AFX alignment specs?

[DarkoNova]

I just finished putting some tall AFX spindles on my 69 Nova. What are some good ballpark numbers to get this thing aligned? My spindles didn't come with any instructions or spec sheet or anything.



Matt

[chicane67]

Depends on wheel and tire package. But for most, this will get you in the ballpark:

-1/4* camber, +5.5* caster, 1/16" total toe out... normal street use.

-1/2* camber, +6.0* caster, 1/8" total toe out... good, hard street use.

You tune the toe to balance under/over steer.

[DarkoNova]

Ok, this is bull****. These are my specs:

BEFORE:
Left Front:
Camber: -1.01 degrees
Caster: -0.03 degrees
Toe: 0.18 degrees

Right Front:
Camber: -0.02 degrees
Caster: 1.23 degrees
Toe: 0.44 degrees

AFTER:
Left Front:
Camber: 0.03 degrees
Caster: -0.48 degrees
Toe: 0.19 degrees

Right Front:
Camber: 0.02 degrees
Caster: 1.32 degrees
Toe: 0.17 degrees

What the hell kind of garbage is this? Now I have a pull to the left where before the alignment it tracked straight, and on top of that, basically every spec is worse now than before. I took the car to Firestone because that was the only place that was open.

Where is a good place to get a performance alignment? I think Firestone is closed tomorrow, but I'm definitely going back Monday to complain about this crap.

Matt

[chicane67]

That looks like it might be within the 1967 specification...

Where you at in Cali ??

[MrQuick]

with that caster, im not suprised your pulling. Yes, where are you?

[DarkoNova]

Yeah, I gave the guy a piece of paper with the specs on it that I wanted and he said he'd do it no problem. 2 friggin hours later, I get the car back and he hands me a piece of paper that's got the current alignment specs and the tolerances from 1969 on it. The guy basically just ignored the specs I gave him and went with 1969 specs (and he did a pretty horrible job at that!!).

Anyway I'm in San Bernardino. About 45 minutes from LA and 45-ish minutes from Orange County.

Matt

[chicane67]

Well... If it were me... I'd give Doug a call at Global West and see if he can get'er done. Afterall... they are in San Berdoo over on Mill and Waterman.

http://www.globalwest.net/

If not... at least Doug or Steve could point you in the right direction to a competant shop for alignment.

[DarkoNova]

I never knew he could do alignments. I actually bought my solid aluminum body mounts from him. I'll definitely go by on Monday and see if he can help.

Matt

[TBART70]

Even if he used factory specs, he did a pi$$ poor job. The caster should be set closer so it won't pull. Even when an old Chevy comes in I dial in as much +caster that I can and at least .25* camber.

[CarlC]

How about buying your own equipment and doing it yourself? It will pay for itself after the second shop alignment.

[chicane67]

You know... you have a good point.

A camber/caster gauge = 175
2 12' tape measures = 30
2 2"x2"x12' sections of aluminum I beam = 50
4 4"x4"x12" pieces of 4x4 = 5

Equals a lifetime of alignments.

[DarkoNova]

How about buying your own equipment and doing it yourself? It will pay for itself after the second shop alignment.

Yeah, the thing that pisses me off is I paid $140 for a lifetime alignment deal, so as long as I have the car, I can get free alignments. I thought it was a good deal until I got the specs. Then I was looking at stuff on SC&C and saw they had alignment stuff for dirt cheap.

So I dunno, I'll probably take it back and see if they can do it right (supposedly the kid was new and they have a "specialist" that's been working there for 30 years that can do it better) just to try and recoup some of that $140. Then when I get my control arms from Marcus I'll just get the alignment tools, too.

Matt

[ITLBTU]

I got all of the alignment specs when I got my tall spindles. Do you think you might have thrown them out accidently?

[CarlC]

I bet if you read the fine print for the lifetime warrantee it only covers alignments made to OE specifications. They likely won't touch a custom job.

We all live and learn.

[Damn True]

Depends on wheel and tire package. But for most, this will get you in the ballpark:

-1/4 camber, +5.5* caster, 1/16 toe out... normal street use.

-1/2 camber, +6.0 caster, 1/8" toe out... good, hard street use.

You tune the toe to balance under/over steer.

In the intrest of clarity, is that 1/4 degrees of negative camber?

[DarkoNova]

I got all of the alignment specs when I got my tall spindles. Do you think you might have thrown them out accidently?

Nope. All I got was a receipt and a flyer for other ATS products. :(

I bet if you read the fine print for the lifetime warrantee it only covers alignments made to OE specifications. They likely won't touch a custom job.

We all live and learn.

Ha, you know, I never thought of that. You're probably right. I'm definitely going to be buying the alignment tools. I took it back today and the "specialist" did a better job.

LF RF
Camber: -0.17 -0.06
Caster: 0.22 0.50
Toe: 0.12 0.12

The guy tried to say that he couldn't get anymore out of it because there was no more room for shims. As soon as I get home I pop the hood and checked. The driver's side had like 2 shims and the passenger's side had like 3. God, sometimes having a performance oriented car is a pain in the ass.

Matt

[chicane67]

In the intrest of clarity, is that 1/4 degrees of negative camber?

Yes. Thank you for pointing out my gramatical error so that I could clarify my initial post. I have made the necessary correction.

Ya know... I keep forgetting to call you back !!

[MarkM66]

You know... you have a good point.

A camber/caster gauge = 175
2 12' tape measures = 30
2 2"x2"x12' sections of aluminum I beam = 50
4 4"x4"x12" pieces of 4x4 = 5

Equals a lifetime of alignments.

Know of a good website that goes over the procedure?