Anyone adjusted their alignment themselves?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 1,342
From: Des Plaines, Il
Anyone adjusted their alignment themselves?
Try as I might, I cant seem to get the local alignment shop to align my car straight. Either the steering wheel is tilted a bit, or it track just a bit off, or both. Not that its bad, but its not right and Im pretty **** about my steering and having it feel neutral.
Anyone tried adjusting the center of their alignment by playing around with the toe by hand? Since I can get the shops to match my level of ****-ness about steering, Ill do it on my own.
Anyone tried adjusting the center of their alignment by playing around with the toe by hand? Since I can get the shops to match my level of ****-ness about steering, Ill do it on my own.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 988
Likes: 4
From: Livermore CA
Yes, I have adjusted my alignment (toe in/out) on just about every vehical I have owned for the very same reason you described. The method I use is I paint some dots on the tie rods, both sides of the adjustment so I can always go back to where I started. I then adjust in eigth to quarter turn increments one side at a time and test drive. Some starting logic is that if your steering wheel is cocked left a little while driving, you need to adjust one or both of your wheels in the turning left direction so that straightening out your steering wheel points your wheels straight. I you car has no pulling issues you will need to adjust both sides equal amounts to straighten the wheel without affecting toe in/out. If you car pulls a little to one side you need to be adjusting only one wheel. Be warned that a C5 when toe in is adjusted very neutral will follow the crown or tilt of the road and generate what feels like a pull, this will go away on a flat road section. Most two lane roads have a fair amount of crown toward the shoulder so your car will feel like it wants to pull that direction. Good luck, just remember to mark where you started in case you make things worse.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 37
From: Burbank. CA.
Originally Posted by Just Enough
If your car has no pulling issues you will need to adjust both sides equal amounts to straighten the wheel without affecting toe in/out. If you car pulls a little to one side you need to be adjusting only one wheel. Be warned that a C5 when toe in is adjusted very neutral will follow the crown or tilt of the road and generate what feels like a pull, this will go away on a flat road section.
Steve
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 1,342
From: Des Plaines, Il
Originally Posted by mountainbiker2
No matter what you adjust your toe at, it will not affect the car pulling to one side. For the most part that is what Caster is for. Camber will effect very little if not even on both sides. If you just want to get the steering wheel straight then you can mess around with the the tie rods. You still have to keep the toe in/out the same as you want.
Steve
Steve
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 242
Likes: 2
From: Mims Florida
Self Alignment
I have done my own alignments for years, you just need a bar with an upright on each end that you can check for square by cross measureing the corners. I have one made of 3" channel iron I use but it was not wide enough for the vette so I bought two aluminium dry wall squares and bolted them together. I put it at the front edge then the back on both sides and measure the difference for the toe and top and bottom of the upright to the wheel for camber. I don't have to trust anybody else to do it right.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 1,342
From: Des Plaines, Il
So Ive been reading the manuals on the toe gauges on the net (The longacre racing toe plates seem nice and easy to use compared to bars, etc)
The problem Im see is that the toe measurements are all relative measurements. IE you know you have X degrees of toe, but you dont have a measured reference to make sure the wheels are in line with the rears, or tracking straight. I guess just make sure the wheel it straight when you set toe and then turn both rods untill it tracks straight?
The problem Im see is that the toe measurements are all relative measurements. IE you know you have X degrees of toe, but you dont have a measured reference to make sure the wheels are in line with the rears, or tracking straight. I guess just make sure the wheel it straight when you set toe and then turn both rods untill it tracks straight?
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Wixom Michigan
Uneven front caster can make a car pull. Uneven camber can also cause this. If you have too much front toe out, the car will be darty and can appear like a pull. If the rear toe is uneven, the car will dog track also making it drive weird.
Yes most alignment shops suck. They also have a tendency to scratch nice $1K/each polished wheels by using the wrong alignment head adapters (laziness). That is why we bought our own top-of-the-line Hunter alignment rack for our own race cars.
To help pay for it, we offer precision 4-wheel alignments to your specifications, specializing in Corvettes. If you want it set better than factory tolerances, we can do that and charge by the hour and adjust until you are happy with the numbers.
We also offer precision corner weighting, typically done at the same time on race cars when setting ride heights.
We are located near Detroit, Michigan. If interested, please call Rick Myers 248-848-9200.
Yes most alignment shops suck. They also have a tendency to scratch nice $1K/each polished wheels by using the wrong alignment head adapters (laziness). That is why we bought our own top-of-the-line Hunter alignment rack for our own race cars.
To help pay for it, we offer precision 4-wheel alignments to your specifications, specializing in Corvettes. If you want it set better than factory tolerances, we can do that and charge by the hour and adjust until you are happy with the numbers.
We also offer precision corner weighting, typically done at the same time on race cars when setting ride heights.
We are located near Detroit, Michigan. If interested, please call Rick Myers 248-848-9200.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett IL
IMO bring it to a shop. Even when its close it will still be off. Why ruin a set of tires over it? Go to a shop that deals in high end cars (Mercedes AMG, BMW M cars, Porsche, Lotus, Ferrari ect.) They will have the proper Hunter or Snap On alignment rack for lower cars and the sensors wont scratch the wheels. If you are Still worried, see if some one in your area has a spare set of track or winter wheels they will let you borrow. 
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
alignment issues
as someone said,i have done mine for years,but the cars seldom need anything.Funny you mentioned this for i just went to small claims court on this very issue.My c5 is not a daily driver & because of the expensive emts,i said to my self,maybe i shud take it to a shop...wrong.i got the same deal as you,not to mention about 1/2 inch toe out.This condition cut the inside of my tires out in 8k miles.As one guy said you can use a guide to set toe & just put it in frt & behind the tires.But to correct the steering wheel its a matter of adj one side out & the other in.Assuming the shop at least did the proper setting.i.e. if the steering is to the left of ctr.you want to increase the left side tie rod & shorten the right side.The wheel moves to ctr & the toe-in is the same.....ps if yr state is like mine dont wast yr time in court.....