Alignment HEADACHE!!!.... need advice!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Alignment HEADACHE!!!.... need advice!
well im sure some of you have seen my post with the new wheels! looks great and all, but it was a HORRIBLE day getting them mounted! its a long story, but to make it short, the mechanics werent really that good... actually they were HORRIBLE!!!
now, although the guy that finshed the alignment seemed to know a little bit about what he was doing, i still need some advice from anyone that can help!!
they tried to explain to me that it was impossible to get my car completely aligned. they said something about needing a "caster kit/bolt" for the front in order to complete the alignment???
here are the numbers:
LEFT RIGHT
CAMBER: -0.8 -0.2
CASTER: 8.8 8.3
TOE: -0.04 -0.06
TOTAL TOE: 0.02
STEER AHEAD: -0.05
my PROBLEM is that now (only after leaving there) i have a bad pull to the right. now if anyone can explain this to me i would really appreciate it. the shop wants me to bring it back there, but they are on drugs and i will never return there!
im hoping to get another shop to help me out. anyone have any ideas as what to do?!? im pretty frustrated now, as its kinda sucky to drive the car like this!!
appreciate any info! sorry so long!
now, although the guy that finshed the alignment seemed to know a little bit about what he was doing, i still need some advice from anyone that can help!!
they tried to explain to me that it was impossible to get my car completely aligned. they said something about needing a "caster kit/bolt" for the front in order to complete the alignment???
here are the numbers:
LEFT RIGHT
CAMBER: -0.8 -0.2
CASTER: 8.8 8.3
TOE: -0.04 -0.06
TOTAL TOE: 0.02
STEER AHEAD: -0.05
my PROBLEM is that now (only after leaving there) i have a bad pull to the right. now if anyone can explain this to me i would really appreciate it. the shop wants me to bring it back there, but they are on drugs and i will never return there!
im hoping to get another shop to help me out. anyone have any ideas as what to do?!? im pretty frustrated now, as its kinda sucky to drive the car like this!!
appreciate any info! sorry so long!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
From: Alhambra Calismognazifornia, in the country everyone comes just to complain but won't go back home!
i'm not sure to which side it would pull but i think that the difference in your R and L camber settings is bound to pull to one side.
my guy at just tires dials mine in so carefully, making sure even that a subsequent adjustment hasn't influenced the previous one. for example, after he finishes the camber adjustment and moves on to caster or toe and does that one, he will go back again and loosen the camber cam a little to make sure there isn't some funky preload going on that will screw things up). and the differences from side to side are in the second decimal place.
it takes him about 2 hours but it's well worth it. 
my guy at just tires dials mine in so carefully, making sure even that a subsequent adjustment hasn't influenced the previous one. for example, after he finishes the camber adjustment and moves on to caster or toe and does that one, he will go back again and loosen the camber cam a little to make sure there isn't some funky preload going on that will screw things up). and the differences from side to side are in the second decimal place.
it takes him about 2 hours but it's well worth it.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
They're trying to rip you off! With the stock suspension, you can get about -2 degrees camber and 4 degree caster....you trade caster for more negative camber. If you get a Hardbar or T1 camber kit, you can get more negative camber. It also helps if you take the spacers/washers (if any) out of the upper control arms.
Bottom line is that your alignment shop sucks. They don't seems to understand that adjusting one setting affects the other settings, and that changes have to be made slowly and rechecked. They're not doing that, and that's why your alignment settings are all over the place. I suggest talking to local racers and find out where they get their alignments done.
Bottom line is that your alignment shop sucks. They don't seems to understand that adjusting one setting affects the other settings, and that changes have to be made slowly and rechecked. They're not doing that, and that's why your alignment settings are all over the place. I suggest talking to local racers and find out where they get their alignments done.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Here are some threads about alignment shops in your area. You have to drive to get to some of those shops, but fwiw, I'll be driving 2 1/2 hours to get to A&A to swap my clutch...no way I'll let a dealership touch my car!
http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums...5&hl=alignment
http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums...1&hl=alignment
http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums...1&hl=alignment
http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums...3&hl=alignment
http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums...5&hl=alignment
http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums...1&hl=alignment
http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums...1&hl=alignment
http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums...3&hl=alignment
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Get your MONEY and run as fast and as quickly as you can to a good alignment shop that can do corvette alignments! The guy has been sniffing too much ricer exhaust! He should be able to align your car without any extra kits or parts!!
BC
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; May 14, 2005 at 02:31 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 743
Likes: 4
From: Orlando, FL (UCF)
2017 C6 of the Year Finalist
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Man that sucks
Hey Brian,
That sucks, I hear its really hard to find a good alignment shop around our area. I know I should get one but Im dreading it. Did you call Chris, if I recall correctly i think he got an alignment not to long ago. He said the guys that did his were really careful, he seemed to be happy with it. Other than that I dont know who I would recommend. Good luck.
