Are my Alignment Specs Right?
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Columbus NC
Late to the thread...
Hey guys!
As a ASE certified tech & vette owner I felt I should mention that the 1st alignment may have been just fine. The new alignment machines have the power to split hairs and is simply overkill in most instances. The tolerances allow for individual tastes in driver feed back and tire wear. Also should always consider local road conditions. (Obviously, racing setup should be spot on if possible. And that depends on track type as to set up too.)
I always felt that if an individual wants a specific setup I would question his/her driving style and where driven. In a addition, how many passengers and stuff they fill the vehicle with in normal everyday driving. As to set up, you may be suprised at the alignment change with a driver only in the vehicle versus empty and also how much fuel is in the tank. (In fact Mercedes and BMW had specific weights wanted in the front and rear seats {If any} plus a full fuel tank to obtain correct alignment readouts for many years.)
Yeah, the cross camber was more or less near the limit, however, with road conditions and driver physical dimensions, may have been just fine.
Just my .02
Happy you got it worked out to your liking.
As a ASE certified tech & vette owner I felt I should mention that the 1st alignment may have been just fine. The new alignment machines have the power to split hairs and is simply overkill in most instances. The tolerances allow for individual tastes in driver feed back and tire wear. Also should always consider local road conditions. (Obviously, racing setup should be spot on if possible. And that depends on track type as to set up too.)
I always felt that if an individual wants a specific setup I would question his/her driving style and where driven. In a addition, how many passengers and stuff they fill the vehicle with in normal everyday driving. As to set up, you may be suprised at the alignment change with a driver only in the vehicle versus empty and also how much fuel is in the tank. (In fact Mercedes and BMW had specific weights wanted in the front and rear seats {If any} plus a full fuel tank to obtain correct alignment readouts for many years.)
Yeah, the cross camber was more or less near the limit, however, with road conditions and driver physical dimensions, may have been just fine.
Just my .02
Happy you got it worked out to your liking.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 2
From: Long Beach CA
Originally Posted by AU N EGL
Depedending on you driving style and what you are using the car for.
also do not allow them to use +/- Tolerances, each side must equal.
Rember to have running tire air pressure before alignment. Also when you put the car on the rack, push it up and down a few times on each fender. This will help the car settle.
Front
camber -0.5 to -1.0 equal on both sides
caster =>6* is good but must be equal on both siedes
toe out 1/8" (.125) to 1/16" ( .06) again equal on both sides
Rear
camber -.25 to -1.0 again eqaul on both sides.
( rear camber should be 1/2 of front camber)
toe in 1/8" (.125) to 1/16" ( .06) again equal on both sides
same toe as front
Note: if you do a lot of turning then 1/8 toe if you do a lot of high way driving then 1/16 toe
also do not allow them to use +/- Tolerances, each side must equal.
Rember to have running tire air pressure before alignment. Also when you put the car on the rack, push it up and down a few times on each fender. This will help the car settle.
Front
camber -0.5 to -1.0 equal on both sides
caster =>6* is good but must be equal on both siedes
toe out 1/8" (.125) to 1/16" ( .06) again equal on both sides
Rear
camber -.25 to -1.0 again eqaul on both sides.
( rear camber should be 1/2 of front camber)
toe in 1/8" (.125) to 1/16" ( .06) again equal on both sides
same toe as front
Note: if you do a lot of turning then 1/8 toe if you do a lot of high way driving then 1/16 toe
On the toe settings--Is that total toe numbers or each side?
In other words should the frt toe be--lets say -.06 on the left and -.06 on the right with the total toe of -0.12? Or the toe be -.03 left -.03 right with a total toe of -0.06?
Thanks
Former Law Dawg Moderator
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 29,434
Likes: 96
From: Eads, Tennessee
CF St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Look at my last alignment #'s and see if I should make any adjustments. The casters nor the cambers on the front do not equal, but is it too much to take it back? My Z was lowered on stock bolts and I'm running 19's on the front and 20's on the rear.
Last edited by Tact; Nov 17, 2006 at 12:12 PM.
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Hey guys need alittle help.I have put 20s on my 98 coupe front and back.Lowered the front alittle to eat up some tire space.These babies are very close to rubbing .I have about 200 miles on the new tires and being lowered a little.I need to get a aligment soon.This is not a daily driver or a track car .just a weekend driver.? i am going to have problem gettin a good aligment with the 20s in the front and being lowered.i i am runnin 245/30-20s in the front and they just fit
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
RE: Alignment
When I used to live up your way, I always had Tony's Corvettes in Gaithersburg do my alignments. They take the time to get them PERFECT every time, with appropriate results on the road. Your numbers are now close, but could still be improved depending on your driving style. If it were my car, I would have Tony's guy check it. They won't scratch your rims either. Just my .02.
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Slickrick
Hey guys need alittle help.I have put 20s on my 98 coupe front and back.Lowered the front alittle to eat up some tire space.These babies are very close to rubbing .I have about 200 miles on the new tires and being lowered a little.I need to get a aligment soon.This is not a daily driver or a track car .just a weekend driver.? i am going to have problem gettin a good aligment with the 20s in the front and being lowered.i i am runnin 245/30-20s in the front and they just fit
