home alignment

67GTA-FB429 · Jan 7, 2004

I know that I have read somewhere in the forums that some members do their own alignments at home. How are you doing this and what special tools do you need??
I finally finished installing new control arms, tie rods, sway bar, springs, shocks and shelby drop and I would like to get everything setup for a test drive after all of the dang snow in Washington melts (-14F on Monday).

Any help is appreciated.

66P51GT · Jan 7, 2004

Car Craft has a "Best of Tech" magazine at the news stand this month that has a great article on at-home alignments.

coolblue65 · Jan 7, 2004

I have aligned my car at home twice, its actually pretty easy if you have the guage for camber & caster and the patience. Toe you just need a tape measure.

My step-dad bought a guage from some where for about $50-70, I can not remember where...possibly J.C. Whitney. We made some very simple homemade slide plates, and we were set-I already had plenty of shims. It took about an hour or so.

If you find the guage for cheap enough its worth it.

dodgestang · Jan 7, 2004

67GTA-FB429 said:
I know that I have read somewhere in the forums that some members do their own alignments at home. How are you doing this and what special tools do you need??
I finally finished installing new control arms, tie rods, sway bar, springs, shocks and shelby drop and I would like to get everything setup for a test drive after all of the dang snow in Washington melts (-14F on Monday).

Any help is appreciated.

ftp://ftp.team.net/autocross/align.car

usedtobe 67p51d · Jan 7, 2004

this was a question I was pondering. If you only adjust caster, will it effect toe or camber? does anyone know?

BobV · Jan 8, 2004

I do all my own alignments at home. Spend $65 for a decent caster/camber gauge, and you're 90% "there". Not hard, just takes time.

Remember, alignment techs get paid by how many they do, not how well they do them. Most "specs" are +/- 1/2*, meaning your car can be up to 1* different from side-to-side and still be within THEIR "spec". You can get to within 1/8* at home with some patience.

My "Home Alignment" method: http://www.gt350clone.com/alignment.htm

Changing caster will change toe, and usually changes camber also.

67GTA-FB429 · Jan 8, 2004

Thanks guys.

66candy · Jan 9, 2004

Homemade alignment tool....

I made my own alignment tool. I did some math and came with this Every turn of the knob is 1/2 degree. I checked camber with a computer alignment I had done some months ago and it was within 1/4 degrees! So not a bad job for a homemade device.

Erwin, The Netherlands

01GTCONVT · Jan 9, 2004

This link will get you started; http://geocities.com/a65ragtop/VM_FAQ/miscellaneous/alignment.html

I did this on a 70 convert with neg wedge kit. Decided on the alignment numbers I wanted +1 caster, -1/4 camber, and toe in 1/32". Set the camber, went for a drive and rechecked. Adjusted as necessary. Make sure you drive the car to settle it to normal ride height before checking. Raised the front tires off the ground and rotated them against a nail in a board to determine a true line on the tire. Then adjusted the toe in and drove. Every change to the camber has a large effect on the toe. Drove, checked and adjusted several times. Then set caster, drove and rechecked camber, caster, and toe. In all this took most off an afternoon but with outstanding results and if you do not count your time, is free. Did this with a feeler guage, framing square, precision level, and tape measure.

Feel free to ask additional questions if this is not enough info.

Dan

fess40 · Jan 12, 2004

I may give this a try. So where can I find sthe shims?

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