928 Shop Information
06-27-2008, 07:49 PM
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Stan; we should be doing our own alignments around here. I do mine and a few others myself but will get some slip plates and more equipment sometime soon.
All the info is on Earl's site, and a string toe check is very easy. I have gotten bad alignments from reputable shops, and have since done my own on the 928.
Maybe another tech session at Tass's??????
All the info is on Earl's site, and a string toe check is very easy. I have gotten bad alignments from reputable shops, and have since done my own on the 928.
Maybe another tech session at Tass's??????
Just my thoughts, but paying someone $60 to do an alignment is well worth the expertise and skill they have. I like the idea of understanding how an alignment is done and what is important to our cars, but since I am not likely to do it often I won't really develop the skills to be terribly confident. Just my personal feelings. I know some people like to learn how to do these things on their own, and I think that is great for them too.
I haven't heard from Tass recently. You can check with him, last I knew he was working on the track car motor replacement. I did offer to help...
06-29-2008, 08:11 PM
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I have a form for people to use. I think it is complete enough to gather what I want. Before promoting it heavily, if some of you don't mind, please review and test it: http://www.928oc.org/928_Shop_Information.htm
There option to view the results will not be dynamically updated, as I would want to review the input to ensure it isn't irrelevant spam, etc. I have not put up a results page yet.
There option to view the results will not be dynamically updated, as I would want to review the input to ensure it isn't irrelevant spam, etc. I have not put up a results page yet.
06-29-2008, 08:56 PM
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06-29-2008, 09:55 PM
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Good stuff there Stan! That is one of the things that will make 928OC more valuable to members. I wonder how many folks here are actual OC members???
I just put my favorite 928 shop in the data base!
I just put my favorite 928 shop in the data base!
06-15-2010, 03:45 PM
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Yesterday someone asked why my front tires were larger than the fronts. I said they weren't, then we found that one side was right, and the other side that had mounted the 255 tire on the 7.5" wheel and the 225 tire on the 9" wheel.
Quality of service is really difficult to find.
Any locals, stay away from Grez Automotive.
06-15-2010, 06:10 PM
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Things change. I had another alignment done for the new tires at the same shop. I got the car back with the steering wheel cocked about 25'. I brought it back, and they apologized and quickly correct it, perhaps a bit too quickly for my comfort.
Yesterday someone asked why my front tires were larger than the fronts. I said they weren't, then we found that one side was right, and the other side that had mounted the 255 tire on the 7.5" wheel and the 225 tire on the 9" wheel.
Quality of service is really difficult to find.
Any locals, stay away from Grez Automotive.
Yesterday someone asked why my front tires were larger than the fronts. I said they weren't, then we found that one side was right, and the other side that had mounted the 255 tire on the 7.5" wheel and the 225 tire on the 9" wheel.
Quality of service is really difficult to find.
Any locals, stay away from Grez Automotive.
Hey, just put the wheels on your Civic. Great for when vtec kicks in!
06-15-2010, 07:55 PM
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06-16-2010, 11:42 AM
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Stan,
I had to make 4 trips back to the alignment shop that did my 86.5. It would not drive straight and the steering wheel was off center. The last time they said " I have an idea". The technition drove the car and made another (Too fast for my comfort) adjustment. I don't know what that adjustment was. I am afraid that he used a non spec adjustment to force the steering wheel to be centered and the car to track straight. The car seems to be right now , goes straight, no shakeing, or tire wear that I have seen so far. But I have only driven 400 miles since I purchased the same KUMO tires as you. I'am worried that over time the alignment will turn out to be off and wear the tires. I may take it to another shop to verify the settings. Another $150 is better than $500 for new tires.
By the way how do you like the Kumos. I say they are all right, but just all right. Not great.
Ray
I had to make 4 trips back to the alignment shop that did my 86.5. It would not drive straight and the steering wheel was off center. The last time they said " I have an idea". The technition drove the car and made another (Too fast for my comfort) adjustment. I don't know what that adjustment was. I am afraid that he used a non spec adjustment to force the steering wheel to be centered and the car to track straight. The car seems to be right now , goes straight, no shakeing, or tire wear that I have seen so far. But I have only driven 400 miles since I purchased the same KUMO tires as you. I'am worried that over time the alignment will turn out to be off and wear the tires. I may take it to another shop to verify the settings. Another $150 is better than $500 for new tires.
By the way how do you like the Kumos. I say they are all right, but just all right. Not great.
Ray
06-16-2010, 12:08 PM
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Align it yourself?
Over the last 30 years or so I have had a number of cars that a number of alignment shops had no idea how to align. 5 or 6 years ago I gave up and on the urging of a racer friend decided to see what I could do myself. Using laser "squares", chalk line, and 4 stout weighted posts, and a level garage floor I have been able to align 2 cars very well....what is "very well"? "Very well" would be defined by "track straight", wear tires evenly, has the required caster, camber, and toe in, front and rear......
A very precise retangular chalkline "box" can be set up around a car, and measurements can be taken from that box. Adjustments can be made to bring the car into published specifications, or other more desireable for a specific purpose.
The only real problem with this approach on a 928 is access to the proper adjustments while the car is on 4 wheels, which we recognize to be required. So, a level ramp lift with a chalkline box is a better approach if you have access to such an item. By the way, other than chalkline, and some $39 lasers all that is needed to do this is maybe a camber guage from say Speedway, and 4 12" square pieces of aluminum to drive up on, to assist in toe in adjustments and the like.
While this process may take 2 or 3 hours I have been able to solve some significant problems where an alignment shop was not able to resolve....if it doesn't fit their computer model there is little hope at many shops of getting more than a best guess effort, and some of those guesses are really bad. (my old Vette came back with 1/2" toe in front and a 1/4" toe out in the rear)
An no, I have not yet done this on a 928, so I may be all wet, but I will try it soon....
A very precise retangular chalkline "box" can be set up around a car, and measurements can be taken from that box. Adjustments can be made to bring the car into published specifications, or other more desireable for a specific purpose.
The only real problem with this approach on a 928 is access to the proper adjustments while the car is on 4 wheels, which we recognize to be required. So, a level ramp lift with a chalkline box is a better approach if you have access to such an item. By the way, other than chalkline, and some $39 lasers all that is needed to do this is maybe a camber guage from say Speedway, and 4 12" square pieces of aluminum to drive up on, to assist in toe in adjustments and the like.
While this process may take 2 or 3 hours I have been able to solve some significant problems where an alignment shop was not able to resolve....if it doesn't fit their computer model there is little hope at many shops of getting more than a best guess effort, and some of those guesses are really bad. (my old Vette came back with 1/2" toe in front and a 1/4" toe out in the rear)
An no, I have not yet done this on a 928, so I may be all wet, but I will try it soon....
