Aligning a Vette?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
From: Spring Hill, Florida Life is all about new beginnings;...TRY ONE!
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Aligning a Vette?
Anyone have any thoughts on C5 alignment, namely things I should keep in mind when getting this done and more importantly; do I dare trust the dealer to do this on a lowered Vette? Or is it better to take it to a tire dealer?
I will be getting mine lowered shortly, and will be looking at an alignment after that......
I will be getting mine lowered shortly, and will be looking at an alignment after that......
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
My Dealer charged me extra to remove and replace the front air dam because they said it would not go on the rack with it on.
Most shops have a problem with lowered cars, shop around.
Fred
Most shops have a problem with lowered cars, shop around.
Fred
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I use VB&P Advance Street settings.
http://www.vbandp.com/instructions/h...ruct/align.htm
Find a local shop that Vette owners in your area recommend.
Tell them to adjust it to your recommendations. Ask for a before and after printout.
http://www.vbandp.com/instructions/h...ruct/align.htm
Find a local shop that Vette owners in your area recommend.
Tell them to adjust it to your recommendations. Ask for a before and after printout.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
From: Merritt Island, Blonde Surfer Dude! Florida
Cruise-In V Veteran
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Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
Alignment
Sandy,
That question really depends on your dealer. I worked at a GM dealer for 12 year and we really took car of our customers.
--
I now live in Chicago and my dealer (Jennings Chevy) is great. I had my 04 vert lowered at last years CI by Dragons Breath. The front tires started wearing on the inside edge. I don't think it was do to the lowering, I am more sure it was the streets in Chicago, but it could of had some impact.
--
The dealer did a 4 wheel complete alignment and charged me 95.00. A fair price for the work. Plus it was done while I waited and on time.
--
I agree you should ask the Forum members in your area who they suggest. I have also hear plenty of Horror stories from going to a crapy dealer.
---
Good Luck !!
That question really depends on your dealer. I worked at a GM dealer for 12 year and we really took car of our customers.
--
I now live in Chicago and my dealer (Jennings Chevy) is great. I had my 04 vert lowered at last years CI by Dragons Breath. The front tires started wearing on the inside edge. I don't think it was do to the lowering, I am more sure it was the streets in Chicago, but it could of had some impact.
--
The dealer did a 4 wheel complete alignment and charged me 95.00. A fair price for the work. Plus it was done while I waited and on time.
--
I agree you should ask the Forum members in your area who they suggest. I have also hear plenty of Horror stories from going to a crapy dealer.
---
Good Luck !!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
From: Spring Hill, Florida Life is all about new beginnings;...TRY ONE!
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
I appreciate the responses.
Seems like a subject I never really see being talked about on here. Thanks! .....Mike
Seems like a subject I never really see being talked about on here. Thanks!
.....Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
From: Murray KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Keep an eye on how the tires wear. I took my 98 to Heartland Chevy near Evansville, In. They tried to align it twice and didnt get it done. All 4 of my tires have no tread on the first 3-5 inches on the inside of the tires but the rest of the tires tread is just above the wear bars. In a meeting with the dealer owner and service manager their excuse was that corvettes get aligned all the time, the grooves in the road possibly caused this, and I may possibly have a bad suspension. Yea 98 with 23,000 miles! Even better they lost the paper work of the first alignment so the could not see if they screwed up.....ooops. I will never go there again! So the moral of the story is watch how the tires wear and get a copy of the specs they aligned it to.
Bob
Bob
Last edited by bobdt173; Jan 20, 2006 at 11:58 AM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 2
From: Long Beach CA
the frt air dams should always be removed, the alignment head/sensor should be centered with the wheel, but the air dams willl be in the way and block the sensors beam. Most places will just adjust the sensors down towards the bottom of the wheel to clear the air dams. Therefore all the readings will be incorrect. Atleast thats the case with our alignment machine, so i always remove the air dams (no charge of course) only 4 screws each side.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Find an alignment shop with a Hunter forward firing laser system. Airdams do not need to be touched because all 4 heads fire forward, not side to side.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 4,282
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From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
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Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
Find an alignment shop with a Hunter forward firing laser system. Airdams do not need to be touched because all 4 heads fire forward, not side to side.
One of the first things I have done when I buy a new car or truck is have it aligned. And there is only one shop here I will let touch either the Corvette or the `56 Chevy. We had to buy new tires for the `00 shortly after buying the car, but have not been able to get it in for alignment yet. I will check with them tomorrow about what system they have.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by RatedX
Thanks for all the good advice!
Looking forward to drink from the EG fountain of knowlege in person!
Looking forward to drink from the EG fountain of knowlege in person!
I'm looking forward to seeing the results of the D&C upgrades to your ride too
Stephen
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Springfield OH
bobdt173 wrote "All 4 of my tires have no tread on the first 3-5 inches on the inside of the tires but the rest of the tires tread is just above the wear bars"
I have my work done by a C4 C5 Corvette specialist in mid-ohio. According to him, the factory alignment specs result in this kind of wear and is common and getting less than 25,000 miles on the tires is common. He has his own settings and has regulary gotten 40,000 miles on the front tires.
Perhaps someone out there can comment further on this.
I have my work done by a C4 C5 Corvette specialist in mid-ohio. According to him, the factory alignment specs result in this kind of wear and is common and getting less than 25,000 miles on the tires is common. He has his own settings and has regulary gotten 40,000 miles on the front tires.
Perhaps someone out there can comment further on this.
Last edited by TorchRed00FRC; Feb 10, 2006 at 12:59 PM.
