and I get it done as often as I want for life for free. They give you a printout of all the specs so you know that it was done correctly.
