wheel alignment
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: West Fork AR
wheel alignment
I'm getting a wheel alignment tomorrow. I will soon be moving to a mountainous area. Could someone tell me what degree I need to have everything set to. (camber,caster, etc.) About a month ago I had the local chevy dealer change my alignment so that my front tires would last longer. Well, they did. My back alignment was fine, but I forgot to tell them to leave it set as it was. So now the car doesn't handle as well as it did before. So on Tuesday I went back to them and paid to have it changed. I wanted it back like it was. (Apparently they don't have the previous settings). I told them I would just deal with the tire wear. Well its still not enough negative camber or something because it's still not like before. So I would appreciate someone helping me out. I want it to handle the curves like before. Also it seems like around 65 mph and higher (when you steer back and forth quickly) it has way to much play in the rear in.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 27
From: Long Island NY
I had my car aligned within factory specs and the car handles excellent and tires are wearing just fine. It's all perfect.
This might have something to do with having the car aligned at a very reputable shop with new top-end alignment equipment. The job was done correctly and precisely.
I still do not understand why some people who encounter uneven / premature tire wear blame it on the factory alignment specs... I have had no such issues.
I'm also wondering if the severe spring memory on these cars is causing alignment inaccuracies. I do suspect this is why many C6s come from the factory with poor alignments... it simply takes a long time for the springs to settle... the ride height changes AFTER the alignment (due to spring movement) and then the car is no longer in good alignment.
I once had my car on jack stands for a few weeks (was working on it, then got busy and had to leave it) and when I finally put it back down, the suspension height was well over an inch higher than normal for almost two days... and the alignment felt noticeable horrible, twitchy, etc... it then settled back down and was fine.
This might have something to do with having the car aligned at a very reputable shop with new top-end alignment equipment. The job was done correctly and precisely.
I still do not understand why some people who encounter uneven / premature tire wear blame it on the factory alignment specs... I have had no such issues.
I'm also wondering if the severe spring memory on these cars is causing alignment inaccuracies. I do suspect this is why many C6s come from the factory with poor alignments... it simply takes a long time for the springs to settle... the ride height changes AFTER the alignment (due to spring movement) and then the car is no longer in good alignment.
I once had my car on jack stands for a few weeks (was working on it, then got busy and had to leave it) and when I finally put it back down, the suspension height was well over an inch higher than normal for almost two days... and the alignment felt noticeable horrible, twitchy, etc... it then settled back down and was fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '06
I've also noticed when I use my pump jacks that sometimes they slide right under and sometimes I have to run the car up on blocks to get them to fit. I never really thought about why but I think you've explained it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: merritt island fl
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
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From: Austin Texas
Read it as:
Camber; -0.45° (Forget the plus or minus 0.60°)
By factory specs it would be in alignment from -1.05° to +.05°.
Thats why I said a good INDEPENDANT alignment shop, the Dealer tech gets paid on volume, he's "allowed" so much time to do an alignment and makes more $$ the faster he can crank them out.
Find out who in your area does Autocross and HPDE alignments and make an appointment.
Camber; -0.45° (Forget the plus or minus 0.60°)
By factory specs it would be in alignment from -1.05° to +.05°.
Thats why I said a good INDEPENDANT alignment shop, the Dealer tech gets paid on volume, he's "allowed" so much time to do an alignment and makes more $$ the faster he can crank them out.
Find out who in your area does Autocross and HPDE alignments and make an appointment.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 63
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From: West Fork AR
Read it as:
Camber; -0.45° (Forget the plus or minus 0.60°)
By factory specs it would be in alignment from -1.05° to +.05°.
Thats why I said a good INDEPENDANT alignment shop, the Dealer tech gets paid on volume, he's "allowed" so much time to do an alignment and makes more $$ the faster he can crank them out.
Find out who in your area does Autocross and HPDE alignments and make an appointment.
Camber; -0.45° (Forget the plus or minus 0.60°)
By factory specs it would be in alignment from -1.05° to +.05°.
Thats why I said a good INDEPENDANT alignment shop, the Dealer tech gets paid on volume, he's "allowed" so much time to do an alignment and makes more $$ the faster he can crank them out.
