Track alignments
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 841
Likes: 53
From: LaGrange KY
Track alignments
I was just told, by my Chevy dealer, that they only align cars to factory specs! WTH?!
Isn't the track alignment given in the manual a Chevy factory Spec?
It's enough to make you start looking for a more compliant Chevy dealer!!!
Isn't the track alignment given in the manual a Chevy factory Spec?
It's enough to make you start looking for a more compliant Chevy dealer!!!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,818
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I am attaching the February 2016 bulletin from GM. Make sure they have ALL of the proper equipment to do the job. Most dealers don't realize that rear caster is adjustable on Corvettes and have no idea they need to measure it and adjust if required. Their shop manual has the specs but they don't seem to understand they need special equipment to do it. This is one of the ask Tadge questions he responded to. You may find it difficult to find any dealer or independent shop that can do this since two specialized tools are required.
I had to purchase the tools myself so I could take them to the dealer to do the rear caster adjustment. The final tool just arrived at my house this week.
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Jun 23, 2016 at 03:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 841
Likes: 53
From: LaGrange KY
They need to look in their bulletins to find the information from GM. Most dealers and their mechanics are just like independent mechanics. Used to attending to grocery getters and are some what lost when somebody comes in asks them something like that.
I am attaching the February 2016 bulletin from GM. Make sure they have ALL of the proper equipment to do the job. Most dealers don't realize that rear caster is adjustable on Corvettes and have no idea they need to measure it and adjust if required. Their shop manual has the specs but they don't seem to understand they need special equipment to do it. This is one of the ask Tadge questions he responded to. You may find it difficult to find any dealer or independent shop that can do this since two specialized tools are required.
I had to purchase the tools myself so I could take them to the dealer to do the rear caster adjustment. The final tool just arrived at my house this week.
Bill
I am attaching the February 2016 bulletin from GM. Make sure they have ALL of the proper equipment to do the job. Most dealers don't realize that rear caster is adjustable on Corvettes and have no idea they need to measure it and adjust if required. Their shop manual has the specs but they don't seem to understand they need special equipment to do it. This is one of the ask Tadge questions he responded to. You may find it difficult to find any dealer or independent shop that can do this since two specialized tools are required.
I had to purchase the tools myself so I could take them to the dealer to do the rear caster adjustment. The final tool just arrived at my house this week.
Bill
Thanks Bill. I am still waiting for another dealer to call me back, they were "going to check with their mechanic". I called my dealer's service manager, but he hasn't returned my calls also. I guess next step is to call GM customer service to see if they can direct me to a dealer in my area that can perform the operation.
Last edited by AKKutz; Jun 23, 2016 at 03:55 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 489
Likes: 272
I had a track alignment as a condition of purchase my Z51, which the dealer agreed to. It took their service department 3 days to try to figure out (ned needed to order the right tool, etc). In the end they did it, on condition that I sign a stupid release.
Next time around, I asked Town Fair Tire alignment guy to do it (I bought new tires from them). I was skeptical, told them if it was hard or they were unsure to just leave it alone. Car came out with perfect track alignment - with front camber really close to -2.0 which is hard to get to without pulling washers, etc.
The guy said there was nothing hard or difficult about it. I gave him a tip, and now that is where I'll do my alignment.
Next time around, I asked Town Fair Tire alignment guy to do it (I bought new tires from them). I was skeptical, told them if it was hard or they were unsure to just leave it alone. Car came out with perfect track alignment - with front camber really close to -2.0 which is hard to get to without pulling washers, etc.
The guy said there was nothing hard or difficult about it. I gave him a tip, and now that is where I'll do my alignment.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 841
Likes: 53
From: LaGrange KY
I had a track alignment as a condition of purchase my Z51, which the dealer agreed to. It took their service department 3 days to try to figure out (ned needed to order the right tool, etc). In the end they did it, on condition that I sign a stupid release.
Next time around, I asked Town Fair Tire alignment guy to do it (I bought new tires from them). I was skeptical, told them if it was hard or they were unsure to just leave it alone. Car came out with perfect track alignment - with front camber really close to -2.0 which is hard to get to without pulling washers, etc.
The guy said there was nothing hard or difficult about it. I gave him a tip, and now that is where I'll do my alignment.
Next time around, I asked Town Fair Tire alignment guy to do it (I bought new tires from them). I was skeptical, told them if it was hard or they were unsure to just leave it alone. Car came out with perfect track alignment - with front camber really close to -2.0 which is hard to get to without pulling washers, etc.
The guy said there was nothing hard or difficult about it. I gave him a tip, and now that is where I'll do my alignment.
Be nice if they were in my town! I had a shop that used to do all my track alignments, but that was 20 years ago and they are no longer around.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,818
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I had a track alignment as a condition of purchase my Z51, which the dealer agreed to. It took their service department 3 days to try to figure out (ned needed to order the right tool, etc). In the end they did it, on condition that I sign a stupid release.
Next time around, I asked Town Fair Tire alignment guy to do it (I bought new tires from them). I was skeptical, told them if it was hard or they were unsure to just leave it alone. Car came out with perfect track alignment - with front camber really close to -2.0 which is hard to get to without pulling washers, etc.
The guy said there was nothing hard or difficult about it. I gave him a tip, and now that is where I'll do my alignment.
Next time around, I asked Town Fair Tire alignment guy to do it (I bought new tires from them). I was skeptical, told them if it was hard or they were unsure to just leave it alone. Car came out with perfect track alignment - with front camber really close to -2.0 which is hard to get to without pulling washers, etc.
The guy said there was nothing hard or difficult about it. I gave him a tip, and now that is where I'll do my alignment.
The yellow arrows in this picture show where the adapter is fitted into the rear knuckle.
