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Sit in Car during Alignment

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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 08:29 AM
  #1  
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Default Sit in Car during Alignment

I have a friend that does alignments and I bet him 20 bucks that sitting in the car during the alignment will change the alignment slightly.
He aligned my Vette without me in it, then again with me sitting in the DS.
It did change. Slightly, but it did change. I bought him a couple of 6 packs with his own money.
Fact is that I used to drive sprints and they really get out of alignment pretty quick and the suspension is such that a driver in the car changes it drastically.
The next time you have your Vett aligned ask the person doing the work to let you sit in the car especially if you track it.
There is a bit of a difference.
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 09:46 AM
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Same with my work truck, tech said bring it loaded like you drive it daily
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 10:07 AM
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Of course, that depends on your weight and the "spring" design. A 250 lb guy will tend to skew the alignment somewhat, but 150 lb person shouldn't make much of a difference, IMO.
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 11:30 AM
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that should be common knowledge

but

how many shops want the liability of having someone in the car while doing work ?
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Dave68
Of course, that depends on your weight and the "spring" design. A 250 lb guy will tend to skew the alignment somewhat, but 150 lb person shouldn't make much of a difference, IMO.
Hi Dave -

So what are you trying to say??


- I guess I could stand to lose 20 lbs lol.......

Benpup - thanks for the advice -

I suppose this falls under corner-weighting and other such suspension fine-tune tweaks.

Most people would never notice or need it, but it is nice to know about if you do use the car to it's capabilities on a track.

best regards -

mqqn
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by thetaxman
that should be common knowledge

but

how many shops want the liability of having someone in the car while doing work ?
My alignment shop loads the driver's seat with weights equal to the driver's weight.
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Benpup
I have a friend that does alignments and I bet him 20 bucks that sitting in the car during the alignment will change the alignment slightly.
He aligned my Vette without me in it, then again with me sitting in the DS.
It did change. Slightly, but it did change. I bought him a couple of 6 packs with his own money.
Fact is that I used to drive sprints and they really get out of alignment pretty quick and the suspension is such that a driver in the car changes it drastically.
The next time you have your Vett aligned ask the person doing the work to let you sit in the car especially if you track it.
There is a bit of a difference.
My guy lets me sit in the seat while he does the alignment.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2008 | 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Last C5
My alignment shop loads the driver's seat with weights equal to the driver's weight.
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by LoneStarFRC
My guy lets me sit in the seat while he does the alignment.
even better !
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by thetaxman
that should be common knowledge

but

how many shops want the liability of having someone in the car while doing work ?

Especially a dealership, and if your not racing that is why they make a
+ or - tolerance for the adjustments
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 05:42 PM
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That is why I do my own alignments. Put 200 lbs of old brake rotors in the drivers seat. adjust the ride height then alignment.

Need to get scales for corner balancing.
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 08:33 PM
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During a flat out scale job, we use the rotor trick, or lead bags, or any to add up to the driver weight. Then once we are very close, we throw in a person, it does make a very little difference, but needs to be dealt with.

Randy
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 08:44 PM
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We have performed numerous custom alignments and corner balancing. Driver and any additional weight (Fuel, etc.) is crucial for precise measurements.

Both of these Vette's in the underneath are setup for road course. Driver weight and average fuel is taken into consideration.

The C5 sits on hyperco composite leaf springs, shocks, and t1 sway bars. The C6 sits on hyperco full coilovers and t1 sway bars also.







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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 09:38 PM
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I bought him a couple of 6 packs
I hope you gave him the beer AFTER the alignment!
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 09:56 PM
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Originally Posted by AU N EGL
That is why I do my own alignments. Put 200 lbs of old brake rotors in the drivers seat. adjust the ride height then alignment.

Need to get scales for corner balancing.
they are under a grand nowadays
I love mine
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by thetaxman
that should be common knowledge

but

how many shops want the liability of having someone in the car while doing work ?
My local Corvette mechanic places weights in the drivers seat to match your weight.
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