Gord

Since my ball joint separated from the control arm, I replaced the a-arm with a new unit instead of a rebuild and had a front wheel alignment. While driving home the steering wheel was pointed slightly off center while going straight so I returned to the shop the next day to have the steering wheel realigned. The steering fine but now I'm feeling a lot more vibration on the steering wheel at higher speeds (100 -120 mph) then before. After making the adjustment do they have to realign the wheel? I noticed the mechanic using a string as an alignment tool, holding it parallel to the side of the back wheel to the front wheel. Is this for real? Isn't this an archaic way of alignment, I thought the procedure was computerized? Could it be something else like the new bushing (takes time to settle), bent tie rods, struts or does it need a "real" alignment? The handling is fine, very tight and the tires are less than a year old.

Gord '88 944S

Cobbs

I would seriously consider getting an authorized dealer to do the alignment. The old string trick will get you pretty close to having parallel wheels front and back but it doesnt take into consideration the toe angle or the camber. I need to get an alignment I'm still chasing down the shakes and addressing other suspension issues. A real alignment involves porsche specific tools and is a pricey job.

pikey7

Could it also have been that when the joint went, it took out the bearing slightly??

It's not just necessarily the joint and alignment.

adrian jaye

Hey Gord,

I'd def. say go for a proper 4 wheel alignment, preferably by "PORSCHE".

They know your car inside and out. IT is more costly and takes about 4 hours but they will pick up any faults

I had one done recently. I had some niggly problems, wondering, vibration etc. BUt after the tracking it is a totally different animal.

Don't believe what any tyre shop will tell you, go to your auth dealer and get a full 4 wheel alignment and all tyres balanced, you'll love you car afterwards

Promise

Adrian

Gord

I took the car to an exotic car dealer at lunch today looking for a shop that specializes in wheel alignments. The guy there says he subs the job out but mentioned that if the steering wheel vibrates at higher speed then its definately not the alignment. Could possibly be the tyre balance but had their mechanic take the car on a test drive and hoisted up to check the suspension just to make sure. Too much play on the front left wheel, needs an inner tie rod replaced. $100 part, 1 hr labour and four wheel alignment since there was premature balding on both inner rear tyes and front right. Good news is it wasn't the rack and pinion which would have been a major.

Lamah

you guys need friends in highschool ....

we have a whole computerized alignment machine thingy that we can use. best of all its free. however we dont have any specific porsche tools .... didnt know you needed any.

I dont plan to use this as i would much rather have it done right. perhaps on my escort, but never on the 944.

Gord

Lamah,
If you were close by I'll let you take my car to your high school. Beats the hell out of the old string technique my mechanic had used.

Macabre

What Porsche tools? I believe I'm familiar with all of the alignment procedures and am not aware of any special tools required. Except for the front toe, it's all done through eccentrics.

"This requires special Porsche tools" sounds like something a dealership would tell you to guarantee future business.

my944

Well, I can assure you that it is NOT a normal alignment rack that is needed for this job. Besides for the regular front to rear adjustment and the toe and camber, the rear ride height needs to be adjusted. I had mine done, with a corner balance, and it was a bit over four hours of work. I did plenty of shopping around my city, and 8 out of the 10 shops that I called would not touch the alignment due to the complicated work it required. That's my $295 alignment story and I'm stickin' to it!

Cobbs

Ok just to clarify what I posted earlier there are at least two "special" tools that I know of that are needed to do this job correctly. The first is simple and could be easily made, it just lines up that little hole in the bottom of the steering rack so that it is completly centered. The other tool is a hex? shaped thingy with a little lobe on it that is used to adjust the rear eccentrics or somthing like that. I'm certainly not an authority on the subject but the non-dealer alignment options don't instill must confidence in me despite having computerized stuff. To the best of my knowlege this is correct but PLEASE let me know if I am way off here.