C2, C3 DIY Four Wheel Alignment

[Bill H.]

Re: C2, C3 DIY Four Wheel Alignment

String method works for toe. And a level is good indicator of camber. But what about front end caster? One would need to have a way of measuring tilt of the spindle casting pivoting on the ball joints. I would assume it would be important for both sides to be equal as possible. More caster making more steering effort but better centering. Any ideas for home set up?

You can measure castor with a digital lever and an adapter to fit the wheel (the adapter is fairly easy to make out of square tubing). This will work with a $40 Craftsman digital level. Or you can buy a Smart Camber gauge for $224 which I feel is way over priced. I've built 3 or 4 of the adapters.
With the digital, you turn the wheels out 20 degrees (if they'll go that far) , zero the gauge and turn them in 20. Then calculate the castor.
The calculation is available here: http://www.smartracingproducts.com/s..._manual_v1.pdf

Some of the newer digital gauges have a direct read on castor but they're still over $250.

I actually prefer my Longacre bubble gauge. It reads camber directly and castor directly using the 20 degree method.

You can get a basic Longacre bubble gauge for $128.

[Craig H.]

Re: C2, C3 DIY Four Wheel Alignment

You are making the assumption that the frame has never been damaged. A know, unhit car, this would work, but if unknowing to you the car had suffered damage in prior ownerships hands, this might not be the best way.

Absolutely Dick

I was after getting the rear end close, The final alignment will be done on a professional 4 wheel setup.

Will be interesting to see how close that is.

My measure of alignment is currently "driving feel" and my experience so far is the 71 is a joy to drive. Something I could not say for the last 5 years.

I imagine some diagonal measurements under the car would tell you if the frame is still straight.

[Gene M.]

Re: C2, C3 DIY Four Wheel Alignment

You can measure castor with a digital lever and an adapter to fit the wheel (the adapter is fairly easy to make out of square tubing). This will work with a $40 Craftsman digital level. Or you can buy a Smart Camber gauge for $224 which I feel is way over priced. I've built 3 or 4 of the adapters.
With the digital, you turn the wheels out 20 degrees (if they'll go that far) , zero the gauge and turn them in 20. Then calculate the castor.
The calculation is available here: http://www.smartracingproducts.com/s..._manual_v1.pdf

Some of the newer digital gauges have a direct read on castor but they're still over $250.

I actually prefer my Longacre bubble gauge. It reads camber directly and castor directly using the 20 degree method.

You can get a basic Longacre bubble gauge for $128.

Thanks Bill,
Your post sparked some thought, I'm gonna try my i touch/phone as it has a very accurate digital level. I will do the 20 degree turns and use the add/subtract with 1.5 formula to see what I have. thanks again

[Bill H.]

Re: C2, C3 DIY Four Wheel Alignment

Thanks Bill,
Your post sparked some thought, I'm gonna try my i touch/phone as it has a very accurate digital level. I will do the 20 degree turns and use the add/subtract with 1.5 formula to see what I have. thanks again

If you wan to make it a tad easier, you can fab some slip plates. Cut 4 pieces of a garbage bag into 12 to 18 in. square, take 2 of them with any kind lube inbetween and put them under the tires. They also work well for making camber adjustments when you jack up the car.

[Gene M.]

Re: C2, C3 DIY Four Wheel Alignment

If you wan to make it a tad easier, you can fab some slip plates. Cut 4 pieces of a garbage bag into 12 to 18 in. square, take 2 of them with any kind lube inbetween and put them under the tires. They also work well for making camber adjustments when you jack up the car.

Bill,
That sounds good. I was going to use two pieces of sheet metal with grease between them. But your thought using the plastic makes clean up easy, just trash it when done. thanks

[Greg L.]

Re: C2, C3 DIY Four Wheel Alignment

Thanks Bill,
Your post sparked some thought, I'm gonna try my i touch/phone as it has a very accurate digital level. I will do the 20 degree turns and use the add/subtract with 1.5 formula to see what I have. thanks again

Gene, that was my thought too but with my Galaxy S2 so I downloaded one of the better reviewed "protractor apps".

It looks good and measures to .1 degrees so I figured I was all set except that the aircraft mechanic in me questioned just how accurate is this really.... SO yesterday after work I went and compared it to one of our calibrated digital protractors that we use for rigging flight controls, zeroed them both and then tried to compare them. Well they both zeroed fine but as I tilted them by about 60-70 degrees they were off by about 1 degree which I think is too much error for a wheel alignment. I'm not saying the phone trick won't work for you but I'm going to try a few things first, like zeroing them in the vertical position and then see if there is much or any variation. I'm thinking it might work that way.

The other problem I had(you may not have with an I Phone) is that the buttons on the side interfered with laying it properly against a flat surface. This is probably easier to deal with though than a misleading protractor app.

[Gene M.]

Re: C2, C3 DIY Four Wheel Alignment

Gene, that was my thought too but with my Galaxy S2 so I downloaded one of the better reviewed "protractor apps".

It looks good and measures to .1 degrees so I figured I was all set except that the aircraft mechanic in me questioned just how accurate is this really.... SO yesterday after work I went and compared it to one of our calibrated digital protractors that we use for rigging flight controls, zeroed them both and then tried to compare them. Well they both zeroed fine but as I tilted them by about 60-70 degrees they were off by about 1 degree which I think is too much error for a wheel alignment. I'm not saying the phone trick won't work for you but I'm going to try a few things first, like zeroing them in the vertical position and then see if there is much or any variation. I'm thinking it might work that way.

The other problem I had(you may not have with an I Phone) is that the buttons on the side interfered with laying it properly against a flat surface. This is probably easier to deal with though than a misleading protractor app.

Greg
You have some good thoughts, But I figure the error percentage in readings of less than 5 degrees should be within tenth of a degree which should be acceptable to get functional caster settings. Since we will be within 3 to 5 degree readings the error will be less than 0.1 degree reading, being you got 1 degree error at 60 degrees.

My Mac i touch has smooth edges. But you are correct the i phone has protrusions that can screw readings up. There are smooth protective cases that should rectify issue.