Anyone do their own alignments?

o2sys

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The amount of money I spent doing alignment after my suspension mods or for whatever reason I needed to remove my suspension I could of bought my own alignment tool.

So searching around I found this:
http://www.quicktrickalignment.com

Anyone have this or tried something similar? Or am I just better off at a shop using their fancy equipment?

Now if I can only get the corner balance weights :clap:
 

Norm Peterson

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Been doing all my own alignments for over 30 years, right in my driveway. Tweaked camber on the Mustang only yesterday, mainly looking for a little more negative camber for track days. Got a write-up somewhere on the computer.

That's just another one of several tools and other DIY methods of measuring angles. Any more, I use a digital angle finder, but I've even used a carpenter's combination square plus a 6" scale (and a pocket calculator for the math) . . . more than once.

There are a number of things you need to keep in mind that could affect the readings - you do need to have (or create with shims) a level setup area for one. None of it is hard, but a little patience and a willingness to double-check everything as you go, goes a long way.


Norm
 
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Dubstep Shep

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There's a local tire place to me that does year warranty on the alignments. As long as it's within that year, the alignment is free, no matter how many mods I've had done.
 

o2sys

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Those places only do factory specs and will not take lowered or modified cars. Well at least where I live.
 

Dubstep Shep

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Those places only do factory specs and will not take lowered or modified cars. Well at least where I live.

I have a Griggs Torque Arm, LCAs with brackets, and Watts link, plus the car is lowered half an inch with Steeda Camber plates. They didn't care except they asked me to come out and show them how to adjust everything.

They even let me dictate where I wanted everything. Basically I drove out of there with everything centered and -1 degree camber.
 

Department Of Boost

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I use one of these, a section of aluminum box tubing, a tape measure and string. Works great.

SmartToolMain.jpg
 

SoundGuyDave

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Google "string alignment," buy the Maximum Motorsports camber/caster gauge, Longacre toe plates, and two tape measures. Then send me a check for $300 and you'll break even.
 

modernbeat

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http://www.smartracingproducts.com/howtobuy.html

Check this site out, I saved it in my bookmarks sometime ago.

Both Terry and I independently bought this camber gauge years ago. It was really expensive a decade ago, and worth it. It was an evolution of the "bubble gauge" that had been used for decades.

Today there are other options, but I still recommend the SmartGauge for camber measurement. It's so easy to use without having to "make do" or set up some rigged assembly or stick my phone on a hot, dirty wheel.

I've also got an ART Laser Toe Gauge from here:
http://www.advancedracing.com/laser_toe_gauge.php

It's a bit of a PITA to use and really has to have a large setup platform. I used it when I campaigned a single car, and worked from the same level garage, with marks on the floor. But I never got proficient using it at the track or switching it from car to car. It can't be used when on either my elevated setup platform, or Terry's scale risers, so it doesn't get used much. In fact, I don't even know where it is right now. I may have loaned it out and never got it back. :omfg:

Instead, I use toe plates.
http://www.longacreracing.com/products.aspx?itemid=1709&prodid=7236&pagetitle=Toe-In+Plates+(pair)

These are extremely easy to use for minor setup changes as long as you are starting with a known good alignment, either from a good string alignment, or a professional laser rig. The issue is getting the thrust angle right, and keeping the caster close from side to side. FWIW, most street alignments add a little caster to the front right wheel to counteract the normal crown of the road. For competition use, we do a symmetrical alignment, which makes the car pull very slightly to the right on a normally crowned road.
 

claudermilk

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I've been looking at that camber gauge as well. A bit spendy for my needs. Has anyone used the Maximum Motorsports one? (http://www.maximummotorsports.com/Camber-Gauge-P192.aspx) Any comparisons vs the SmartCamber tool?

I'd be using it to switch between street & track settings for track days & autocross--so on a random bit of parking lot either on a HF floor jack (shudder), or a couple of jack stands. Probably 9 times out of 10 single-handed.
 

o2sys

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All the tools suggested are great but the quicktrick tool does all three at a lower cost.
 

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