Bilal928S4

I just finished replacing motor mounts, oil pan gasket and a new steering rack. Can I install my belly pans and still have everything accessible for the alignment tech OR do I leave the belly pans off for the alignment?

Mrmerlin

button it up, every adjustable part can be accessed with the belly pans installed.

Though you did leave the lower control arm clamps loose and drive the car to settle things,
then torqued the clamps to proper torque while loaded?

jcorenman

Everything they need is accessible with the pans in place.

And congratulations on a big job finished!

Leon Speed

Alignment can be done with the pans on.

Bilal928S4

Thank you for the prompt responses. I will go ahead and button everything up.
Stan, I left the lower control arm bolts loose. Lowered the car on ramps, with the weight on the wheels I tightened everything up. I will be driving the car before getting an alignment to let the suspension settle.

Mrmerlin

IIRC the WSM suggest to drive the car a short distance then torque the caps,

but what you did has to be better than tightening the caps while the suspension is fully unloaded


Ahh one thing I forgot to add is that the alignment plug on the rack will be covered by the pan but it should still be able to be installed from the side.

Hilton

This is why I just took the pans off my '87 - I want to get an alignment done with the rack centering screw installed.

From that known baseline I'll then adjust the steering wheel and if needed, the input shaft splines, to get the wheel in the correct position.