Po' man's alignment

[Car54]

Has anyone used one of these to get some alignment numbers?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...8293000P?mv=rr

Says it's good to a tenth of a degree, just like SmartCamber gauges. Seems like if you could rig up a jig with some equal length dowel rod to lock between the tire and rim. You could lay it down right in front of the tire and be able to zero out any level differences. Seems like it would work.

I need a laser level either way to setup my toe-plates, so why not use this tool as well.

[nick325xit 5spd]

I don't think that that will measure a horizntal angle. You cabln do a poor man's alignment with string and jack stands though. Mind you, toe plates can be picked up pretty cheap too.

[epj3]

Or you could completely rip off the smart strings design like I did... cost maybe $35 in steel and welding consumables.

Sorry about the crappy quality of the pics. That, and this was a test run to make sure it worked out...





I use a longacre digital level for toe -- but I need to make something that doesn't rely on the hub of the wheel to rest on.

[HighandFast]

...You could lay it down right in front of the tire and be able to zero out any level differences. Seems like it would work.

I think the zeroing will be the hard part. In principle, in seems like you've got it figured out, but practice may be way different. I tried a similar method that another guy swore by that didn't work for me. I thought I had found an really level spot in my garage using a 36" level, then did trig to figure the camber angle...my floor was not as level as I thought.

Anyway, if you're getting the digital level anyway, and your idea works, you could do a really useful DIY.

BTW, Greg L., Micah, I, and others were looking for you Sunday. Sorry that didn't work out for you.

[sstecker]

I think the zeroing will be the hard part. In principle, in seems like you've got it figured out, but practice may be way different. I tried a similar method that another guy swore by that didn't work for me. I thought I had found an really level spot in my garage using a 36" level, then did trig to figure the camber angle...my floor was not as level as I thought.

Anyway, if you're getting the digital level anyway, and your idea works, you could do a really useful DIY.

BTW, Greg L., Micah, I, and others were looking for you Sunday. Sorry that didn't work out for you.

read someplace - stack floor tiles to get 4 level pads for wheels - add some grease and they are turn plates. ive no idea if it works

[osborni]

Dish soap works and is less messy then grease.

I checked camber on scales prior to doing a corner balance. Since the pads where level and in the same plane (to about a 1/16") it seamed to have worked. At any rate, my driving isn't as good as the car is, so a good enough setup is good enough.

[Car54]

Ceramic or vinyl?

[Car54]

Right! Safe is my number on goal. Diving into adding rear adjustments pretty much forces me to do my own as it's a real pita to adjust after the car is back together.

So if I can get within .2 degrees and nearly dead on with toe, I'll be happy.

I'm going to buy the level either way to be more accurate with toe I'll post back.

Any more tips, thanks!

Dish soap works and is less messy then grease.

I checked camber on scales prior to doing a corner balance. Since the pads where level and in the same plane (to about a 1/16") it seamed to have worked. At any rate, my driving isn't as good as the car is, so a good enough setup is good enough.

[epj3]

read someplace - stack floor tiles to get 4 level pads for wheels - add some grease and they are turn plates. ive no idea if it works

I've heard that too -- FWIW harbor freight sells turn plates, they go on sale for $70 or something now and then. Not perfect but they seem pretty substantial.

[ScotcH]

I just cut up some leftover 1/8" lexan to make 2x2 plates with some grease in between for settlling. A bit messy, especially when dirt gets in there, but it works. I might try dish soap, or put them in bags or something. I level my scales for corner balance, then put the lexan on top (2 each), and do my alignment there. Easy to settle the suspension on the lexan plates just by shaking the car. I use strings on either side of the car on jackstands (measured from hub centers) for toe. Works well, to about 1/16" which is probably closer than most alignment shops get.

The smart strings (or DIY knock-off) would great for track side though!

[empty]

Or you could completely rip off the smart strings design like I did... cost maybe $35 in steel and welding consumables.

Very nice. How did you determine where is the centerline of the car so that the strings are equidistant from the center?

Thanks,
Mike

[epj3]

Very nice. How did you determine where is the centerline of the car so that the strings are equidistant from the center?

Thanks,
Mike

So far I just adjust camber and just measure from the center hub of the wheel to the string on both sides. Not the most accurate way to find the center line, but I haven't had a chance to measure it any other way. Really, that's the way the laser racks find the center line (IIRC.)

I also use the rack stop from turner to make sure I don't have to reset the steering wheel all the time.

[Gunnie]

A buddy of mine that works for Pratt & Miller has this for his track car:

[Car54]

A buddy of mine that works for Pratt & Miller has this for his track car:

Hmm?

[Gunnie]

Hmm?

What?

[Car54]

Has what? You ended in a colon....not sure what you are talking about.

[Gunnie]

Has what? You ended in a colon....not sure what you are talking about.

His track car is the Subaru behind his setup rack (which is sitting on his garage floor). Maybe I should have put a period.

[osborni]

A setup like that is cool - but costs ~$2k or more.

[Car54]

Oh, so there's a pic there and I'm blocked at work. My bad.

[Gunnie]

A setup like that is cool - but costs ~$2k or more.

Yeah he bought it used from a race team but the low end of the scale for that is around $3600 with scales and everything.

Oh, so there's a pic there and I'm blocked at work. My bad.

Yes there is a picture in there. Sorry...I'll host it on my PB account here in a minute to see if it works for you. How about now?

[Car54]

A buddy of mine that works for Pratt & Miller has this for his track car:

got it now! Does he rent it out? Is he in the Springfield area?

[Gunnie]

got it now! Does he rent it out? Is he in the Springfield area?

He would let you use it if you lived in Michigan.

[clopez95m3]

He would let you use it if you lived in Michigan.

Where in Michigan exactly?

I'd like to corner weight my car at some point.

Carlos.

[Gunnie]

Where in Michigan exactly?

I'd like to corner weight my car at some point.

Carlos.

Let me check and I'll let you know.

I can tell you this that he lives close to Pratt & Miller in New Hudson.

[huggybear]

GST had this setup at the redline time attack event at california speedway a few weeks back. pretty impressive.

check out these as well: http://www.tein.com/products/alignment-gauge.html.

I think some of the p-wrc teams were using a similar setup when I saw them in mexico.