alignment
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,810
Likes: 0
From: Indian River MI
alignment
took the 2008 into the dealer today-
asked for an alignment- mentioned slight cupping on edges of front tires- none on rear-
got a call telling me the tech said I needed new tires to properly align-
told them
12912 miles-
took a better look at them when I got it home- looks to me like I have 50 % of tread life left-
is the economy so depressed a tech would try to pull a fast one-
asked for an alignment- mentioned slight cupping on edges of front tires- none on rear-
got a call telling me the tech said I needed new tires to properly align-
told them
12912 miles-
took a better look at them when I got it home- looks to me like I have 50 % of tread life left-
is the economy so depressed a tech would try to pull a fast one-
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,133
Likes: 144
From: Ex-SF Bay Area; now happily Denver area
This is a fairly common problem with the front tires. I didn't notice mine at first, but when I did, I took care and ran them until they were worn too much on the inside and then bought new ones with an alignment. It seems like it might be a waste of money to align a car with such a problem but I don't know.
All four of my tires were out of alignment to different degrees. I was surprised at just how far out they were but I had them set up for longer tread life. I have a Z51 and did a couple of track days before but I don't think the new settings will affect the handling too much.
All four of my tires were out of alignment to different degrees. I was surprised at just how far out they were but I had them set up for longer tread life. I have a Z51 and did a couple of track days before but I don't think the new settings will affect the handling too much.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,296
Likes: 156
From: Location: Location: kAnSaS
some alignment techs can be lazy or just dickh**ds. I use to work with a few. For real a really worn tire could sit uneven andcause the camber to be off for that tire but thats such an extreme case i havent seen.
Usually its from a tech who wnats to get out early or for lunch. good luck, paul
Usually its from a tech who wnats to get out early or for lunch. good luck, paul
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 1
From: Vail, Arizona
I've heard that a lot of people will come back to the alignment shop and complain that the alignment wasnt done properly because the tire still look worn even with the alignment set up properly. All the shop needs to do is to note on the repair order that the tires were worn before the alignment.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
took the 2008 into the dealer today-
asked for an alignment- mentioned slight cupping on edges of front tires- none on rear-
got a call telling me the tech said I needed new tires to properly align-
told them
12912 miles-
took a better look at them when I got it home- looks to me like I have 50 % of tread life left-
is the economy so depressed a tech would try to pull a fast one-
asked for an alignment- mentioned slight cupping on edges of front tires- none on rear-
got a call telling me the tech said I needed new tires to properly align-
told them
12912 miles-
took a better look at them when I got it home- looks to me like I have 50 % of tread life left-
is the economy so depressed a tech would try to pull a fast one-
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,436
Likes: 875
From: Bay Area CA
I just had a 4 wheel alignment done prior to installing 4 Michelin PS2's ZP tires. They attached their alignment device to all four rims and took the readings. After 16,000 miles my alignment was within factory specs, no adjustment needed. The Supercar tires wore evenly, but lacked traction when accelerating hard. The Michelin's bite nicely and ride much smoother
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Somewhere in here is another topic about alignment and it says don't use the factory specs with the + or - settings. I don't understand this.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ering-why.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: The Villages Florida
Along the same lines ..... I changed from stock wheels to aftermarket wheels and new Kumho Ecsta tires, stock sizes. New wheels are front - 18x9.5 with stock offset. Rear is 19x10 with +65 offset vs stock offset which is +79. The stock wheels with stock tires wore PERFECTLY with more than 20K miles. Is there any change I should make to the alignment or should I be OK with it as is?
The whole alignment thing baffles me, but I kept the #'s that folks say get best wear. I must be close to that from the factory since I had good luck.
The whole alignment thing baffles me, but I kept the #'s that folks say get best wear. I must be close to that from the factory since I had good luck.
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,954
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Somewhere in here is another topic about alignment and it says don't use the factory specs with the + or - settings. I don't understand this.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ering-why.html
Example...
C6 Camber factory setting is -0.45 +/- .60
That means -1.05 to +0.25 is totally acceptable for camber.
When you get aligned, you say make my camber -0.05 (or whatever you designate) +/- 0.0 If it's not -0.05 then he needs to adjust it again until it reads -0.05.
Does that explain the no +/- crap?
Elmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
What he means is that when you do an alignment, the reference plane for adjustments is the wheel surface, not the tire.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
QUOTE=eboggs_jkvl;1569935259]Example...
C6 Camber factory setting is -0.45 +/- .60
That means -1.05 to +0.25 is totally acceptable for camber.
When you get aligned, you say make my camber -0.05 (or whatever you designate) +/- 0.0 If it's not -0.05 then he needs to adjust it again until it reads -0.05.
Does that explain the no +/- crap?
Elmer[/QUOTE]
C6 Camber factory setting is -0.45 +/- .60
That means -1.05 to +0.25 is totally acceptable for camber.
When you get aligned, you say make my camber -0.05 (or whatever you designate) +/- 0.0 If it's not -0.05 then he needs to adjust it again until it reads -0.05.
Does that explain the no +/- crap?
Elmer[/QUOTE]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
It doesn't have as much to do with the economy as just congenitally dishonest dealership employees. That is just another reason not to go to a dealership for anything unless you absolutely have to. If you have a tire problem, go to a place that specializes in tires.
With a proper alignment the cupping will tend to go away over time. As mentioned above, you could align a car with no tires (yes, sitting on the ground on the rims) because the alignment is of the wheel and not the tire.
With a proper alignment the cupping will tend to go away over time. As mentioned above, you could align a car with no tires (yes, sitting on the ground on the rims) because the alignment is of the wheel and not the tire.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
took the 2008 into the dealer today-
asked for an alignment- mentioned slight cupping on edges of front tires- none on rear-
got a call telling me the tech said I needed new tires to properly align-
told them
12912 miles-
took a better look at them when I got it home- looks to me like I have 50 % of tread life left-
is the economy so depressed a tech would try to pull a fast one-
asked for an alignment- mentioned slight cupping on edges of front tires- none on rear-
got a call telling me the tech said I needed new tires to properly align-
told them
12912 miles-
took a better look at them when I got it home- looks to me like I have 50 % of tread life left-
is the economy so depressed a tech would try to pull a fast one-