had the chevelle aligned today and they stated they could not get caster into spec

[cactuss4]

Not sure what this SPEC is that they speak of, this car was never designed for what is bolted on to it..

Although if I was on the track I think the starting point would have been better than the 2.x of caster that it's now. Just trying to get an idea on what you all think of the current settings.

I probably should have asked for a good starting point before heading to the alignment shop, but I was excited to get it out and tomorrow I get plates on it!

Thanks
Tory

[TheJDMan]

All the alignment shops in my area just set the front specs to what their computer tells them regardless of the suspension that is actually installed. First place I went to had some young kid doing the alignments and his first question was what year the car was and then proceeded to look up 68 Camaro specs. I just left. I found the same thing at a half dozen other places so I finally just purchased the gauges and toe plates and I now do my own alignments.

[cactuss4]

I had them way back in the day, the toe plates, but since sold. I tried to set it with some long pvc and measure front and rear, I was a tad off :))

[icemanrd19]

im a district manager for ntb so i have the luxury of a few alignment machines lol

[dhutton]

They tried to set it to factory. This is wrong for your car. Should have been around -.5 camber and 5-6 caster. You were better off before they aligned it.

Don

[JustJohn]

Try going to a small independent shop. I have one about 2 miles from home and I just gave them the settings I wanted. Had to consult briefly when he ran out of space to shim - my car's caster doesn't adjust that way. In the end he learned something and I have a place to go where they will let me stay in the garage while they work.

[andrewb70]

The A-bodies stock "spec" actually calls for negative caster, if you can believe that! Your original settings were actually pretty close.

They also set you up with positive camber! WTF?

Good starting street alignment specs for A-bodies is:

4-6 degrees positive caster
-.5 negative camber
0-1/16" toe in

That's about where my GTO is...

Next time tell them to use 4th ten F-bodies if they need a "spec" and it'll get you close.

Andrew

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

Wow, I knew the Chevelles had horrible original alignment, but negative caster?!?! And yeah, they were doing it all wrong. Sucks that the caster was better before they touched it.

[JustJohn]

Wow, I knew the Chevelles had horrible original alignment, but negative caster?!?! And yeah, they were doing it all wrong. Sucks that the caster was better before they touched it.

I think mine (Impala) was originally -0.5 to -1.0. Makes the car feel all floaty. 5 degrees positive has made it drive like an actual car.

[cactuss4]

holy crap, that didn't occur to me, I totally missed that, positive camber ya wth!!. The caster I totally agree, would have been better where it was but to go positive camber that seems holy silly.

I'll pop by there and see if I can have some of it redone.. w0w ya.

Thanks
Tory

[cactuss4]

Okay guys were totally cool, said come up with the alignment spec you want and we will make it happen, no worries.. So that's awesome..

so I'm thinking if I can get it back to 5 caster that would be ideal, I think -1.0 on camber would be fine for street driving and would much rather have 0 toe. I guess once I get ready to track it, I can add some shims to bring it closer to -2.* degrees camber, which will also give me slight toe out for better turn in.

So ya.. +5 Caster, -1.25 Camber and shoot for 0 toe.

Thanks for making me actually look at the data :)

Tory

[hotrodalex]

I always go into the shop and check in with them about halfway through, just to make sure they didn't start to do something silly like that.

DIY alignment gear is on my to-buy list.

[TheJDMan]

im a district manager for ntb so i have the luxury of a few alignment machines lol

I have an NTB in the area, will they set the alignment to my supplied specs and not the factory specs if I ask?

[High Plains Mopars]

Its very important for any of us to tell alignment shops that we require customized specs for our cars. Left to their own devices, most shops will pull up the factory specs, which were design for skinny bias ply tires at a time when steering effort was more important that road feel. If they insist on using a factory spec, either find another shop or input a late model unit that is more inline with what you want, like an '05 Mustang GT that has the same aggressive specs that we would want under a PT car.

[SPLATT71MC]

I had to call around to a couple of shops to find a place that would do a custom alignment. When you call asking about getting an alignment on a Monte Carlo with custom suspension in my neighborhood they automatically think DONK and don't want anything to do with it.

[icemanrd19]

if they are good at what they do and your cool about it. Guys in my area we take care of them but theres others that want their alignment set every month and we won't do that.

[icemanrd19]

I could see about setting up a pro touring company account for everyone. I think a basic one time alignment comes out to be $55 or $60

[cpd004]

An issue I have is that my car is too low for a regular rack. It requires a pit. It seems those wrecks and far between.