My alignment

[slngsht]

So, I set out to align my car.

 

I was expecting my alignment to be way off, since I had done it just with a level last year, and never had bothered to look at the alignment on the rear.

 

I was pretty shocked to find things were actually really close.

 

The rear was perfectly straight... using lasers on the rear wheels to point to the front of the car, I measured from the frame out - amazingly less than 1/16" difference at about 95" away - so the rear was pointed straight.

 

Moving to the front, I knew camber was off, and I thought toe was off too. As it turns out, Toe was pretty much zero (about 1/32", but that's pretty much the limit of my measurment accuracy). Camber was -1.3 on the right, -1.9 on the left. I will set both to about -1.3.

 

For caster, I had to do a little more work, but my caster setting from side to side was perfect - 3.05 degrees to 3.06 degrees.

 

While I was at it, I made a spreadsheet for calculating caster based on this article: http://www.hunter.com/pub/undercar/2573T/index.htm

 

Here is the spreadsheet:

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/caster.xls

Edited April 14, 2009 by slngsht

[Davemk1]

Cool.

 

be sure to set your front camber with your weight in the seat. With a double A arm set up you will gain camber on the right side and lose it on the left when you put your butt in the seat.

 

I use sand bags to simulate my weight in the car so I can do the measuring.

 

Have fun.

 

dave

[slngsht]

Cool.

 

be sure to set your front camber with your weight in the seat. With a double A arm set up you will gain camber on the right side and lose it on the left when you put your butt in the seat.

 

I use sand bags to simulate my weight in the car so I can do the measuring.

 

Have fun.

 

dave

 

Good idea. I forgot all about that.

[MHKflyer52]

Mazda,

It’s also best to have the car weighing what it will be running on average. You in the seat, half tank of fuel, tire pressures set to what you know works, etc. or just set it drive it and if it does not feel correct or tires start to wear funny there adjust as necessary.