What is the best way to test your alignment other than taking it to a show. I know mine is off slightly but i can't tell if it's to the right or the left, it seems to change and then appears to be right on.

I've heard you slam on the brakes and if the car pulls then the alignment is off. Then again i heard you gun it from a stop and see which way it pulls. Or let go of the wheel while the car is moving without your foot on the gas pedal and see which way it goes. I've tried them all it seems to tell me something different each time.

It's not so much a driveability thing as it is a curiosity. I know it's not off my but much i'd like to know how much and which way.

 

There are problems with testing your alignment with the methods you described. The slamming on the brakes one is just silly because you could have a brake pull that has nothing to do with alignments. The flooring it one doesn't take into account things like torque steer, which our cars shouldn't have a problem with but it is worth mentioning. The coasting with your hands off of the wheel is okay if pulling is all you are looking for. Your alignment can still be off and wearing your tyres out while driving straight as an arrow...

You can buy simple camber testing level tools, don't know where, and they can give you an idea of where your camber angle is set. You can use a tape measure to test for toe. I can't tell you how to do it because I have never do it before, but I did read about it in an old hot rodders book from way back when.

The best thing to do is just find a good shop and have them check it for you. Many places check it for free or inexpensively and then you can see where you are at and go from there...

Hope this is helpful.

BTW, make sure you air pressure in your tyres is set properly, I have seen so many pulling complaints that had one tyre very low or high...

 

Thanks for the help. I'll check the tire pressure and see about taking it to a garage.

 

i wouldn't trust anything but an alignment machine. to use levels or anything like that you'd need to be on a very level surface to start with. snap on use to make an alignment deal that you sat under each front wheel. can't remember much details about them now, but i see them on ebay from time to time.

 

Unless you have turn plates at your house, doing an alignment yourself is pretty much out of the question. Take it to your local shop, search for coupons or something, and have a 2 wheel alignment done. Just make sure you get a print out so that you can make sure yourself that everything is in spec.