Find out who in your area does Autocross and HPDE alignments and make an appointment.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
I had my car aligned within factory specs and the car handles excellent and tires are wearing just fine. It's all perfect.
This might have something to do with having the car aligned at a very reputable shop with new top-end alignment equipment. The job was done correctly and precisely.
I still do not understand why some people who encounter uneven / premature tire wear blame it on the factory alignment specs... I have had no such issues.
I'm also wondering if the severe spring memory on these cars is causing alignment inaccuracies. I do suspect this is why many C6s come from the factory with poor alignments... it simply takes a long time for the springs to settle... the ride height changes AFTER the alignment (due to spring movement) and then the car is no longer in good alignment.
I once had my car on jack stands for a few weeks (was working on it, then got busy and had to leave it) and when I finally put it back down, the suspension height was well over an inch higher than normal for almost two days... and the alignment felt noticeable horrible, twitchy, etc... it then settled back down and was fine.
This might have something to do with having the car aligned at a very reputable shop with new top-end alignment equipment. The job was done correctly and precisely.
I still do not understand why some people who encounter uneven / premature tire wear blame it on the factory alignment specs... I have had no such issues.
I'm also wondering if the severe spring memory on these cars is causing alignment inaccuracies. I do suspect this is why many C6s come from the factory with poor alignments... it simply takes a long time for the springs to settle... the ride height changes AFTER the alignment (due to spring movement) and then the car is no longer in good alignment.
I once had my car on jack stands for a few weeks (was working on it, then got busy and had to leave it) and when I finally put it back down, the suspension height was well over an inch higher than normal for almost two days... and the alignment felt noticeable horrible, twitchy, etc... it then settled back down and was fine.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,939
Likes: 448
From: CHOCOWINITY NC
I had my car aligned within factory specs and the car handles excellent and tires are wearing just fine. It's all perfect.
This might have something to do with having the car aligned at a very reputable shop with new top-end alignment equipment. The job was done correctly and precisely.
I still do not understand why some people who encounter uneven / premature tire wear blame it on the factory alignment specs... I have had no such issues.
.
This might have something to do with having the car aligned at a very reputable shop with new top-end alignment equipment. The job was done correctly and precisely.
I still do not understand why some people who encounter uneven / premature tire wear blame it on the factory alignment specs... I have had no such issues.
.
Forget "Warranty"...Just pay the money if you want it done correctly..
Front tires at almost 10K....
Last edited by Modshack; Jul 11, 2008 at 03:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 63
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From: West Fork AR
Modshack, Do you think those settings would work well on mine? It's an 05. How's you cornering? Do you have much sway (in the back) at say 60-70 mph with quick steering movements? Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,939
Likes: 448
From: CHOCOWINITY NC
On thrust angle, it is the direction that the rear wheels are pointing in relation to the center line of the vehicle. If the thrust angle is not zero, then the vehicle will "dog track" and the steering wheel will not be centered.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,939
Likes: 448
From: CHOCOWINITY NC
I'm sure the spec has been the same since the C6 came out, so this would be for the '05 as well. Car is very stable at this setting with good turn in behavior
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,939
Likes: 448
From: CHOCOWINITY NC
Learning is a good thing!
Here's a short, easy to understand course on wheel alignment if you're interested: http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm
Here's a short, easy to understand course on wheel alignment if you're interested: http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
Learning is a good thing!
Here's a short, easy to understand course on wheel alignment if you're interested: http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm
Here's a short, easy to understand course on wheel alignment if you're interested: http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm
shopping cart front wheel. Note that they state that changing the height (lowering) changes the alignment settings.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 461
From: Southern Utah
Ha ha!...No...I actually had them off to put in my Z06 brake ducts..
On thrust angle, it is the direction that the rear wheels are pointing in relation to the center line of the vehicle. If the thrust angle is not zero, then the vehicle will "dog track" and the steering wheel will not be centered.
On thrust angle, it is the direction that the rear wheels are pointing in relation to the center line of the vehicle. If the thrust angle is not zero, then the vehicle will "dog track" and the steering wheel will not be centered.
