Who does your front end alignments?
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Who does your front end alignments?
Posted: August 11 2008 11:42 AM
 
Andy Osborn (aka aosborn) [ View ] [ osborna1@hotmail.com ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Olympia, Washington
 
I am just curious where you take your cars to have your front end aligments done at the end of your project builds? Do you take your ride to the local Les Schwab or Firestone store or a specialty front end shop or elsewhere? Where do you get the specs to have the front end set to?


Thanks
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by tlp1968  -  08/11/2008 11:52 AM
I have a older gentleman who has an old alignment shop near our house in Springfield, IL. He prefers the old cars and so does his equipment. I will be curious to see who other people use because when this guy finally retires I may be in the market...Great question!
StreetRodding.com Marketing Director [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Springfield, Illinois Charter Member since August 2003
 
Posted by orphans2  -  08/11/2008 11:53 AM
Specialty alignment shop that has been doing antiques, customs and rods for years. I just tell them what IFS and IRS I have and they take it from there.
orphans2 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Stewartstown, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since November 2001
 
Posted by REBORN55  -  08/11/2008 12:08 PM
I take mine to where I get my rigs inspected. They let me give them the specs and assist them in setting the front end up. Most places around here don't have a clue. the machines are all computerized with built in specs and they don't go back far enough in years to accomodate most older car needs.
Ken [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] De soto, Illinois
 
Posted by ol bear  -  08/11/2008 12:38 PM
I SET MY TOE WITH A HOME MADE TOOL ,, 1 IN PLASITIC PVC /A LARGE SHARPIE STUCK IN THE END ,,TAKE THE SHIRT CLIP OFF AND FIT TO ID. OF THE PIPE AND USE A LIL WHITE LITHIUM ON IT ,, WORKS PERFECT ,,CASTOR I USE A PROTRACTOR FROM SEARS ,, OL BEAR
OL BEAR [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] crown point, Indiana
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  08/11/2008 12:45 PM
i do my own. specs pretty much go out the window with the stance we set cars at. have a tire shop that i use to check them if need be.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by blade58  -  08/11/2008 01:28 PM
Shine I' m curious and probably other folks on this site how you do it ,at least we can get it where we can drive it on the road, i lowered a lot cars and trucks the geomotry is changed and it always requires realignment
blade58 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] apopka, Florida Charter Member since January 2008
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  08/11/2008 01:50 PM
i have a couple of tools i use. i start at 1/8 toe and 1 and 1 . from there it just depends on tires ,how the car sets . if i cant get it where i want i'll take it in and put it on the machine. you'll always be close to fact but some saddles dont set the same. dont know where i will be with inderweed . the s10 should set to factory.

now i put a sign up when doing it to remind me which is which on caster / camber i use a lot of notes to myself stuck on cars. saves me a lot of aggravation and cussin .
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by blade58  -  08/11/2008 02:26 PM
When i slammed my S-10 i pulled all the shims out to correct the camber -1 degree,drove it for years tire wear was great ,thanks for the input
blade58 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] apopka, Florida Charter Member since January 2008
 
Posted by aosborn  -  08/14/2008 12:52 AM
If you are roughing in your alignment to get you to the alignment shop or out for a test drive, a quick way to do it is to set a straight edge up on blocks next to the sidewall on the outside of your front tires. Block it up to get the straight edge over the bulge in the tires, and make sure the straight edge sticks out past the tire on both ends. With a friend, measure the distance from the edge of the straight edges in front of and behind the tire. The difference is the toe setting. Wider in front is toe out, and narrower in front is toe in. Set it to 1/8" toe in for starters. To set the camber, use a level up against the wheel vertically (use spacers if necessary, a couple of little blocks of square tubing works well). Hold the level plumb and look at the gap to the wheel. An 1/8" gap on a 15" wheel equals about 1/2 degree. If the gap is at the top, it is negative camber (recommended) if at the bottom, it is positive camber. Set if for 1/2 negative, you will get less understeer while cornering (a good thing, trust me). Setting caster is tougher, just try to match the a-arm position on each side and you should be in the ball park. Always set caster and camber first, and then set the toe. If anyone would like to know how to center the steering wheel without messing up the alignment I would be happy to pass that info along also.
aosborn [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Olympia, Washington
 
Posted by 37tin  -  08/14/2008 02:18 AM
Yes,I would like to know Mr osborn, information is allways good .
37tin [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] langley, Canada
 
Posted by aosborn  -  08/14/2008 03:37 PM
If you get your ride back from the alignment shop and you notice the steering wheel is not quite centered, it is a simple job to adjust it. Loosen the clamps or jam nuts on the tie rods, and if for example the steering wheel appears to be making a slight left turn while traveling straight down the road, adjust the tie rods to make the car turn left. If you have front steering, you would lengthen the left tie rod and shorten the right. Do the opposite for rear steer. MAKE CERTAIN YOU MOVE BOTH TIE RODS THE SAME AMOUNT TO RETAIN YOUR TOE SETTING! Start with 1/2 turn on each side and then center the tires with a tape measure or by sighting down the front tires to the rear. Once the tires are straight take a look at the steering wheel to see if it's centered. If not, adjust it more or less to get it right. If once you are done, the tie rods are not nearly the same length, make sure the steering wheel is centered on the column, and the column is lined up properly with the steering gear or rack. Once that is right, fine tune it with the tie rods again.
aosborn [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Olympia, Washington
 
Posted by 37tin  -  08/15/2008 02:05 AM
I understand, and thank you!!
37tin [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] langley, Canada
 
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