Alignment Woes....

[dansmach]

After installing all new suspension and brakes along with CC plates, it was time for the alignment. I figured I could just take it anywhere and have it done. Wow, was I wrong. National tire just opened a new store right around the corner from my house so, there is where I went. Only to find oout the car doesn't fit on their rack. Found out by knocking the exhaust on it and now i have an exhaust leak. Then,took it to Goodyear. It fit on the rack and the tech did his thing. He then showed me the specs and I showed him that the hood had to be lifted in order to set the caster and camber. He told me that the caster couldn't be set on Mustangs. I then told him that that was the reason for that CC plates. If he would have opened the hood, he would have seen them.

Is it really that hard to find a good alignment tech?

OK, I feel better now that I've unloaded all this. At least it's taken care of now.

[rancheronut]

most of those shop, only want to pay low dollar(wage) for there techs and think they can tech them ,there way to work on cars.
well they get what they pay for.

[dansmach]

I hear ya. It still amazes me that he was just going to set the toe and push it out the door. Even after I had told them that I had just replaced all of the suspension and spindles. I had it that close by eye in my garage!

[jdmustang82]

yeah it scares me how some people hire someone that has no experience. I have to have a aliment done when I get my car out due to I bought CC plates i i don't want to take it anywhere for that same reason.

[gbranton]

I am getting ready to do this same job on my '93 with FRPP B springs and MM camber/caster plates. Fortunately, I have a Hunter alignment rack maybe 50 feet from my desk.

[nuckinfutzracing]

And this is why I try to do everything myself..

"quote" Then,took it to Goodyear. It fit on the rack and the tech did his thing. He then showed me the specs and I showed him that the hood had to be lifted in order to set the caster and camber. He told me that the caster couldn't be set on Mustangs. I then told him that that was the reason for that CC plates. If he would have opened the hood, he would have seen them.

And all i have is a caster camber guage from longacre and a measuring tape ..(lotsa stock car alignments)

[dansmach]

Fortunately, I have a Hunter alignment rack maybe 50 feet from my desk.

Now that's just not nice.

[dansmach]

And this is why I try to do everything myself..

And all i have is a caster camber guage from longacre and a measuring tape ..(lotsa stock car alignments)

Me too, just don't have an alignment rack, or a CC gauge for that matter.

[4wheeldevil]

well if you can get down south the front end guy at Maroone Ford of Fort lauderdale can do it. he has a turbo 4 banger mustang with cnc plates of his own. shoot he did the alignment(mine is stock) from memory as the rack didnt have stats that old in it.
tell him ryan sent you.

[PaceFever79]

Drive out of town and look for an old run down garage with Alignments
hand painted on a wooden sign out front. That's the shop you want

[85GT-79FJ40]

I had eyeballed mine back in 06 after replacing fr/rr control arms, springs, shocks, tie rods, camber plates, subframes, etc. all in one shot. The wheel was off a little but it drove fine and I didn't care about the tires on it at that point. One day I was at sears picking up a battery and asked them if their alignment rack was open. It was so I had them align it. They screwed it up so bad it was scary to drive. They had one camber plate pushed as far forward for negative caster as it would go and the other one all the way back where it should be. The camber was about 2 degrees on one side and probably 1/2 a degree on the other. Yet the printout from the rack said it was perfect. I was fuming! I wound up getting my money back and I used an SPC camber/caster gauge and a few tape measures to do it myself. I had to redo it when I changed spindles last year but I've never had an issue with it wearing tires and it tracks perfect. Max positive caster and 1.25 degrees of negative camber with 1/8" toe in.

[TireDood]

I am getting ready to do this same job on my '93 with FRPP B springs and MM camber/caster plates. Fortunately, I have a Hunter alignment rack maybe 50 feet from my desk.

Did mine about 2 years ago, same here!

[PaceFever79]

I've been meaning to invest in these so I can do my own alignments.

Fastrax Caster/Camber tool
http://www.eastwood.com/fasttrax-cam...ter-gauge.html

Fastrax Toe alignment attachment
http://www.eastwood.com/fastrax-adap...wheel-toe.html

I'll probably buy them for this year's spring prep.

[dansmach]

I've been meaning to invest in these so I can do my own alignments.

Fastrax Caster/Camber tool
http://www.eastwood.com/fasttrax-cam...ter-gauge.html

Fastrax Toe alignment attachment
http://www.eastwood.com/fastrax-adap...wheel-toe.html

I'll probably buy them for this year's spring prep.

I noticed those a while back and wondered if it was worth the investment. Two alignments would pay for the gauges. I have just never talked to anybody that has used them to see how they work. I think it might be worth looking into.

[Mustang-junky]

I have not tried this myself but I intend to some day.

http://forums.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=931155

Jess

[TheWizard]

Drive out of town and look for an old run down garage with Alignments
hand painted on a wooden sign out front. That's the shop you want

So true...

[dansmach]

Drive out of town and look for an old run down garage with Alignments
hand painted on a wooden sign out front. That's the shop you want

That is such a true statement! Unfortunately, Central Florida is so commercialized, we don't have that option. If it's not a chain, it ain't happening. I wish I could find a shop like that but, they've all been run off by the big chains.

Alignments are about the only thing that I don't take of myself. And, seeing some of those tools mentioned earlier, they might be a thing of tha past for me too.

[plumkrazy]

Have a alignment rack in the back yard- Been doing them for 20years come see me at work in Ann Arbor or home will set you straight.sorry

At work doing 4springs on a 77 T-bird that the springs where torched/heated and the frame sits 2inchs off the ground Should be fun, should get some pictures tuesday before the fun starts.

[Marlin]

I use the method in the link from the Corral. No special tools required although they sure make it easier.

[theemustangman]

I wouldn't have paid the bill until alignment was correct and caster & camber was what u wanted!
I took my car to the ford dealer i used to work at. if they have a body shop they should have a decent alignment guy.

LOL the guy that did my alignment was legally blind in one eye and did a better job than the goodyear you went to LOL

[blackho]

I got real lucky at my local Sears.when I drove it up the tech said he hoped I put CC plates on it when he saw how much lower it was.He did a perfect job on it.

[Vannnce]

I hateee having to deal with alignments. one of the few things i cant do myself of my cars...
Les schwab pisses me off more than anything

I dont understand how caster/camber plates work compared to just stock though..
It is adjustable when its stock, so what do the plates add?
Sorry for the stupid question, just one of those things ill end up buying

-Vance

[theemustangman]

I hateee having to deal with alignments. one of the few things i cant do myself of my cars...
Les schwab pisses me off more than anything

I dont understand how caster/camber plates work compared to just stock though..
It is adjustable when its stock, so what do the plates add?
Sorry for the stupid question, just one of those things ill end up buying

-Vance

CC plates allow the proper Caster/Camber to be achieved in lowered cars, or for the Caster/Camber to be set to performance settings for cars that get raced and also they allow the use of front coilovers.
CC plates have alot more adjustment than your stock plates, also they are not riveted in place for quick adjustment if needed

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2.../castercamber/

[dansmach]

I hateee having to deal with alignments. one of the few things i cant do myself of my cars...
Les schwab pisses me off more than anything

I dont understand how caster/camber plates work compared to just stock though..
It is adjustable when its stock, so what do the plates add?
Sorry for the stupid question, just one of those things ill end up buying

-Vance

The stock plates only allow for camber adjustment and not caster adjustment.