Alignment Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Alignment Question
Just traded my '08 coupe for a '10 grand sport. A friend of mine who is the asst service manager at my local chevy dealership told me if I set the alignment to the specs of the base unit I can increase my tire mileage somewhat. I don't race the car and I don't push the g meter too far, so this sounds like it might be an option if it doesn't degrade the handling too much. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who may have tried this. I will save anyone the keystrokes needed to tell me to buy a Hyundai if that's how I want to drive a Corvette.. I already own a 2.0T Sonata! Thanks and be kind to old people!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Yes, basically correct.
BUT, most here would advise you to use the Pfadt Street Alignment Specs. The problem is you need to find a GOOD, COMPETENT alignment shop who knows what they are doing and how to work on Corvettes. If you choose to use the Pfadt specs, you have to be firm with the shop and make sure they set your car up "exactly" as the specs state. There is NO "range" allowed, they have to be dead on. Then you will get good handling and good tire wear.
Pfadt specs:
http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
What he said ^^ because he's right. That means, you need to talk w. your friend and ask him if his alignment guy at the dealer can, and will do the work---not just "get it close" or, "in the range." If not, start searching for a really good alignment shop and tech.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,870
Likes: 5,326
From: T-Town WA
2016 C6 of Year Finalist
Yes, basically correct.
BUT, most here would advise you to use the Pfadt Street Alignment Specs. The problem is you need to find a GOOD, COMPETENT alignment shop who knows what they are doing and how to work on Corvettes. If you choose to use the Pfadt specs, you have to be firm with the shop and make sure they set your car up "exactly" as the specs state. There is NO "range" allowed, they have to be dead on. Then you will get good handling and good tire wear.
Pfadt specs:
http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 18
From: Dayton Ohio
I have to concur with the Pfadt street settings from my experience. The Grand Sport rolled out of the plant with a track day alignment. It will still handle great once set to the street alignment. If you are not monitoring tire temperatures, not trying to dial the right amount of oversteer, and not trying to save a couple of tenths on the next lap you will likely not notice the change.It is always possible that your 2010 has already had an adjustment made to it.
Matt
Last edited by quickcat; Feb 13, 2015 at 11:44 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
To take it one step farther, the steering wheel column has a wheel position sensor in it that is tied back to the active handling in the car, and you want the steering wheel sensor reading Zero (not plus or minus voltage) as they are taking a print out of the alignment final specs as well.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Excellent advice above. PFADT street/track specs and corner balancing made a significant improvement to my cars handling/tire wear.
Most GM dealers will just get it 'close enough' to meet the wide range of 'acceptable' tolerances.
Find a good shop you can trust by posting on your Regional Forum and get some first hand recommendations from the locals.
Most GM dealers will just get it 'close enough' to meet the wide range of 'acceptable' tolerances.
Find a good shop you can trust by posting on your Regional Forum and get some first hand recommendations from the locals.
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Upstate South Carolina
At my request the dealer set mine to the center of the range for the factory GS alignment spec. I didn't see the before and after printout, but since they did it as a warranty item (no charge) I didn't feel like I had much reason to complain about that. Now approaching 10k miles, the OEM runcraps are down to 4/32 tread depth, but the wear is dead even across the tires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 68
From: Memphis Tn
To take it one step farther, the steering wheel column has a wheel position sensor in it that is tied back to the active handling in the car, and you want the steering wheel sensor reading Zero (not plus or minus voltage) as they are taking a print out of the alignment final specs as well.
so...the alignment shop should be able to show these specs as well? if so, has anyone else saw these specs after receiving an alignment?
thanks
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
You should be getting a print out of the final alignment measurements with your paperwork when you are getting the bill.
Since most shops do not have the steering wheel position included on the print out, I make them show me the Tech II showing the steering wheel showing 0 voltage on the Tech II (means the steering wheel is straight) when they hit the print out button on the machine (front toe potions both sides, and steering wheel sensor should all be reading zero at the same time on a street alignment).
Note, steering wheel sensor reads O when the wheel is dead straight (as long as the sensor was installed correctly), and as the wheel is turned either right or left, will start to read either positive or negative numbers instead.
Last edited by Dano523; Feb 14, 2015 at 09:35 AM.