[001mustang]

Scoured google and scratched my head then was able to measure alignment which is pretty close to shop print out.

I measured camber directly on rim or cap w/ digital angle finder.

Many other ways.

[001mustang]

Googled equation:

Caster (deg) = (180 / 3.1415) * [(camber1 - camber2) / (turnangle1 - turnangle2)]

Car must be level before taking alignment measurements.

I used DIY turntable.

[001mustang]

Take measurements half way up tire on rear then front.

Scribe line near outside for easier access.

[sqzbox]

WOW, you've invented the alignment machine. Now let's see you hook your computer up to it. Bet you sell a million of them!

[001mustang]

Alignment shop print out:

camber=+0.8; +0.5 ( I asked for 0.5 neg;noticed later they dialed in positive )
caster=+2.9; +2.5
toe=0.14 degrees


My numbers:

camber=+0.9; +0.6
caster=+2.9; +2.7
toe=+0.3 inches

Number agree except toe. Will recheck toe.

[MARTINSR]

I'm impressed, never even tried it. Very cool in deed.

Brian

[1ownerT]

Impressed also, my brother and I are looking to put together a DIY system ourselves. We are tired of paying $80 for a alignment and not getting what we ask for, without all of the hassle.

[MARTINSR]

The biggest problem is finding a REAL alignment shop! And if it isn't in the computer, forget it! So doing a hot rod with a frame clip is out of the question because they are so freaked out by it they don't know what to do.
Brian

[1ownerT]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

The biggest problem is finding a REAL alignment shop! And if it isn't in the computer, forget it! So doing a hot rod with a frame clip is out of the question because they are so freaked out by it they don't know what to do.
Brian

I agree.
I stay away from the Goodyear, Firestone, Tires plus kind of people. I have tried frame shops, specialty tire shops, etc. They set them to the book and either don't know or don't want to stray from that.

[MARTINSR]

I have been told the most amazing stuff at tire shops in regards to alignment. Our alignment machine was broken for a while and we farmed the alignments out. I had a guy tell me there was no adjustment on the camber of a particular car. I had to drive over and show him the SIMPLE, IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE camber bolts so he could align the car for me.

I have had people tell me the wrong description of an angle (Included angle), just straight up not know what this angle was. Sorry but you have to have a little passion for this stuff to do it. I guess simple tire shop kinda alignments he doesn't need to know but if he is doing damage analysis it is CRUCIAL.

Brian

[Irelands child]

Good stuff!!!

When I wanted to do the alignment on my '31 with IFS, I too found that all of the shops locally had that "if it isn't in the book, we can't do it" syndrome.

I made up a toe tram bar from conduit and some clamps from Home depot. My pointers are a piece of sharpened steel to the centerline of the hub as far as length. The caster-camber gauge is the low end Speedway version which is accurate to .25/degree and does work just fine. The caster was set about the same way as shown above, but scribed with masking tape on the floor instead of a separate plate.

The hardest part - the toe and the number of tie rod end turns it took for 1/16" of an inch and centering the R&P steering as well as the steering wheel. Worked up a good sweat doing that part.

I do need some pictures and might just do that today if I can get away from that box of Kleenex long enough (dam' yearly cold )

Dave W

[cucumber1949]

Originally Posted by 001mustang

Alignment shop print out:

camber=+0.8; +0.5 ( I asked for 0.5 neg;noticed later they dialed in positive )
caster=+2.9; +2.5
toe=0.14 degrees


My numbers:

camber=+0.9; +0.6
caster=+2.9; +2.7
toe=+0.3 inches

Number agree except toe. Will recheck toe.

Nice job! Measuring a line on your tire for the toe value may have some inaccuracies that you may not be able to control. I pretty much do the same thing you do with a FastTrax system which clamps to the rim of the wheel to eventually get a toe value by measuring the track across the rear of the wheel compared to the front of the wheel. I feel that getting the measurement from the wheel would be more accurate than using a reference off the treadline on the circumference of the tire. Of course, a warped wheel would introduce error either way.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Irelands child

The hardest part - the toe and the number of tie rod end turns it took for 1/16" of an inch and centering the R&P steering as well as the steering wheel. Worked up a good sweat doing that part.



Dave W

All I have to say is you guys ROCK for doing this at home!

Brian

[sparkydog]

I agree about the shops. Seems like every time somebody posts about DIY alignment all they get is advice to "take it to a pro shop". Well - just because the shop has a sign that says alignment and just because they have the alignment gear doesn't mean the tech can think and work the equipment.

And like others say - god forbid that you have a non OEM vehicle or want special adjustments...

IMO you have to either DIY at home or DIY at the shop - and stand there and help them run their equip if you really want to make sure you get the right adjustments.

And 001stangy guy - way to go! Your numbers are very close and you will never get exact repeatability anyway. My only suggestion is to adapt your technique and try to rig the digital gage up to something that spreads across the wheel to the rim rather than the hub. That way you will increase your distance and gain accuracy on the angle readout.

[Arrowhead]

That's an awesome setup! Does the Miss know you used her cutting board for a bearing seperator? Nice!