Any alignment guys in here?

[Mustang Matt]

I had the car aligned today for my new tires and it's all in spec now but the steering wheel is cocked slightly to the right and the car pulls slightly to the right.

If everything is in spec and it's doing this is something bent or did the alignment shop just screw up?

 

[not yellow]

this is probably the shop's screw up. when they are actually doing the alignment they have to make sure you wheel is perfectly straight. if they do the alignment while the wheel is slightly to the right then the car thinks that this position is actually straight ahead.

 

[flash75]

I agree the steering wheel alignment should have been corrected before the car was returned to you. It's possible the pull is caused by one of the front tires if the steering wheel alignment doesn't correct it.

Clifton

 

[red95_240sx]

they did a half ass job like most of them do i bet.

 

[Mustang Matt]

I'm taking it back up there now. We'll see what they say.

 

[ucMP3]

What are the specs? They should give you a print out of the alignment specs when they are done. Either your toe is off, or they need to align the steering wheel to center. Sorta sounds like it may be a little of both to me.... A steering wheel off center won't make it pull to one side.

 

[Mustang Matt]

 

[ucMP3]

That's not a very good job. Those numbers are "within specs" but they aren't very consistent; look @ your camber, your right sides are both half of your respective f/r numbers for the left side. Just take it back and have them do it again. Half ass alignments are too common; they can't even line the steering wheel back up?? (headshake

Tell them to put both front tires camber @ at least the -1.1 that the front left has; -.5 ain't cuttin it. Honestly I would tell them to do like -1.5 camber for front and -1.0 in the back. For the toe get them to get it close to .2.

 

[shane02pro5]

When I first got my car 8yrs ago and put an eibach prokit on the stock struts I had to go back 4 times and they still couldn't get it perfect constantly pulling to the left. They blamed it on my directional tires??

I looked up how to do it using a string and square and have been doing my own ever since without a problem. Of course with my own car I make sure I take my time and do it dead nuts which shows they... just didn't!!

 

[ucMP3]

When I first got my car 8yrs ago and put an eibach prokit on the stock struts I had to go back 4 times and they still couldn't get it perfect constantly pulling to the left. They blamed it on my directional tires??

I looked up how to do it using a string and square and have been doing my own ever since without a problem. Of course with my own car I make sure I take my time and do it dead nuts which shows they... just didn't!!

I've read stuff about doing the alignment this way, but I've never tried it. How long does it take you? Is it difficult to get it "right"?

 

[shane02pro5]

It's actually pretty easy. I have a smooth painted floor at my work but you may need to do the magazine under the tires to allow easier adjustments.

 

[ucMP3]

It's actually pretty easy. I have a smooth painted floor at my work but you may need to do the magazine under the tires to allow easier adjustments.

You need a really flat floor to do it on, right? Don't think I have access to that right now...

 

[shane02pro5]

Yes

 

[Mustang Matt]

So here's a newb question. How do you actually adjust camber in the rear?

Also any links to the string method?

 

[ucMP3]

So here's a newb question. How do you actually adjust camber in the rear?

Also any links to the string method?

Replace your strut-hub bolts with eccentric camber adjustment bolts. I use them on all 4 corners.

 

[Mustang Matt]

Okay that makes sense. Thanks

 

[ucMP3]

Okay that makes sense. Thanks

Make sure you get ones that are 1 piece forged. I bought some once (didn't know it til they were shipped to me) that used a plastic sleeve for the eccentricity. They were junk.

 

[njaremka]

Also any links to the string method?

this one looks good:
http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/alignment/alignment.php

 

[njaremka]

So here's a newb question. How do you actually adjust camber in the rear?

Also any links to the string method?

this one looks good:
http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/alignment/alignment.php

another one:
http://www.negative-camber.org/jam149/technical/alignment.html

 

[shane02pro5]

I was just going to post that same link even though its a honda