Alignment Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 312
Likes: 27
Alignment Question
I know I read some threads about alignments that would keep the car going straight when doing a 0-60 or 1/4 mile run. My question is more about tire longevity. I spoke to my mechanic and he stated he does an alignment for track but he said I would be lucky to get 800 miles out of a set of tires for street use only. That's nuts. I will never track this car. I've read on here where some people are getting close to 15,000 miles for a set of tires. What is the appropriate setting for street use and the ability to achieve the most miles for a set of tires.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Try -0.8 front camber, +7.4 deg caster, +0.01 deg total toe in. Set rear camber at -0.8, rear caster at +0.7 and total toe at 0.0.
Bill
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Aug 23, 2017 at 04:36 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
Other than dealer what shops do you guys trust for alignment, firestone?
Is it true that for our staggered tires the original tire warranty of 30k miles will be halved, so only 15k cause we can't rotate it front to back.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 704
Likes: 111
From: Edmond Oklahoma
It has a significant impact on the handling of the car and is a safety concern if not properly setup.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 977
From: Overland Park KS
I know I read some threads about alignments that would keep the car going straight when doing a 0-60 or 1/4 mile run. My question is more about tire longevity. I spoke to my mechanic and he stated he does an alignment for track but he said I would be lucky to get 800 miles out of a set of tires for street use only. That's nuts. I will never track this car. I've read on here where some people are getting close to 15,000 miles for a set of tires. What is the appropriate setting for street use and the ability to achieve the most miles for a set of tires.
If you find a place that really knows what they’re doing you will not destroy your tyres in such short distances using the recommended GM or DSC settings.
Bish
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
It's extremely important that you go to a place that understands rear caster and can measure for it. This is something new that only the C7 Corvettes and a handful of other cars are currently specifying so a majority of places do not know how to handle it. The current batch of alignment machines on the market are not capable of measuring it so the technician has to do it manually.
It has a significant impact on the handling of the car and is a safety concern if not properly setup.
It has a significant impact on the handling of the car and is a safety concern if not properly setup.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
A lot of dealer shops haven't invested in the tools required (they are not part of the alignment machine). They need an angle gauge and an adapter that fits on the inside of the knuckle (near the Rear Axle CV joint) to fasten the gauge to. Any shop that tells you they can set it using their alignment machine doesn't know what they are talking about. GM will loan them the tools but that may mean you would have to set the appointment around when they can get the tools.
Talk to the mechanic that will be doing the job. If you get a lot of humma, humma or promises they can do the adjustment without showing you the two tools required then they can't do it.
Tell them to look up the rear caster adjustment procedure in the Factory Service Manual. It is clearly delineated in the manual which most of them don't read. When you get the alignment sheets after they do the alignment the rear caster setting should be printed by hand on the sheet since the machine doesn't have the capability to measure or print the measurement.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
Thanks a lot Bill as always, will call the service supervisor or even talk to the mechanic like you mentioned. Always hate going to dealer as they are so slow, potentially saved me a trip and more!
Z got 2350 miles and have yet to get an alignment like everyone suggested, better do it quick!!
Z got 2350 miles and have yet to get an alignment like everyone suggested, better do it quick!!
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
well finally found a shop that can do rear caster! hard to find and scheduled for tomorrow. I checked the front tires and the inner treads are wearing a lot more than the outer treads, I guess factory camber is too aggressive. The tread life for inner tread is much less than outer ones, big different when I felt it with my finger, if inner tread got x life left, outer got 2x, almost 2x the difference! So still use the same alignment specs from post 2 right? I guess hopefully outer tread will wear out then eventually it will be nice and flat.
Got 2600 miles now the rears seem ok with much more tread life left but I just looked at them quickly, didn't have the car on the stands.
Got 2600 miles now the rears seem ok with much more tread life left but I just looked at them quickly, didn't have the car on the stands.
Last edited by okaythen; Jan 31, 2018 at 06:47 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Dear OP,
You need a new mechanic.
PLRX
You need a new mechanic.
PLRX
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,436
Likes: 977
From: Overland Park KS
well finally found a shop that can do rear caster! hard to find and scheduled for tomorrow. I checked the front tires and the inner treads are wearing a lot more than the outer treads, I guess factory camber is too aggressive. The tread life for inner tread is much less than outer ones, big different when I felt it with my finger, if inner tread got x life left, outer got 2x, almost 2x the difference! So still use the same alignment specs from post 2 right? I guess hopefully outer tread will wear out then eventually it will be nice and flat.
Got 2600 miles now the rears seem ok with much more tread life left but I just looked at them quickly, didn't have the car on the stands.
also Thrust Angle: 0 degrees right?
Got 2600 miles now the rears seem ok with much more tread life left but I just looked at them quickly, didn't have the car on the stands.
also Thrust Angle: 0 degrees right?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
rear toe were left 1/16" right 1/32", total 1/16".
Front camber were left -0.8, right -1.2.
Rear left -1.0, rear right -1.2.
Car seems to corner better, or maybe it's just a mental thing now that I got it done, need to drive it more.
