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Macweb3000
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Dec 22, 2013, 5:30 PM
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DIY home alignment help!
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Hey all I'm a college student who loves working on his truck. I love saving money and doing a good job but recently my tires have been rubbing on the front lower control arms and I know I'm going to need to buy some new parts. And align the new tires. Well I don't want to take it to a shop yes it would be easier but I like doing it myself saves time and money. I'm looking at an alignment kit but my question is about aftermarket parts. Like raised or lowered cars wheel spacers bigger rims wider tires thicker tires anything that would call for a change to the factory alignment specs. I was wondering. What I should do to compensate for all these to make a proper alignment. Any help would be much appreciated.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Dec 22, 2013, 5:38 PM
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Re: DIY home alignment help!
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You can't get a proper alignment once you modify the suspension. The geometry was engineered to operate at a specific height. Once you change that, you can't make it right.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Sidom
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Dec 22, 2013, 5:44 PM
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Re: DIY home alignment help!
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Short of have the right equipment......There really isn't any accurate way of set your alignment......I've seen guys use a tape measure to set frt toe....& that can get you in the ball park......You have to realize that these measurements are in degrees & fractions, some thing that is hard to eyeball....
You can try to set the alignment by eye or with a tape and keep an eye on your tires but once you can see the wear it's almost too late......That wear will be there for the life of the tire.....
If you want to save money.....Do all the frt end work youself and then spend the $50 to $90 bucks and get an alignment......it'll be the cheapest way to go in the long run
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Macweb3000
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Dec 22, 2013, 5:54 PM
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Re: DIY home alignment help!
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Wow you guys are fast. I understand where you guys are coming from and I'm just looking to get a grasp of what I can do to get I'm the ball park of a proper aligned for such things.
The kit I have my eyes on won't require me to eye ball it. It will fit on to the wheel itself. If you guys want to know what I'm looking at its the quick trick aligned system it's the dual heavy system that measures from 13-22 inch wheels.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Dec 22, 2013, 6:07 PM
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Re: DIY home alignment help!
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$50 to $90 bucks versus $247.95 – $377.95? If your trying to save money, wouldn't it be cheaper to have it aligned professionally? If your good with it and it's proven to be accurate, you could use it to make some money aligning some of your college buddies cars to pay for itself.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Dec 22, 2013, 6:10 PM)
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Macweb3000
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Dec 22, 2013, 6:24 PM
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Re: DIY home alignment help!
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The original idea was to just save me money over the long haul. But then my buddies saw what I was doing and yeah they said they would pay me if I got the system and did the alignment and a couple said they were in some car clubs with their buddies and said they could get me some business.
Well I like making sure I know where to go or how to do the job right. If you have any tips that would very helpful. They have an iPhone app with all the factory specs of every car for the past 30 years I believe. So yeah it's so I don't have to schedule stuff with mechanics and I can make a bit of money for the other parts of my truck :)
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Sidom
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Dec 22, 2013, 6:30 PM
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Re: DIY home alignment help!
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I haven't looked at this particular kit.....I've heard of some AM kits for this....Never tried one and am not real sure of the accuracy...
It would take to long to explain the whole process but a couple of very important points is.... 1st the surface you have the vehicle on has to be absolutely level...if not then anything you do is a waste of time....2nd the suspension needs to be free....To achive this there something called a turntable, this is basically 2 steel plates with sometype of ballbearing in between them that allows the suspension to unload & sit true...
Then you get to your specs which is a "static" reading for each vehicle. Since the suspension is going to move when in motion, these reading are designed to get the tire wearing angles as close to zero while in motions BUT if you aren't level or in a bind then........we'll you see...
Then if you raise or lower the vehilce, you are changing ride height, SAI, scrub radius, etc.....so now even the factory specs don't work even if you are free & level.......
It's your call.....but depending in how much $$$ you have tied up in rubber......you may not want to take a crap shot.....
If you can get the suspension level & free, the readings are accurate and you know what you are doing..........Then the kit might be worth the price.....Personally I have access to Hunter equipment so I've never had to check out those options....
If you do go that route......keep us updated......Like I said....I really haven't heart too much about this.....one way or another......so some 1st hand experience input might help someone else out....
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Macweb3000
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Dec 22, 2013, 6:38 PM
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Re: DIY home alignment help!
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Ok thank you very much. Didn't know about the turn tables though thank you'd for that. But the kit comes with a zero camber gauge so you can work on any surface apparently. Of course I wouldn't do it on anything to extreme I'd try and find a level surface.
I know the factory specs would not be the right ones to use once they have done anything to the suspension. That's why I'm asking pros like yourselves. I didn't know if there was a rule of thumb for counteracting or changing the original specs to work with the new set ups. And definitly if I can gain just alittle more knowledge on what to do with aftermarket parts and I purchase the kit I will definitly let you guys know how it pans out.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Dec 22, 2013, 7:56 PM
Post #9 of 9
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Re: DIY home alignment help!
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How are you planning on measuring Caster, steering Axis Inclinataion and Thrust Angle?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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