Do-it-Yourself Alignment

[Tony_SS]

So I have the SC&C Stage1 installed and am ready to take it down for an alignment... but was wondering if there are any methods or a specific tool that can be used for a home alignment? I know I'll have to do my Malibu coming up soon and would rather invest in something I can do myself.

[Blown353]

It's easy to do yourself but takes longer than a computerized alignment machine... there are a couple threads on this forum under "DIY Alignment."

I water leveled my floor where the car sits using 12 x 12 vinyl floor tiles, borrowed some Hunter turnplates (for the 20 degree caster sweep), ran stringlines using 1" conduit front and rear ziptied to jackstands, and built my own aluminum caster/camber frame to hold my Mitutoyo digital level.

[Tony_SS]

Ah, there's that search function... ;) Thanks.. upon reading into it more, I might be better off standing over the guys shoulder and reading him some numbers. That should make his day.. lol.

[silver69camaro]

It's really a good thing to learn how to do yourself if you want to take the time. You'll have a good understanding of how things work, and adjustments in the future will be a snap.

I also use the string method and it works well. At home I don't use turnplates though, just pieces of carpet to allow the suspension to move while adjustments are made (my garage is tiled which makes it easier as well). My car is too low anyway to fit onto most alignment racks.

[greencactus3]

couple sheets of newspaper work pretty well too

[parsonsj]

I did a quickie home alignment, and then took it to an alignment shop. I came home from that $230 poorer, with a new scratch in my paint, and with a tie rod that loosened up and ruined the alignment anyway.

My quickie home alignment was within a couple of tenths of a degree and dead on for toe anyway.

So when I changed my front suspension to track mode, guess how I aligned it?

jp

[6'9"Witha69]

I did a quickie home alignment, and then took it to an alignment shop. I came home from that $230 poorer, with a new scratch in my paint, and with a tie rod that loosened up and ruined the alignment anyway.

My quickie home alignment was within a couple of tenths of a degree and dead on for toe anyway.

So when I changed my front suspension to track mode, guess how I aligned it?

jp

$230!?!?! Holy crap I woulda pounded someone into the ground for fing up my car AND charging that much to boot!

Glad I do it myself.

[pitts64]

I prefer to have it put on the rack..

[parsonsj]

I woulda pounded someone into the ground for fing up my car

Yeah, but you're 6'9".

What can I say? The shop charges $65/hour for "custom" work, and was the only person in town that would touch my car. I looked hard, too.

The fellow did apologize for the scratch (which happened when we were trying to get the alignment heads on the front wheels). It was the tie rod coming loose that really soured me on the experience. That and I got at least a thousand love bugs all over the car while crossing the St. John's River and and Lake Jesup.

As I say, I do it myself now.

jp

[jerome]

firestone has lifetime alignments for $150. That's what I planned on doing...ride height adjustment? no problem, go get it done again...and again...and again

[1969CamaroRS]

firestone has lifetime alignments for $150. That's what I planned on doing...

That is probably only to original manufacturer specs, not a performance alignment, I would check before laying down your green...

[parsonsj]

I'm sure even if it covers a performance alignment, it will be done by least experienced member at the place. I'd be skeptical you'd get consistent results.

jp

[Tony_SS]

That's the problem - you can't assume the guy doing the alignment know's what the heck he's doing.

Time is a rarity around here so I have to pick and choose my project. I think I'll pass on this one. The place I took it last was clean, careful with the car and didn't mind I was back there 'trying to help'. The guy was a little green, but the other kid knew what he was doing and helped as well. It wasn't their fault that 3" lowering springs and factory arms wouldn't shim out enough for a proper alignment.

The SC&C stage I is on now, so with plenty of adjustment, I don't think there will be a problem with setting it and forgetting it.

[Rick Dorion]

I do my own. The learning curve gets the time down to a reasonable interval. And, it's therapy time in the garage!

[paul67]

And just because its done a spec does not mean you will like driving it with thoughs specs so if you do it your self it can be tuned to your driving habits.

[Norm Peterson]

Never mind that if it takes you a couple of iterations to put things where you really want them . . . it still gets done for one price (and you do get quicker at doing the job).

Been DIY'ing my own alignments for about 25 years now, ever since I had to replace an upper ball joint in the '79 Malibu where the ball tore through its socket .

The Malibu is really easy to do as long as the tie rod adjustments aren't rusted solid or an upper control arm bolt doesn't start spinning in its hole. Either of those are easily fixed, just a PITA to have to break away from the real job and fix so you can get on with doing the real job.

Harbor Freight (among other sources) has a digital angle finder that's good to 0.1° on the display. That's good enough for almost any purpose. Around $40.


Norm

[6'9"Witha69]

firestone has lifetime alignments for $150. That's what I planned on doing...ride height adjustment? no problem, go get it done again...and again...and again

Most lifetime warranties are voided by any steering and suspension work not performed by the shop or chain issuing the certificate.

[pitts64]

Delete

[Tony_SS]

Is it important to set Camber, Caster, Toe in that order?

It seems straight forward enough except when it comes to setting caster, seems like it would be tough to measure that.

Thanks Norm, I'm going to take a look up at the local HF for that angle finder.

[6'9"Witha69]

Pretty much yes to all. Just a little math for the Caster. Camber is easy and toe is super easy.