Later,
Max
That sucks, I hear its really hard to find a good alignment shop around our area. I know I should get one but Im dreading it. Did you call Chris, if I recall correctly i think he got an alignment not to long ago. He said the guys that did his were really careful, he seemed to be happy with it. Other than that I dont know who I would recommend. Good luck.
Later,
Max
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Originally Posted by Max01GreenMachine
Hey Brian,
That sucks, I hear its really hard to find a good alignment shop around our area. I know I should get one but Im dreading it. Did you call Chris, if I recall correctly i think he got an alignment not to long ago. He said the guys that did his were really careful, he seemed to be happy with it. Other than that I dont know who I would recommend. Good luck.
Later,
Max
That sucks, I hear its really hard to find a good alignment shop around our area. I know I should get one but Im dreading it. Did you call Chris, if I recall correctly i think he got an alignment not to long ago. He said the guys that did his were really careful, he seemed to be happy with it. Other than that I dont know who I would recommend. Good luck.
Later,
Max
Chris
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 743
Likes: 4
From: Orlando, FL (UCF)
2017 C6 of the Year Finalist
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Originally Posted by stangkiller18
Max, there were my guys, and I was there the whole time. I was very embarrassed that i ever recomended these guys, the difference between the two visits was night and day. At the point i tried to get the mechanic who worked on my car to work on Brians, the guys working on the car began to argue with us....at that point i just walked away and didn't care anymore. I feel really bad, but hopefully after brians visit to Firestone this afternoon, he can go get his money back from the other shop. That is the last time i reccomend a shop to anybody, and i feel really bad about Brians car.
Chris
Chris
Later,
Max
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
seafood is still a go...are you coming?! Brian is currently getting his car re-aligned, and it's all going quite well...they found bolts that were not tightened at all, as well as even the rear being out of spec.
Chris
Chris
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Originally Posted by stangkiller18
seafood is still a go...are you coming?! Brian is currently getting his car re-aligned, and it's all going quite well...they found bolts that were not tightened at all, as well as even the rear being out of spec.
Chris
Chris
Seafood???
And I'm getting ready to go put a new AC belt on.
I need to get my car re-aligned too. Mores Car in Melbourne seem to know what they doing, I hope. Anyone running Z06 specs?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Originally Posted by JeepTJ
Seafood???
And I'm getting ready to go put a new AC belt on.
I need to get my car re-aligned too. Mores Car in Melbourne seem to know what they doing, I hope. Anyone running Z06 specs?
And I'm getting ready to go put a new AC belt on.
I need to get my car re-aligned too. Mores Car in Melbourne seem to know what they doing, I hope. Anyone running Z06 specs?
Fred! All you can eat sea food in Kissimee 4:00 tomorrow afternoon, we're going for Brians 21st birthday which was last tuesday!
Chris
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
ok guys... thanks for the info!! car is now fixed!!!
i ended up bringing the car to firestone on 436/ + 17/92. i actually called corvette masters, and they told me they send out all their vettes to firestone for wheels/tires alignment. so i figured i should be in good hands.
went there, and they were expecting me, i had already called up. got me on the rack within 15 minutes. i spoke with the tech working on the car, he was an older guy that said he had been doing vettes for the area for 10 years. he gets all the customs from corvette masters, and also rogers etc.
the tech could not believe what a shotty job the other shop did. the whole car was off, and.... they even left bolts LOOSE!!!!!!! yes, you read that correct!! the tech actually could finger turn the bolts
so they fixed the car to Z06 spec and everything is now fine. they charge 59.99 for 1 alignment, or 119 for lifetime. so i went with lifetime. great place to do business with. they actually documented everything the other shop messed up, that way if i have problems when i dispute the charge with them and the credit card company!!!
back on the road again!! everyone local... seafood tom. at 4. most will probably meet at chris's house, them to my house. hope to see some of you there!
i ended up bringing the car to firestone on 436/ + 17/92. i actually called corvette masters, and they told me they send out all their vettes to firestone for wheels/tires alignment. so i figured i should be in good hands.
went there, and they were expecting me, i had already called up. got me on the rack within 15 minutes. i spoke with the tech working on the car, he was an older guy that said he had been doing vettes for the area for 10 years. he gets all the customs from corvette masters, and also rogers etc.
the tech could not believe what a shotty job the other shop did. the whole car was off, and.... they even left bolts LOOSE!!!!!!!
yes, you read that correct!! the tech actually could finger turn the bolts so they fixed the car to Z06 spec and everything is now fine. they charge 59.99 for 1 alignment, or 119 for lifetime. so i went with lifetime. great place to do business with. they actually documented everything the other shop messed up, that way if i have problems when i dispute the charge with them and the credit card company!!!
back on the road again!! everyone local... seafood tom. at 4. most will probably meet at chris's house, them to my house. hope to see some of you there!
MONARTOR
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 250,151
Likes: 146
From: What I know, is dwarfed by what I pretend to know
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by v.vet's C5
Glad you finally got the alignment problem solved!
