Can a Home DIY Do Alignment Themselves?

[1993_VG30E_GXE]

I just put the new steering rack in and I notice on the front the only adjustment is the tie rod ends for alignment right?

The rear looks like Parallel Links only. Is there some way to do the alignment yourself? It seems that the tie rod ends can only rotate a few turns and the hub starts to go way off by just visually looking at it.

 

[Steve S]

Yes you can, but for what it costs a good shop with a good mechanic is worth the $$$$. Usually you measure the lengths of the rods so you can adjust them when assembled and they will be very close.

 

[IndyIan]

There are ways to do it, google race car alignments, I just eye ball it for my autocross alignment.
Really I think it depends on your tires, if you have low profile expensive ones then getting a pro to do it makes sense.
For my 65 series used all season tires I don't bother, the car steers straight, no pulling, wear is reasonable and they don't squeel until I'm driving way to hard for the street so I don't know what a pro alignment would do for me.

 

[Kestas]

I do my own toe-in and camber adjustments. Camber is easy, toe-in is a bit more involved.

 

[1993_VG30E_GXE]

Thanks.

And Kestas or Indylan, does one have to buy special machinery to do it at home. How do you do it Kestas? Just enough to guide me and I'll figure out the rest.

 

[Harvey]

http://racecarstuff.com/?page_id=2


this link should explain how to diy. good luck

 

[eljefino]

I use an $8 laser level from big lots. Put it on the tire bulges at 4 and 8 oclock and aim for the rear tires. Should barely hit the ground outside the tires, accoutning for the few mm between the laser head and straightedge.

Bubble part sets camber but you need a perfectly flat work area.

 

[doitmyself]

Here's some links I assembled when I checked my daughter's Sebring a year ago. You need a good, flat concrete floor and some finesse to do it. Because her car had little clearance, I remember dropping points onto the floor with a plumb bob to check the toe.

http://www.allpar.com/fix/alignment.html
http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60130
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/3a-front-suspension/15920-diy-wheel-alignment.html
http://www.gassavers.org/archive/index.php/DIY--front-end-alignmenttoein/t-1144.html
http://www.aa1car.com/library/wheel_alignment.htm
http://www.skidmore.edu/~pdwyer/amc/align.htm


Looks like youtube has some videos too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ziovI1651o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZoL1gaWedA&feature=related

 

[mechtech2]

1993 - Absolutely!
It involves checking and rechecking. It involves care with measuring. And then recheck.
You can do a super job, though.
Remember that alignment specs are so that when the car is actually moving, things will work right. Even the most expensive computer laser machines don't have dynamic testing [well, there are a few].

I'd google for 1/2 hour until you get the idea of what's going on and get some tips.

Remember that you have to have the REAR correct.
You can reference off of the frame, sometimes the body, or use string wrapped around the tires. You don't want the rear pointing one way and the front another!
Camber cam be added with 'crash bolts' [skinnier bolts]. But I like to elongate or slot the top strut hole so the stronger and better clamping larger stock bolt is used [5-10 minute job].
Set your toe last.

 

[andyd]

Toe requires that all the balljoints be tight. 1/16 to 1/8" toe in is all my 528es need for alignment.I use a tape measure taped to a 2X4

 

[flanso]

I used to rough in alignment using a 50" piece of 1/2" electrical conduit and an engineer's scale to measure toe-in and the S&G Tool Aid tool below to set camber. But for fine tuning, I took it to someone with an alignment rack.


By flanso

 

[Shannow]

I made my own trammel bar out of timber for toe, and made a wooden tool with a spirit level to do camber (plus a little geometry and a calculator).

Could come up with a way to do caster, but was was too hard to be bothered with.