Front End Alignment on a 944
10-22-2007, 01:34 PM
#1
3rd Gear
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Location: Southlake, TX/New Orleans, LA
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Front End Alignment on a 944
Hi, my son and I just replace the control arms and Struts on his 944. He lives in New Orleans and we are having difficulty finding someone that will align, not sure if they don't know how or if it is difficult. Two questions, is alignment difficult on a 944? Where would you recommend that we take it, Sears said yes and then after 2 hours said they coudn't, a Firestone place said they had to have sandbags, the Porsche dealer said they didn't work on cars that old. Thanks for anyones help on this.
10-22-2007, 07:27 PM
#3
3rd Gear
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1986, red like yours, but not as nice, it is good for him he goes to school and likes to drive it around, my son lives in New Orleans and a lot of the people moved out after Katrina and the good and respected Porsche people did not come back, not saying they are not good ones, just can't find them or don't know where to look. We took it to Sears they said they could but now say they can't. The Porsche dealer said that he would not work on anything that year. So we are not sure where to take it, I would guess the basic repair places are out - Firestone, Goodyear and etc. Someone said to go to someone who did not have new equipment. Any advise.
10-22-2007, 08:07 PM
#5
Nordschleife Master
The front can be done by any alignment shop, its a very basic Macpherson strut setup in the front that is nothing different from a Honda Civic. The rear is where the problem is as most of the tech's at the basic repair places probably have not seen a trailing arm setup. It also requires a special tool to adjust the toe.
10-23-2007, 12:12 PM
#6
Race Director
You can do it yourself with tape measure, a protractor and some string.
The aligment points are to bolts on each strut and one jab nut on each tie rod. Very simple.
The aligment points are to bolts on each strut and one jab nut on each tie rod. Very simple.
10-31-2007, 01:27 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Yeah you dont have to have sandbags to do it. The sandbags in theory would be to compensate for the weight of the driver, which is never factored in for a daily driver.
What you will need is a special alignment tool for the rear-end. Its a special little eccentric bolt with a hex end. If you ask the Porsche dealership about it, they will have it as it was used on many Porsches.
Take the tool to whoever was going to align your car while using the sandbags, as that sounds like someone who is at least interested in doing a good job. An enthusiastic stupid mechanic is better than an ******* stupid mechanic.
As M578 pointed out, the front end is just machphersons like any other car on the road, so it should be easy enough for any alignment tech, and yes, the cars fit on the machines just fine. Dont letem give you that excuse!
What you will need is a special alignment tool for the rear-end. Its a special little eccentric bolt with a hex end. If you ask the Porsche dealership about it, they will have it as it was used on many Porsches.
Take the tool to whoever was going to align your car while using the sandbags, as that sounds like someone who is at least interested in doing a good job. An enthusiastic stupid mechanic is better than an ******* stupid mechanic.
As M578 pointed out, the front end is just machphersons like any other car on the road, so it should be easy enough for any alignment tech, and yes, the cars fit on the machines just fine. Dont letem give you that excuse!
