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diy wheel alignment

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Old 02-18-2009, 06:56 AM
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Default diy wheel alignment

i've been thinking of doing my car's wheel alignment myself, i had 13's on the car before but the 16's will be more sensitive to negative camber on the tires,

will a leveling bar be a effective tool for measuring the wheel angle?
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Old 02-18-2009, 07:00 AM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

Maybe if you used somthing like this. This is mostly for people at the track.

http://maximummotorsports.com/

I would only do it long engough to get a real alignment though. Tires can get expensive.
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Old 02-18-2009, 07:03 AM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

please stop what you are doing and take it to a shop. Unless your wallet is full of money and you like buying new tires every month or so, you will do it wrong.

pay $40 at pepboys and call it a day.
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Old 02-18-2009, 07:29 AM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

Originally Posted by crxnfx
please stop what you are doing and take it to a shop. Unless your wallet is full of money and you like buying new tires every month or so, you will do it wrong.

pay $40 at pepboys and call it a day.
+1, this is something to be left to people with the proper equipment.
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Old 02-19-2009, 12:51 PM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

i kindly disagree...
my mustang has been too low to have a proper alignment done for at least 2 years now. it all depends on what you're trying to do. will you be able to do as good of a job as an alignment shop? definitely not. i just paid to have my civic aligned. but depending on the given situation, it's a viable option. on the mustang, i make sure i'm on a completely level surface. i use a bubble indicator and a tape measure. i compare the distance between the front and back of the front tires to get the toe where it's good, and the camber i use the bubble indicator. castor is a bit more tricky. on some cars, castor isn't adjustable though. the single hardest part for me has been getting the steering wheel centered. as far as tire wear, i can't complain. i have 30k+ miles on the front tires with no problems at all.

so to answer your question... if you have $65 to have it done, do it. don't be a cheap skate. but if there's other issues, yes, it can be done. and with some attention to detail and patience, it can be done well.
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Old 02-19-2009, 03:53 PM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

i have camber bolts om the front and the rear's camber is unadjustable...

whats the cheapest place to get a alignment on prince william county? or manassas?
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Old 02-19-2009, 06:12 PM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

take it to your nearest military installation, autocraft shop here in newport new and let them do it the right way for $55
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Old 02-19-2009, 06:29 PM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

I read the title and thought it was a joke.

After reading a few, I now regret that I came in here.

Last edited by Yell88CRXsi; 02-20-2009 at 03:44 AM.
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Old 02-19-2009, 08:03 PM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

Originally Posted by Yell88CRXsi
I read the title and thought it was a joke.

After reading a few, I now regret that I can in here.
say what you want. fact of the matter is, there was a time not too long ago when alignment racks didn't exist. the OP asked if it was possible, and the answer is yes. is it that hard to believe that you don't need thousand-dollar infrared equipment to do a wheel alignment? believe it.

now i'm not saying that it's just as good. if you're able to send it to a shop, do it. when doing it yourself there's more room for error and it takes more time and attention, but it's far from impossible.
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Old 02-19-2009, 10:05 PM
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Default Re: diy wheel alignment

hit me up im pretty sure that quantico base will do it for 40. hit me up pick me up i have a military id we can get on and get it done son. i wont charge you anything.
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