86 rear alighnment ??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 889
Likes: 24
From: Fort Worth Texas
86 rear alighnment ??
I recently changed out all the suspention bushings on my 86 coupe, and changed out some suspention parts and lowered the car with 12" rear bolts. My question is how can I align my rear wheels as close as possible untill I get it alighnmened? It's a project car and won't be driven I just want to get them as close as possible because they are WAY OFF, right now. And I'm getting ready to install rear flares and want to see where my tires are going to sit. I'm running GS 17X11 with 315's on the rear. Thanks for your help.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,429
Likes: 605
From: Minneapolis Mn
I know companies like Eastwood carry home alignment tools, but having never used one I don't know if they're good or bad.
Years ago I did something after rebuilding a truck front end so I could get it to an alignment shop. I took some wooden slats and using wire-ties attached them to the rims horizontal to the ground, same height on both sides. I measured from side-to-side both in front of and behind the tires. I adjusted the tie-rod ends enough to get it fairly close to equal. I then used a framing square and level to get the tires close to vertical, using shims to work the suspension in or out as needed.
It was nowhere near perfect but for something that had sat for probably 15-20 years and had a front end that was basically shot before I rebuilt it, it was good enough to drive it 15-20 miles to an alignment shop when I got it running and license plates on it (before the days of emissions tests). It was better than nothing and got me there without throwing me in the ditch.
Years ago I did something after rebuilding a truck front end so I could get it to an alignment shop. I took some wooden slats and using wire-ties attached them to the rims horizontal to the ground, same height on both sides. I measured from side-to-side both in front of and behind the tires. I adjusted the tie-rod ends enough to get it fairly close to equal. I then used a framing square and level to get the tires close to vertical, using shims to work the suspension in or out as needed.
It was nowhere near perfect but for something that had sat for probably 15-20 years and had a front end that was basically shot before I rebuilt it, it was good enough to drive it 15-20 miles to an alignment shop when I got it running and license plates on it (before the days of emissions tests). It was better than nothing and got me there without throwing me in the ditch.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Use a tape measure to do the toe and a 24" level to stand the wheel/tire up straight.
You should do a short drive to shake out the suspension. If you've got a stretch of highway with some "rumble strips" along the shoulder do a short run over them, then return home and do the toe and the camber as mentioned. You want to do both the left and right sides over the "rumble strips".
You should do a short drive to shake out the suspension. If you've got a stretch of highway with some "rumble strips" along the shoulder do a short run over them, then return home and do the toe and the camber as mentioned. You want to do both the left and right sides over the "rumble strips".
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 3, 2015 at 05:17 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me. Back in the '70s he knew a guy who was running a NASCAR Sportsman car. Those are cars that were too old to be regular NASCAR racers. They went to Riverside Raceway and were getting the car ready to run. This guy pulls out a couple of oil cans and puts a piece of wood on top of the oil cans and uses this setup to measure his toe in with a tape measure. My buddy is thinking this is really hokey and then he notices that all the other racers are doing the same thing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 900
Likes: 3
From: Cary illinois
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