Alignment Question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,744
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From: The Sunshine State
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Alignment Question
I swapped out my wheels/tires last year and thought it would be a good idea to have an alignment performed with my 10 year maintenance.
Prior to the alignment, I did not notice any pull and the steering wheel was locked in straight. After the alignment, I noticed that the steering wheel C5 logo was locked in about the 11:30 postion (meaning in order to keep the car driving straight, the steering wheel had to be tilted slightly to the driver's left or 11:30 from a clock perspective.
The shop put the car back on the alignment lift and showed me the computer screen where it desplayed an arrow in red that shows the dead center alignment. However when on the dead center alignment, the steering wheel is off to the left.
Isn't it a two-step process whereas they align the wheels/suspension and then adjust the steering wheel if necessary?
BTW - the work was performed by a dealership. I won a $100 service coupon at a local Corvette Club C7 event and decided to use it for an oil/fluids change/alignment.
I guess I got what I paid for!
Prior to the alignment, I did not notice any pull and the steering wheel was locked in straight. After the alignment, I noticed that the steering wheel C5 logo was locked in about the 11:30 postion (meaning in order to keep the car driving straight, the steering wheel had to be tilted slightly to the driver's left or 11:30 from a clock perspective.
The shop put the car back on the alignment lift and showed me the computer screen where it desplayed an arrow in red that shows the dead center alignment. However when on the dead center alignment, the steering wheel is off to the left.
Isn't it a two-step process whereas they align the wheels/suspension and then adjust the steering wheel if necessary?
BTW - the work was performed by a dealership. I won a $100 service coupon at a local Corvette Club C7 event and decided to use it for an oil/fluids change/alignment.
I guess I got what I paid for!
Last edited by MSG C5; Aug 24, 2014 at 01:29 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,744
Likes: 3,265
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I swapped out my wheels/tires last year and thought it would be a good idea to have an alignment performed with my 10 year maintenance.
Prior to the alignment, I did not notice any pull and the steering wheel was locked in straight. After the alignment, I noticed that the steering wheel C5 logo was locked in about the 11:30 postion (meaning in order to keep the car driving straight, the steering wheel had to be tilted slightly to the driver's left or 11:30 from a clock perspective.
The shop put the car back on the alignment lift and showed me the computer screen where it desplayed an arrow in read that shows the dead center alignment. However when on the dead center alignment, the steering wheel is off to the left.
Isn't it a two-step process whereas they align the wheels/suspension and then adjust the steering wheel if necessary?
BTW - the work was performed by a dealership. I won a $100 service coupon at a local Corvette Club C7 event and decided to use it for an oil/fluids change/alignment.
I guess I got what I paid for!
Prior to the alignment, I did not notice any pull and the steering wheel was locked in straight. After the alignment, I noticed that the steering wheel C5 logo was locked in about the 11:30 postion (meaning in order to keep the car driving straight, the steering wheel had to be tilted slightly to the driver's left or 11:30 from a clock perspective.
The shop put the car back on the alignment lift and showed me the computer screen where it desplayed an arrow in read that shows the dead center alignment. However when on the dead center alignment, the steering wheel is off to the left.
Isn't it a two-step process whereas they align the wheels/suspension and then adjust the steering wheel if necessary?
BTW - the work was performed by a dealership. I won a $100 service coupon at a local Corvette Club C7 event and decided to use it for an oil/fluids change/alignment.
I guess I got what I paid for!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,744
Likes: 3,671
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
I had it aligned after I swapped out my original OEM wheels and lowered on stock bolts back in 2006 and the steering wheel was perfectly straight. It was also perfectly straight when I brought the car in prior to the alignment.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,744
Likes: 3,671
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
I'm just trying to figure out what the correct process is. I've been in cabs before where the steering wheel is way off center. So, isn't it a two-step process where the steering wheel alignment is separate from the actual wheel base alignment? There has to be a point where the wheel base is aligned which then allows for your to position the steering wheel correctly. I think they're missing a step. I was in the car when they showed the alignment screen with the arrow in the red/center and the steering wheel was off. I'm thinking, OK, the alignment is complete, now adjust the steering wheel.
