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Aligning My Mustang, What do I need
- Thread starter Bad66GT
- Start date
Since you have the SorT coilovers you can do this the easy way. Set the Mustang level on jack stands. Remove, or back off, the coilovers and set center of the front hub at the desired ride height. With the spindle perpendicular to the body measure the difference in degrees between the upper ball joint nut and a lower ball joint nut and that is your caster. If you have factory spindles you can just slap the gauge on the side of the spindle. For camber just put a degree finder on the hub flange. It's a back and forth when doing caster and camber as one affects the other. I made my own but you can buy a cheap set of toe plates on the jungle site. I have the Longacre digital gauge and some turn plates, but all you really need is a $25 digital Angle finder.
I wedged a piece of wood between the upper and lower ball joint studs on my fancy SorT spindles to have a surface for the angle finder to rest against.
I wedged a piece of wood between the upper and lower ball joint studs on my fancy SorT spindles to have a surface for the angle finder to rest against.
I used a Fastrax caster/camber alignment tool, jack stands and string, i used (2) 4' straight edges (4' levels) clamped to the wheels for toe, i used (4) cheap pizza pans from Dollar General with grease between 2 of them for sliders.
The Fastrax tool does need a lip around the edge of the wheels and it's tricky to get it to stay attached.
The Fastrax tool does need a lip around the edge of the wheels and it's tricky to get it to stay attached.
bartl
Old Fart
IMHO, what do you need?
One of these: https://www.johnbean.com/us/wheel-a...nFB4Jop4sVig0OXYxCTWjbWN6wepZjSRoCoJsQAvD_BwE
...and these specs:
It's my belief that "optical" or "bubble" gauges are not accurate enough, nor do they provide a reading of Steering Axis Inclination needed to insure that the steering knuckle/spindle is not bent. I go by the old adage... "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades".
One of these: https://www.johnbean.com/us/wheel-a...nFB4Jop4sVig0OXYxCTWjbWN6wepZjSRoCoJsQAvD_BwE
...and these specs:
It's my belief that "optical" or "bubble" gauges are not accurate enough, nor do they provide a reading of Steering Axis Inclination needed to insure that the steering knuckle/spindle is not bent. I go by the old adage... "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades".
Deke
New Member
I feel like I need to bite the bullet and do my own alignment. There are a couple shops in my metro area that can do it, but nothing super nearby. I recently redid the whole front suspension, so I know I’m capable enough to do it. It just seems like it has the potential to be annoying, so I’ve been putting off buying the tools to do so.
I forgot I order the spindle nut adapter that screws on the end of the LA bubble gauge in place of the magnet, like the one @Russstang shows above but mine looks different. How do you attach that one with all the holes drilled in it Russ?
I have to remove the spindle cap (and possibly nut) to screw my adapter on.
Looks like this:
I have to remove the spindle cap (and possibly nut) to screw my adapter on.
Looks like this:
I’ll let you buy that for me.
I’d rather be close than have the incompetence that is around here at alignment shops and then I can only blame myself.
Chris
Just get the whole enchilada! That was my mantra before stuff happened, and I had to retire.
The method I mentioned previously is the most accurate though. It was right on when my friend Nick checked it at the Audi dealership he works at. It is not rocket science. Might I suggest you stop by an autocross event, before it starts or during a break, and ask around on who they have doing there alignments. There is usually "a guy" or shop that will be recommended.
The method I mentioned previously is the most accurate though. It was right on when my friend Nick checked it at the Audi dealership he works at. It is not rocket science. Might I suggest you stop by an autocross event, before it starts or during a break, and ask around on who they have doing there alignments. There is usually "a guy" or shop that will be recommended.
Last time I went to an alignment shop to have mine checked out, it wasn't in the bay very long when old man just pulled it off the lift and backed it out and said what's wrong? I said I did it myself it has to be off a little (I wanted the printout) he just said It's good, now go, no charge. I left but, I really wanted to find out what the computer said.