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Aligning My Mustang, What do I need

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.
1785296163789.jpeg
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.
 
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 am going to call Longacre tomorrow.I think Ill do the bubble and wheel adapter...cause Im kinda lazy. :eek:

Regardless, I really appreciate y'all's response and Im sure others can glean information from here for themselves too. :)

Chris
 
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:LA78414.jpg
 
bartl said:
IMHO, what do you need?

One of these: https://www.johnbean.com/us/wheel-alignment-machines/?utm_term=auto repair shop&utm_campaign=JB_Tru_Point_Toyota_LG+(JAN_2026)&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=5681953760&hsa_cam=23505514531&hsa_grp=193811671844&hsa_ad=794576627978&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-297887730621&hsa_kw=auto repair shop&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23505514531&gbraid=0AAAABA9UQieRHEaQIlCS55MgE4X47qRx4&gclid=CjwKCAjwyabTBhBFEiwAM3mNUAu4EJTKCzFRn_kIRN2kSlnFB4Jop4sVig0OXYxCTWjbWN6wepZjSRoCoJsQAvD_BwE

...and these specs:
View attachment 69386

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".
Click to expand...
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.
1785373909984.png
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.
 
Nailbender said:
Just get the whole enchilada! That was my mantra before stuff happened, and I had to retire.
View attachment 69508
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.
Click to expand...
One question.... How do you adjust for wheel "runout" when using these adapters?
 
bartl said:
One question.... How do you adjust for wheel "runout" when using these adapters?
Click to expand...
You don’t. I did alignment’s for a living 45 years ago and no you can’t tune out wheel runout like with the “real” alignment machines. Most modern aluminum wheels are machined well and what are the chances the kid at the tire store bothers to adjust the runout before doing the alignment?
Getting a good alignment is like finding a good machine shop, in some areas it’s not possible. I currently have no access to a competent machine shop but I do have a guy to check my work after doing my own alignment.
 
I do mine like sighting in a pistol, put it where I think it should be then take a few shots, and adjust. How did they do alignments back before optical equipment and lasers?
 
Scrub gauges were common back in the day to adjust toe. You simply drove over them and read the scale. In fact, some gas stations had in-ground" scrub gauges on the fuel islands to sell wheel alignments!

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