Last edited by MSG C5; Aug 24, 2014 at 01:54 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 642
Likes: 16
From: East Coast
I'm just trying to figure out what the correct process is. I've been in cabs before where the steering wheel is way off center. So, isn't it a two-step process where the steering wheel alignment is separate from the actual wheel base alignment? There has to be a point where the wheel base is aligned which then allows for your to position the steering wheel correctly. I think they're missing a step. I was in the car when they showed the alignment screen with the arrow in the red/center and the steering wheel was off. I'm thinking, OK, the alignment is complete, now adjust the steering wheel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
You can call it a two step process yes. You first adjust the rear camber and toe. Then you adjust the camber and caster up front. Once those two angles are correct, you then set toe. When correcting toe you set the steering wheel level and hold it in place with a steering wheel holder. Set individual left and right toe to specs. Recheck steering wheel levelness. Test drive them return to customer.
If you let the steering wheel go, does it still drive straight or does it drift to the right? Post up the after specs of the alignment so I can review it.
Signed
The alignment guy.
If you let the steering wheel go, does it still drive straight or does it drift to the right? Post up the after specs of the alignment so I can review it.
Signed
The alignment guy.
Last edited by mrr23; Aug 24, 2014 at 06:23 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
I see you are in the sunshine state
Get a refund, take a cruise and let me take care of it. Here are a few recommendations from right here on the forums.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/southeast/2995286-please-recommend-an-alignment-shop-in-orlando.html
Get a refund, take a cruise and let me take care of it. Here are a few recommendations from right here on the forums.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/southeast/2995286-please-recommend-an-alignment-shop-in-orlando.html
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
If your wheel if not centered the tech didn't know what he was doing, I would take it back, That would bother the hell out of me, Also you might find that your car will drift to the right just a little if done right, That is a safety thing so if you fall asleep at the wheel the car has a less chance going left into on-coming traffic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 43
From: ABQ NM
Cruise-In II Veteran
MSG,
I believe you are thinking along the correct lines. Last time I had mine aligned, the tech did his thing with the wheels, then when he was done adjusting them, he asked me to verify if the steering wheel was correctly positioned or if he needed to move/adjust it before he wrapped things up, so yea, they are sort of independent steps. Hope this makes sense, and good luck.
I believe you are thinking along the correct lines. Last time I had mine aligned, the tech did his thing with the wheels, then when he was done adjusting them, he asked me to verify if the steering wheel was correctly positioned or if he needed to move/adjust it before he wrapped things up, so yea, they are sort of independent steps. Hope this makes sense, and good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
If your wheel if not centered the tech didn't know what he was doing, I would take it back, That would bother the hell out of me, Also you might find that your car will drift to the right just a little if done right, That is a safety thing so if you fall asleep at the wheel the car has a less chance going left into on-coming traffic.
Oh not to mention all that drifting to the right will cause premature wear to the front tires.
You want the right front caster to be about 0.30* higher to offset that.
Last edited by mrr23; Aug 24, 2014 at 07:53 PM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 615
Likes: 14
From: Glenwood Springs Colorado
That is not a safety thing. That is an excuse the tech gives when he can't compensate for road crown. With all angles equal, it will drift to the right due to the crown of the roads. Roads are slanted to the right to evacuate rain water off the highways.
You want the right front caster to be about 0.30* higher to offset that.
You want the right front caster to be about 0.30* higher to offset that.
Any help is appreciated and sorry for the highjack.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
Since you seem to know exactly what you are doing, I hope you don't mind I ask you. I put wide fenders on my C5 and now I am putting 30mm spacers on each side. Do I need to compensate for the wider track of the car compared to the factory settings? I am not doing the alignment and know nothing about it. But what do I need to tell my guy who is doing it?
Any help is appreciated and sorry for the highjack.
Any help is appreciated and sorry for the highjack.
Tell the person doing the alignment to be as close to specs as possible. Make camber equal on both sides and set caster about 0.30* higher on the right. Set toe to specs.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,027
Likes: 170
From: oregon
a car that drives straight means absolutely nothing
find someone who knows how to do an alignment properly, it's very easy on a c5 honestly.
you should get a print out similar to this when it's done
this is with me sitting in the car
edit.,.. for some reason this picture never attached
find someone who knows how to do an alignment properly, it's very easy on a c5 honestly.
you should get a print out similar to this when it's done
this is with me sitting in the car
edit.,.. for some reason this picture never attached
Last edited by racebum; Aug 25, 2014 at 03:15 PM.
Race Director
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From: Phoenix area, AZ
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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Whoever did your alignment is a moron. Even if the track is set correctly, it doesn't mean your steering wheel is aligned. They most likely performed toe adjustments without centering and securing the steering wheel first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 120
From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
Or their machine is out of calibration. A sensor could have slipped out of place on the wheel. Or the guy has a vision problem?