Foxbody adjust alignment

[Creomod]

I lowered my mustang few years ago and did take it to have an alignment done problem is I don’t think they did it. It looks like an elephant sat on the car and my tires keep wearing out drastically in the inner part of the tires. Honestly I want to risk doing I w/o special tools (to purchase) was thinking of setting up a laser level on just measure bottom tire to light and top of tire to light to try and correct that tilt. So question is…… to do alignment myself to adjust it do I have to loosen the camber plate bolts or the tie rod ends(bumpsteer ends)? Do I have loose. Both the camber bolts the big ones and tie rod ends or one or the other ?

 

[Creomod]

Anyone have any advise on this situation?

 

[Bullitt347]

Pretty much gonna need aftermarket caster/camber plates to make any real adjustment on your own.

 

[nickyb]

I've only done toe in toe out.

 

[General karthief]

When it comes to front-end geometry you're gonna need to learn a few things, more so when lowered,
One thing leads to another and it's a back and forth checking and adjusting, have you talked to the shop that did the alignment originally?

 

[Creomod]

When it comes to front-end geometry you're gonna need to learn a few things, more so when lowered,
One thing leads to another and it's a back and forth checking and adjusting, have you talked to the shop that did the alignment originally?

No I haven’t I assumed they did it right it’s as if they did t do anything to it ? O it’s been years but now I got this job and my new route to work has lots of turns causing the inner part of the tire to wear even quicker like every year I need new tires

 

[AeroCoupe]

Creomod...you know the drill man...what year car do you have? Is it lowered? Are all the front end suspension components in good shape? I ask as it makes a difference in how we offer advise. I think I remember you being a person that keeps their car is decent operating shape so I am going to assume all the parts are in good shape. The tolerances on these cars sucked from the factory and they are known to have camber issues as they age and especially if you lower one.

The best way to do this is to get some good CC plates and I would say that the overall opinion is MM makes them:

1979-1993 Mustang Camber Plates

In the installation instructions there are alignment specs on page 8 of both sets of instructions (79-89 and 90-93). Do not let the tech BS you or try and talk you into anything but what these instructions say to do. Have them give you a print out of before and after.

Now if you are short on $$$ you can simply get these:

Camber: plus or minus 1.75 Degrees; (16MM, Pair):

Product Detail | Specialty Products Company | SPC Alignment | The Automotive Alignment Leaders

Specialty Products Company | SPC Alignment | The Automotive Alignment Leaders

www.spcalignment.com

If your camber is off by more than 1.75 degress they show a kit that does up to +/- 2.50 degrees but I would call them to verify:

Product Detail | Specialty Products Company | SPC Alignment | The Automotive Alignment Leaders

Specialty Products Company | SPC Alignment | The Automotive Alignment Leaders

www.spcalignment.com

My only option on the Crown Victoria IFS swap I did into my 1970 F100 was from this company and it worked as advertised.

 

[Rcdgl]

Took a couple of alignments to get my 79 Capri back to driving well after the Ford lowering springs and cc plates. Ended up with a shop and an old guy that knew how to do it and not just set to the oem spec.

 

[General karthief]

Let's play a game, 'how far off?'
Put car on level ground, make sure air pressures are same all way round, take one of those L shaped metal carpenter's tool and place the edge on the concrete, the other edge against the bottom of the tire, is the top of the tire (or tyre across the pond) tilted in?

 

[90sickfox]

You can adjust the camber with camber bolts. They are available at most parts stores. They go in place of the upper strut bolt on the spindle. They allow you to rotate the bolt to push or pull the top of the wheels out. Camber is also available with the factory camber plates up top, but you have to drill out a rivet and loosen the bolts to move it.

Alignments can get complicated. When you move camber you also move toe...and sometimes caster. If you have a bump steer kit it will need to be properly set up first. If you draw a line from the middle of the control arm bolt to the middle of the ball joint cup it should run parallel to the tie rod end.

 

[2000xp8]

Make sure all mechanicals are good (tie rods, ball joints etc) and there are no leaks. Buy MM plates, this way you don't take it there and they can't get it in spec and you have to do it again.
Then take it for another alignment. Ive also always asked for maximum matching caster, for me I felt like it didn't follow the ruts that way.
Home alignments only work out for the most patient and meticulous.

 

[Creomod]

What I need to know is if I lift up car loosen up strut and loosen those 3 big bolts on the top of the camber plates would that strighten up the wheels. I have a negative camber how can I fix that. Just by moving those 3 bolts in the slot away from the car?

 

[General karthief]

How are you going to tell how far to go?

 

[Noobz347]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awOMTYDptfk

 

[2000xp8]

Are those skinny front wheels and tires?