Alignment help

[Heeley]

Hi gents,

I would like to learn how to string a car and set my own alignment. Is there anyone on here that would be willing to teach me how it's done? It's for a '93 Rx7.

Thanx,

Matt

[Caveman]

Matt
I can show you a coupel different ways.
its not hard nor very time consuming
if your at the twin event ill try to explain it
if not PM me and we'll set up a time you can come up to my shop and ill show you / help you with your fd

[max attack]

Google should find you loads of how to's on the subject.

One thing I suggest is to do the alignment with the car on axle stands under the suspension so its loaded as if on the ground.Make sure the car is level 1st and then set up the strings.Have a buddy close to your weight sit in the car while measuring or load the seat to your approximate weight.
Doing it with the car raised saves lots of time,1st is that you can adjust without having to jack it up as its already up and second you can quickly make the adjustments and check without lowering and rolling and bouncing the car to relieve any stiction in the bushings and the tire to the ground which is substancial and then having to reset the strings,measure,find out your off,lift again,readjust,lower,bounce and roll and repeat....you'll get tired before its aligned most likely.

[Caveman]

I use a rack at work. ok i know thats cheating.
at home i use a longacre camber caster gauge it works great on rwd with taper roler front barrings a little more dificult with fwd but ive made a jig for the wifes cavie that works quite good.
and 2 toe bars and 2 tape measures
the only reason to need to string the front to the rear is to make sure the thrust angle is straight
once you know what to look for strings arnt realy nescasary

and yes having the car set up with drivers weight is very helpfull
as you know that it there will be no camber change from base seting when you get in

even at the track i have not seen a string used even on the late models

as for jack stands you have to get them very close to the hub as not to have the arms drop. idealy youd have a hub made to fit the wheel patern and welded to jack stand upper bars then remove the wheels, bolt on the adapters and insert them into the lower part of the stands
that way all the weight of the car is positiond just as you had wheels on
also adjusting camber with weight on the spindels / arms makes it very difficult

I have the opertunity to get 4 3&1/2' stands that you put the car on on the tires (Old meathod at work) but i dont have a hoist to get the cars up high enough to get them under the tires YET

Talk on Sunday
Rob

[max attack]

Yep I put the stands right at the lower balljoints.For a quick and dirty toe check with the ice racer I made up some toe boards from plywood with a piano hinge to rest agaisnt the tire while the other pc lays flat on the ground(car also on the ground).The pc on the ground is longer than the pc agaisn't the tire so you can measure it front and rear of the tire,works good to check after getting a thump on track.

[Caveman]

You carpenter you :p

Any way Matt come see eather one of us on Sun
I might not make it out to run but will come to watch for a bit with the boy.
Wanted to try some new angels befor provencials next week
but probably not going to happen. :(

[Heeley]

I'll be there on Sunday. I'm looking forward to learning some new tricks! Also wouldn't mind some feedback on the rad install i did.. it's tight... maybe too tight. We'll see.

Anyway, see you Sunday!

-Matt

[max attack]

Hey Rob,looks like Lisa won't be driving tomorrrow so if you want to co-drive the civic your more than welcome.It's not much but its all I got right now.:)

[Caveman]

Thanks Tom but i cant find a baby siter so im going to have my 3 year old taging along with me all day