Help! rear alignment issue... need to fix this to get to the fest!
06-04-2009, 06:57 PM
#1
The Impaler
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Thread Starter
Help! rear alignment issue... need to fix this to get to the fest!
Ok well my car is pretty much done. installing GTS headlights tonight and I was planning on leaving for ohio late tonight.
I tried to get an alignment done earlier, but the guys couldn't figure out how to adjust the rear camber (even though they told me ahead of time they could) and now it's time for me to leave!
Is it possible for me to get my alignment close enough at home that I won't kill my brand new tires?
My plan is to try and find a dealership or shop along the way that can align it for me, so I need to get at least a couple hundred miles.
I tried to get an alignment done earlier, but the guys couldn't figure out how to adjust the rear camber (even though they told me ahead of time they could) and now it's time for me to leave!
Is it possible for me to get my alignment close enough at home that I won't kill my brand new tires?
My plan is to try and find a dealership or shop along the way that can align it for me, so I need to get at least a couple hundred miles.
06-04-2009, 07:06 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
Did this on MM951's car yesterday.
The camber alignment eccentric bolt is the rear sway bar drop-link bolt.
Jack the car up, loosen the nut on this eccentric and the other 2 bolts near it. Loosen the nut that hold the drop-link on. Then turn the eccentric (and watch what the wheel does). If your car is a little lower than stock, the *minimum* amount of rear camber will be about 1.5 degrees negative.
This will be just fine for your trip to the fest.
If you have the toe alignment tool, you can also play around with that a little bit. The "low tech" way to "measure" it is to bunge-cord something straight (like a 2 foot level) to the face the the wheel so it's horizontal. You can stand behind the car and kind of sight down this "straight edge". You want the fronts of the rear wheels to have a smidgen of toe-in.
Good luck!
The camber alignment eccentric bolt is the rear sway bar drop-link bolt.
Jack the car up, loosen the nut on this eccentric and the other 2 bolts near it. Loosen the nut that hold the drop-link on. Then turn the eccentric (and watch what the wheel does). If your car is a little lower than stock, the *minimum* amount of rear camber will be about 1.5 degrees negative.
This will be just fine for your trip to the fest.
If you have the toe alignment tool, you can also play around with that a little bit. The "low tech" way to "measure" it is to bunge-cord something straight (like a 2 foot level) to the face the the wheel so it's horizontal. You can stand behind the car and kind of sight down this "straight edge". You want the fronts of the rear wheels to have a smidgen of toe-in.
Good luck!
06-04-2009, 07:10 PM
#3
The Impaler
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Thread Starter
My car is more than a bit lower than stock.. right now it's sitting with about 5 deg negative on the rear. As long as I can get to about -2 or so that would be fine.
Thanks for the tip
Thanks for the tip
06-04-2009, 07:41 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
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Location: Wooster, OH / Parkersburg, WV
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There is a special cam type tool that you need to adjust the toe in on the rear.
There is a existing cam built in the rear trailing arm that will allow you to adjust the camber. If you have a digital level and a good level floor you could probably get it pretty close.
I believe it's the cam beside the open hole. The open hole is where the tool goes to adjust the toe.
There is a existing cam built in the rear trailing arm that will allow you to adjust the camber. If you have a digital level and a good level floor you could probably get it pretty close.
I believe it's the cam beside the open hole. The open hole is where the tool goes to adjust the toe.
06-04-2009, 08:38 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Who's car isn't?? 
Mikes was at -4 yesterday when he came over (with tires that were corded on the inside). Like I said, we were able to get it back up to -1.5.
In that picture, that bolt is the camber eccentric, but it's the back side. You have to first loosen the 19mm nut (and the 17mm nut on the back side) then turn the eccentric with a large wrench (I have to use a crescent wrench).
Mikes was at -4 yesterday when he came over (with tires that were corded on the inside). Like I said, we were able to get it back up to -1.5.
In that picture, that bolt is the camber eccentric, but it's the back side. You have to first loosen the 19mm nut (and the 17mm nut on the back side) then turn the eccentric with a large wrench (I have to use a crescent wrench).
06-05-2009, 12:03 AM
#6
Race Director
Interesting you have the same issue I was having Ryan...I could not get ANYBODY to align it for me. Everyone made up BS...
FWIW, it took me about 8-10K miles to completely kill my rear tires with my rear camber at ~4 degrees. I also had brand new tires waiting for me, so Van was like f'ing Superman and did a pretty damn good alignment for me. Needless to say, the car drives like a dream compared to before
I'm on my way to the Fest, just taking a night in a hotel about ~160 miles away. Hope you can get there.
- You can get an acceptable alignment yourself if you mess around with it. Its pretty amazing how much adjustment there is in it..
FWIW, it took me about 8-10K miles to completely kill my rear tires with my rear camber at ~4 degrees. I also had brand new tires waiting for me, so Van was like f'ing Superman and did a pretty damn good alignment for me. Needless to say, the car drives like a dream compared to before
I'm on my way to the Fest, just taking a night in a hotel about ~160 miles away. Hope you can get there.
- You can get an acceptable alignment yourself if you mess around with it. Its pretty amazing how much adjustment there is in it..Who's car isn't??
Mikes was at -4 yesterday when he came over (with tires that were corded on the inside). Like I said, we were able to get it back up to -1.5.
In that picture, that bolt is the camber eccentric, but it's the back side. You have to first loosen the 19mm nut (and the 17mm nut on the back side) then turn the eccentric with a large wrench (I have to use a crescent wrench).
Mikes was at -4 yesterday when he came over (with tires that were corded on the inside). Like I said, we were able to get it back up to -1.5.
In that picture, that bolt is the camber eccentric, but it's the back side. You have to first loosen the 19mm nut (and the 17mm nut on the back side) then turn the eccentric with a large wrench (I have to use a crescent wrench).
06-05-2009, 12:15 AM
#7
Nordschleife Master
Interesting you have the same issue I was having Ryan...I could not get ANYBODY to align it for me. Everyone made up BS...
FWIW, it took me about 8-10K miles to completely kill my rear tires with my rear camber at ~4 degrees. I also had brand new tires waiting for me, so Van was like f'ing Superman and did a pretty damn good alignment for me. Needless to say, the car drives like a dream compared to before
I'm on my way to the Fest, just taking a night in a hotel about ~160 miles away. Hope you can get there. - You can get an acceptable alignment yourself if you mess around with it. Its pretty amazing how much adjustment there is in it..
FWIW, it took me about 8-10K miles to completely kill my rear tires with my rear camber at ~4 degrees. I also had brand new tires waiting for me, so Van was like f'ing Superman and did a pretty damn good alignment for me. Needless to say, the car drives like a dream compared to before
I'm on my way to the Fest, just taking a night in a hotel about ~160 miles away. Hope you can get there.
- You can get an acceptable alignment yourself if you mess around with it. Its pretty amazing how much adjustment there is in it.. My local sears does mine, $69 and they have all the special tools needed, got them from a PCA racer who got his track aligned on Friday evening, and back to street Monday morning... guy said he did this like clockwork for 5 years... they Adjusted everything on my car in about 2 hrs...
