Author Topic: Alignment advise (Read 1818 times)

B67FSTB · « **Reply #25 on:** June, 24, 2011, 09:37:23 AM »

I am following this thread with great interest.
About a year ago I did a topic on the ride quality of my fastback.
Conclusion , a good alignment solves a lot of problems but nowedays , the alignment shop or the operator in specific , don't know how to align a older car. They have to think instead of reading of the screen of what to do.And thats a big task for those dudes.
So , I bought a longacre caster camber alignment tool.
Yeehaa !
Got it this morning , so of to my garage.

+4 caster -0.5 camber and 1/8 toe in or should I use shims behind the front bolts of the UCA ????

silverblueBP · « **Reply #26 on:** June, 24, 2011, 10:08:47 AM »

Quote from: B67FSTB on June, 24, 2011, 09:37:23 AM

should I use shims behind the front bolts of the UCA ????

All depends if the front of the tire will clear the fender. I added shims to the front bolt and then finished by adjusting the adj strut rods.

Shaun · « **Reply #27 on:** June, 24, 2011, 01:37:10 PM »

I use these - http://www.streetortrack.com/Toe-Plates-pr-24518.html

Like this:

silverblueBP · « **Reply #28 on:** June, 24, 2011, 02:03:29 PM »

I made this for setting toe. Point the wheels straight ahead, slip it around the backside of the tires, clamp it down, move to the front and see what the diff is. Adjust as needed, re-check.

I need to weld on a flat washer on the tips to make it even more accurate.

B67FSTB · « **Reply #29 on:** June, 25, 2011, 01:02:22 AM »

For those with TT II wheels , maybe this can help.
I am a proud owner of the Longacre 78260 Caster Camber tool and was thinking of how to attach it to the Torq Thrust II wheels.
I made a adapterplate myself using the center as a template.Its not rocketscience but maybe give others an idea.
Here some shoots.

tarafied1 · « **Reply #30 on:** June, 25, 2011, 06:53:26 AM »

In 2007 I paid the Firestone in Clarksville TN for a "Lifetime" alignment. The shop manager and the technician were impressed with the car and were willing to spend the time it took. I recall it being several hours the first time since I just bolted all the new suspension on and guessed at alignments with the naked eye.
When I called for an appointment the shop manger remembered me and I told him we needed to realign the car using my specs. He said no problem. I'm in Saudi again but I scheduled it for Tuesday morning at 7am on the 5th when I'm back home. I told them we might need extra time again so I'll be the first car on the rack. Below is a picture from the first time...

tarafied1 · « **Reply #31 on:** June, 25, 2011, 06:55:44 AM »

Quote from: B67FSTB on June, 25, 2011, 01:02:22 AM

For those with TT II wheels , maybe this can help.
I am a proud owner of the Longacre 78260 Caster Camber tool and was thinking of how to attach it to the Torq Thrust II wheels.
I made a adapterplate myself using the center as a template.Its not rocketscience but maybe give others an idea.
Here some shoots.

pretty clever idea!

B67FSTB · « **Reply #32 on:** June, 29, 2011, 11:42:45 AM »

Well FWIW ,
today I added shims between the front bolt of the UCA and shock tower.
Drivers side was a pain w 351W engine.
I think its impossible with a 429 you have Craig.
That reply from Opentracker opend my eyes so I added a 3mm shim ( almost 1/8 inch ) between the shaft's front bolt and shock tower.
Next weekend I hope to do the alignment with my new tool.

silverblueBP · « **Reply #33 on:** June, 29, 2011, 01:28:39 PM »

It's scary Bruno, I made those same plates about 4 years ago when I bought my Longacre C/C gauge.

B67FSTB · « **Reply #34 on:** July, 02, 2011, 02:15:52 AM »

Mark what are you trying to say :

Great minds think alike ???

Grabber70Mach · « **Reply #35 on:** July, 02, 2011, 04:10:52 AM »

Quote from: B67FSTB on July, 02, 2011, 02:15:52 AM

Mark what are you trying to say :

Great minds think alike ???

Or maybe he's trying to say Welcome to the club.

B67FSTB · « **Reply #36 on:** July, 02, 2011, 08:21:03 AM »

Today I aligned my front end.
Beside the longacre C/C gauge , I had some turntables at my disposal.
Everything went well.
It took me 3 hours to do the job on my own.
With 3 people , one at the steeringwheel , one at the gauge and one doing the adjustments , it would take less then a half hour to align it.
(If everything is right and square.)

tarafied1 · « **Reply #37 on:** July, 05, 2011, 07:21:24 PM »

Got my alignment done today. Found out what happened. The strut rod nut on the driver's side had backed off. That was letting the caster go wacky and allowed the the front to toe out. Also why it pulled to the left. I had the camber kit added and got the settings -.5 camber, +1.5 caster and 1/8" toe in. I got new tires too. It drives good again!

AzPete · « **Reply #38 on:** July, 05, 2011, 07:48:05 PM »

A lot of stuff to go to just to justify new front tires.....glad you are back on the road.

sigtauenus · « **Reply #39 on:** July, 06, 2011, 04:45:31 AM »

Quote from: AzPete on July, 05, 2011, 07:48:05 PM

A lot of stuff to go to just to justify new front tires.....glad you are back on the road.

Meh, I have plenty of tread on my tires, but heck they're already at least 4 years old. I get back from this next deployment they'll be over 5 years old. I'll have to check the dates, but might even be 6 or 7! That's downright dangerous!! And I know its dangerous, because I saw a 60 Minutes special on it one time. I'm going to have to get new tires next summer, my life depends on it. Oh the irony, surviving a combat deployment only to blow a tire, skid out of control, and crash a 40 year old car with no airbags or crumple zones.

How's that for a lot of stuff to go to just to justify new tires?

SELLERSRODSHOP · « **Reply #40 on:** July, 07, 2011, 08:10:12 PM »

what are you talking about... the tires on my truck are 10 yrs old.... getting a new set on this weekend. the fronts were worn pretty bad, but was hoping not to have to get new rears until i looked at them the other day. really cracked up bad between the treads (dry rot) & the worst part is the $300 per tire cost for the rears (285/50-18's)

also geuss i better start driving the mustang a bit. those tires are 3 yrs old & only have about 50 miles on them....

tarafied1 · « **Reply #41 on:** July, 07, 2011, 08:13:27 PM »

mine were only a few years old, most of the tires still had good tread but the cords were coming thru on the inside edge! I really didn't feel like keeping these!