Front caster were left 7.6 right 7.7, I told him to do 7.4 like Bill's specs but he did left 7.3 right 7.6 he said he took the middle number and it will drive better that way. By then I was beat and I didn't understand what he was saying, but it's a good shop so.
Front toe I wanted +0.01 and he did left 1/32 , right 0, total 1/32. Said that's the lowest they can adjust and also lowest of the "specifications".
https://i.imgur.com/NvbEGHG.jpg?1
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 867
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
yeah got it done today, front toe were left -1/8", right 9/32", total 5/32"
rear toe were left 1/16" right 1/32", total 1/16".
Front camber were left -0.8, right -1.2.
Rear left -1.0, rear right -1.2.
Car seems to corner better, or maybe it's just a mental thing now that I got it done, need to drive it more.
Front caster were left 7.6 right 7.7, I told him to do 7.4 like Bill's specs but he did left 7.3 right 7.6 he said he took the middle number and it will drive better that way. By then I was beat and I didn't understand what he was saying, but it's a good shop so.
Front toe I wanted +0.01 and he did left 1/32 , right 0, total 1/32. Said that's the lowest they can adjust and also lowest of the "specifications".
https://i.imgur.com/NvbEGHG.jpg?1
rear toe were left 1/16" right 1/32", total 1/16".
Front camber were left -0.8, right -1.2.
Rear left -1.0, rear right -1.2.
Car seems to corner better, or maybe it's just a mental thing now that I got it done, need to drive it more.
Front caster were left 7.6 right 7.7, I told him to do 7.4 like Bill's specs but he did left 7.3 right 7.6 he said he took the middle number and it will drive better that way. By then I was beat and I didn't understand what he was saying, but it's a good shop so.
Front toe I wanted +0.01 and he did left 1/32 , right 0, total 1/32. Said that's the lowest they can adjust and also lowest of the "specifications".
https://i.imgur.com/NvbEGHG.jpg?1
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
yeah got it done today, front toe were left -1/8", right 9/32", total 5/32"
rear toe were left 1/16" right 1/32", total 1/16".
Front camber were left -0.8, right -1.2.
Rear left -1.0, rear right -1.2.
Car seems to corner better, or maybe it's just a mental thing now that I got it done, need to drive it more.
Front caster were left 7.6 right 7.7, I told him to do 7.4 like Bill's specs but he did left 7.3 right 7.6 he said he took the middle number and it will drive better that way. By then I was beat and I didn't understand what he was saying, but it's a good shop so.
Front toe I wanted +0.01 and he did left 1/32 , right 0, total 1/32. Said that's the lowest they can adjust and also lowest of the "specifications".
https://i.imgur.com/NvbEGHG.jpg?1
rear toe were left 1/16" right 1/32", total 1/16".
Front camber were left -0.8, right -1.2.
Rear left -1.0, rear right -1.2.
Car seems to corner better, or maybe it's just a mental thing now that I got it done, need to drive it more.
Front caster were left 7.6 right 7.7, I told him to do 7.4 like Bill's specs but he did left 7.3 right 7.6 he said he took the middle number and it will drive better that way. By then I was beat and I didn't understand what he was saying, but it's a good shop so.
Front toe I wanted +0.01 and he did left 1/32 , right 0, total 1/32. Said that's the lowest they can adjust and also lowest of the "specifications".
https://i.imgur.com/NvbEGHG.jpg?1
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
+0.7
thanks a lot Bill
thanks a lot Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 173
From: Nevada
After the alignment I noticed some clanking noise when I pull in/out of parking space, mostly during slow maneuvers and steering wheel almost all the way turned. It's like a quick clanking noise.
I don't think I heard this before, car was always quiet not even 3k miles yet. Could it be that they forgot to tighten something or forgot something during the alignment? Or everyone have that noise.
I don't think I heard this before, car was always quiet not even 3k miles yet. Could it be that they forgot to tighten something or forgot something during the alignment? Or everyone have that noise.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I would take it back to make sure they didn't forget tighten something. I don't know if they did any adjustments with the shims behind the Upper Control Arms, but is heard of that people forget to tighten the bolts properly when they finish setting the alignment. Same goes for the LCA cams. Sometimes the bolts aren't tightened enough and the cam starts moving back and forth once you start driving the car.
A rare occurrence can be they left a tool somewhere in the suspension. Had that happen one time at a top of the line alignment shop in my home town. Did a great alignment but when I was out on the highway I started hearing a clinking sound. Stopped at a dealership on the way and the sound was definitely heard by everybody as I drove into the shop. There was a nice Snap On open end wrench inside the coil spring next to the shock.
Bill
A rare occurrence can be they left a tool somewhere in the suspension. Had that happen one time at a top of the line alignment shop in my home town. Did a great alignment but when I was out on the highway I started hearing a clinking sound. Stopped at a dealership on the way and the sound was definitely heard by everybody as I drove into the shop. There was a nice Snap On open end wrench inside the coil spring next to the shock.
Bill