Home alignment....

[tdatk]

I followed a home alignment tip and spreadsheet I borrowed from PPBBS using lasers. I now have data,but where do I find alignment specs for an 82 SC?

[matt de maria]

For a stock SC with stock height and somewhat worn bushings use 0 camber 1/16 toe for the front at max equal caster. For the rear use 1/2 camber with 0 toe.
"Track" settings depend on how low the car is and how fresh the bushings are, how fresh the shocks are, how aggressive you want to drive and the percentage the car is going to be on the street.

[hoophead]

A data point: for my non-stock SC, the alignment is set for front: -1.0 camber, 0.05 toe, rear: -1.5 camber, 0.06 toe. This is for a reasonably aggressive suspension (21s and 30s), and lowered about 2" from stock.

BTW my cheap laser level has significant distortion in projecting its laser plane: there is a measurable curvature as you go away from the source. I was using it to lay tile, and it gave different lines projecting from opposite sides of the floor...so I split the difference. So if you are using a laser to do alignment, hopefully you are using a more expensive (and precise) laser than mine, and it would probably be a good idea to get a reading from both directions to verify.

[tdatk]

A data point: for my non-stock SC, the alignment is set for front: -1.0 camber, 0.05 toe, rear: -1.5 camber, 0.06 toe. This is for a reasonably aggressive suspension (21s and 30s), and lowered about 2" from stock.

BTW my cheap laser level has significant distortion in projecting its laser plane: there is a measurable curvature as you go away from the source. I was using it to lay tile, and it gave different lines projecting from opposite sides of the floor...so I split the difference. So if you are using a laser to do alignment, hopefully you are using a more expensive (and precise) laser than mine, and it would probably be a good idea to get a reading from both directions to verify.
My suspension is fresh and my car is currently with stock tbars 19-24.5. My front toe is way off according to the readings and feel. Thanks for the info.

Tim

[tdatk]

For a stock SC with stock height and somewhat worn bushings use 0 camber 1/16 toe for the front at max equal caster. For the rear use 1/2 camber with 0 toe.
"Track" settings depend on how low the car is and how fresh the bushings are, how fresh the shocks are, how aggressive you want to drive and the percentage the car is going to be on the street.

Matt my car is lowered 2" . What does 1/16 toe equate to?
If anyone wants it, I am attaching the spreadsheet.

[Jase007]

Tim:

We set alignment on our / my track cars using strings. PITA b/c you have to roll it forward and then back [moving 1 string] but sufficiently accurate. Use smart racing camber guage and have 4 14" square steel pads cemented to the concrete floor [all square and level to each other].

Will be string aligning and corner weighting my '76 lowered to euro height with fresh bushings and 21/26 t-bars to:

F: 1/16" toe in, -0.5 degree camber and as much equal caster as possible
R: 0" toe in, -1.0 degree camber

My settings might change to accomodate 7" rear wheels which aren't always easy to fit on a narrow fendered MY car. :)

What does 1/16 toe equate to?

How do you mean?

[tdatk]

Tim:

We set alignment on our / my track cars using strings. PITA b/c you have to roll it forward and then back [moving 1 string] but sufficiently accurate. Use smart racing camber guage and have 4 14" square steel pads cemented to the concrete floor [all square and level to each other].

Will be string aligning and corner weighting my '76 lowered to euro height with fresh bushings and 21/26 t-bars to:

F: 1/16" toe in, -0.5 degree camber and as much equal caster as possible
R: 0" toe in, -1.0 degree camber

My settings might change to accomodate 7" rear wheels which aren't always easy to fit on a narrow fendered MY car. :)



How do you mean?

In or out, But you answered my question in your reply.
Thanks Jase

[Vicegrip]

Jeff funny you posted about the curve you found. I too messed around with a less than expensive laser level and found it lacking. The line was good in one direction but as you moved away from line center in the laser flat plane it would get further and further off. It was casting a curved image that i was able to see on a wall. The line on the floor was dead straight but the one up the wall was curved enough to see and easily measure with a string. Pitched it. I have also laid out large areas of suspended ceilings in com buildings with good ones (read it was $1000+) that worked well. The ones I trust work by spinning a line laser via spinning a 45 deg angle mirror rather than projecting a lens produced plane. I think less than top dollar optics produce less than top results but spinning is easy to get right. Humans started measuring lines with string 5000 years ago. Still works OK today.

Tim if you like you are welcome to use the set of smart strings I have to check against when you get out of the poky.;) Also I recomend you go to Smart Racing web site if you have not allready done so. They have the instructions for use and the instructions give well enough information to reverse engineer a set for yourself if you dont want to drop the $300. They also have the measurement data to convert you readings into angles and lots of tips as well as a alignment work sheet.

[MatP]

Tim,
My 88 Carrera w/ fresh suspension is set to:

F: -2.2 camber / 6.02 caster / 0.0 Toe
R: -2.0 camber / 0.1 Toe


Car has 22/30mm bars, polybronze bushings, and is set to a bit lower than euro ride height. It sees about 15% street.

[BlackTalon]

Mat -- did it take anything special to get that much camber? I think mine maxed around -1.7 in the fronts...

[MatP]

I have the Wevo Camber King. I am also running w/o the front strut dust caps.

[Clarke]

Tim,
I was just wondering if your alignment was so off before that when you corrected it, your car magically became 39 mph. faster? Could you be lucky enough for a judge to fall for that line?
:D :D