The gauge has to be read while the mechanic is under the car adjusting rear camber using the alignment machine readings and adjusting caster using the gauge fastened to the adapter. According to GM documentation camber is most affected by adjusting the front of the rear lca and caster is most affected while adjusting the rear of the rear lca.
Very few cars have adjustable rear caster and it is highly unlikely most alignment mechanics have ever had to adjust rear caster. Cars that I know that have rear caster adjustability are the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky and I have seen comments that some Mercedes models may have this capability.
Billl
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Jun 24, 2016 at 05:41 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 9
From: Houston TX
It is about 0.5" lower than how it was delivered, so there's some camber gain from that. The height adjusters aren't even close to bottomed out.
Michael
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 841
Likes: 53
From: LaGrange KY
Update: dealer to do the alignment. My selling dealer, after calling their service manager finally gets back to me with they don't have the tools, but bring the car in we will figure it out. My guy has 20 years in the alignment business.
The dealer closest to my home (whom I bought trucks from, but couldn't get together on the Vette price) said they will get the tools needed on a lend/lease program and give me a call to get me in and perform the alignment. So, I'm going to ask them to try for -2.5 in the front without removing shims and see what happens. Also, going to ask for the rear to be adjusted without removing shims.
The dealer closest to my home (whom I bought trucks from, but couldn't get together on the Vette price) said they will get the tools needed on a lend/lease program and give me a call to get me in and perform the alignment. So, I'm going to ask them to try for -2.5 in the front without removing shims and see what happens. Also, going to ask for the rear to be adjusted without removing shims.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 387
From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Get friendly with your local Firestone Tire dealer; they offer a "Lifetime Wheel Alignment" package for just over $200. I have been using them for the last three Vettes with no issues. I talk to the alignment guy, we go over my specs and life is good. I take my car in about every 6 months or so (or before each long road trip). If I want to set it up for a little track use, I will give my alignment guy my track specs.
Now if your lucky like me, you may get an alignment tech that has lots of experience setting up a fleet of Corvettes for a local track school at one of your local tracks (Texas Motor Speedway)
Now if your lucky like me, you may get an alignment tech that has lots of experience setting up a fleet of Corvettes for a local track school at one of your local tracks (Texas Motor Speedway)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,818
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Yes, the mechanic who did my alignment didn't pull the single spacer from behind the UCA as the GM Instructions state. He used the cams in the LCAs to push the LCAs out as far as he could get them and that resulted in the washer on the spring bolt rubbing on the control arm which makes a clunking noise as the suspension goes up and down. Especially on starting and stopping in a straight line.
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Jul 2, 2016 at 01:44 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,818
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Update: dealer to do the alignment. My selling dealer, after calling their service manager finally gets back to me with they don't have the tools, but bring the car in we will figure it out. My guy has 20 years in the alignment business.
The dealer closest to my home (whom I bought trucks from, but couldn't get together on the Vette price) said they will get the tools needed on a lend/lease program and give me a call to get me in and perform the alignment. So, I'm going to ask them to try for -2.5 in the front without removing shims and see what happens. Also, going to ask for the rear to be adjusted without removing shims.
The dealer closest to my home (whom I bought trucks from, but couldn't get together on the Vette price) said they will get the tools needed on a lend/lease program and give me a call to get me in and perform the alignment. So, I'm going to ask them to try for -2.5 in the front without removing shims and see what happens. Also, going to ask for the rear to be adjusted without removing shims.
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,818
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Get friendly with your local Firestone Tire dealer; they offer a "Lifetime Wheel Alignment" package for just over $200. I have been using them for the last three Vettes with no issues. I talk to the alignment guy, we go over my specs and life is good. I take my car in about every 6 months or so (or before each long road trip). If I want to set it up for a little track use, I will give my alignment guy my track specs.
Now if your lucky like me, you may get an alignment tech that has lots of experience setting up a fleet of Corvettes for a local track school at one of your local tracks (Texas Motor Speedway)
Now if your lucky like me, you may get an alignment tech that has lots of experience setting up a fleet of Corvettes for a local track school at one of your local tracks (Texas Motor Speedway)
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 838
Likes: 70
From: Loudoun County VA
Not sure about N VA. I would check with Criswell Chevrolet in Gaithersburg, MD. The Corvette tech (Luke) told me they do track alignments. Dina Bartolomeo is an excellent service rep (301) 212-4528) to work with--recommended by Mike Furman.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 262
From: swoyersville pa
Part number for the adapter bracket is CH-47960-10 and the gauge is CH-47960. The gauge is expensive so it would be better to find a lower cost one.
Yes, the mechanic who did my alignment didn't pull the single spacer from behind the UCA as the GM Instructions state. He used the cams in the LCAs to push the LCAs out as far as he could get them and that resulted in the washer on the spring bolt rubbing on the control arm which makes a clunking noise as the suspension goes up and down. Especially on starting and stopping in a straight line.
Bill
Yes, the mechanic who did my alignment didn't pull the single spacer from behind the UCA as the GM Instructions state. He used the cams in the LCAs to push the LCAs out as far as he could get them and that resulted in the washer on the spring bolt rubbing on the control arm which makes a clunking noise as the suspension goes up and down. Especially on starting and stopping in a straight line.
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 262
From: swoyersville pa
Found meters on eBay , $19.00 and up and dealer has bracket I can barrow when needed, he wanted $160.00 for one , I told him if I pay 160 from him I will buy my next car across river from him - here take mine!! Lol
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 322
From: Raleigh NC
What is the purpose of removing the washers from the front UCAs?
My shop was able to attain the track specs but did not remove them.
Still trying to find a dealer that has the tools to check/adjust rear castor.
Thanks.
My shop was able to attain the track specs but did not remove them.
Still trying to find a dealer that has the tools to check/adjust rear castor.
Thanks.