Hi, Im sure everybody has a bad experience with crooked mechanics trying to cash in.. Thats how I feel at least. I go and swap the steering linkages and get an alignment done only for the alignment to be off down the road due to a non-horizontal center link aka idler arm adjustment. I was thinking about getting some gauges made for at home alignment job. I typically would normally get an alignment like once every two years, so the 60 bucks seemed fair, however it gets expensive with multiple cars and constant adjustments to dial in the sweet spot for best handling specs. I was thinking about investing in an alignment tool. I've been reading about it for the last five years and i think its a good idea.

I was wondering if anybody uses an alignment tool and how was your experience with it. Id imagine its a golden tool for those with rear adjustable suspensions and front totally adjustable suspensions. thanks for taking the time to read the post.

 

I've thought about buying that exact tool a couple of times. I seams to be the most affordable set that I could find.

It's perfect for measuring camber, but for caster you need a way to measure when you've turned the wheels exactly 20 degrees. This is normally done with Turn Plates. You'll also need a way to check toe, which is required if you do any adjustments to camber or caster.

 

I use one on my racecar all the time. There is alot more to alignment than just that tool. I see you live in calif. Are you one of the guys I have met in the So Calif group? hard to keep track of faces and callnames. If so, then i will point you to Jon over at Accurate alignment in Orange near don's shop. I have known Jon for many years, he does my street cars for me on his rack.

Dean

 

Thanks for replying guys, After swapping the idler arm and center link, I aligned the center link the best i could using block of wood under the a-arm extended to the front of the car and measured for straighness of the centerlink on both sides and tightened down the idler arm. I noticed was then toes out really bad. Tried using the jack stand and string method, actually works pretty good. and for the rotating plates, i just tried using laminate tile with grease and salt sandwiched between them. Heres a video I got the idea from. Im going to take my ride to a professional alignment shop, not some tire shop... special shout out to VeTruck<--thanks man. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8qFjAB67vk

Update: after getting everything back together, and bleed the hydraulic powersteering system after replaced the autozone snap ring with the original snap ring the steering box pitman shaft, considering it was a hassle because i couldnt get the pitman arm off the steering gear, i had to remove the whole thing. The number is at two, two different biusinesses that let me down, Autozone, and Alignment shop from months ago that didnt even correctly torque the tie rod sleeve clamps to 168inchpounds, i was able to turn the sleeve with my hand thats how loose it was...Its chill, I learned from Vetruck that it was purely alignment issue, and further investigation lead to uneven center link due to the idler arm being off aligned.

i took it for a test drive couple hours ago, it drives straight as an arrow..It doesn't pull, and no bumpsteer. I'm going to get that professional alignment but i did get it pretty good 3/64 toe in., at least to get there to the shop.