blueboxster393

Some local shops charge $99 and others charge $300+ (so called Porsche's specialist).

AFAIK, they are all doing the same caster, camber and toe adjustment.


Any input will be appreciated. thanks

ilko

I'm sure if you brought a Ferrari it would be more
Porsches are short wheel base cars and there is some fine-tuning involved. I would take it to a place that knows how to align Porsches and not a Jiffy-Lube type joint or a gas station.

Computamedic

The vast majority of "normal" cars only have a toe adjustment on the front wheels - all other settings are fixed. With most Porsche models there is adjustment available for toe, caster and camber at the front and toe and camber on the rear. Couple that with the potential to corner balance too there is a whole lot more work involved than the typical "wheel alignment" offered by the local tyre place.

A full alignment by a knowledgeable technician can take as much as 6 hours using quite expensive equipment. It can be done quite successfully with string and protractor, but, you choose - it's your money!!

Regards

Dave

911URGE

If a budget alignment is not done properly how much will you really save when your expensive tires possibly wear out in 5k miles?

elbeee964

[note to self: Pick up string on way home from work tonight for alignment. Oh, and a protractor, too.]

MisterRisky

I've always wanted to try that myself. I think you will need some dowels as well. maybe some hot glue.

BGLeduc

P.A.T.

The dreaded Porsche Added Tax. It effects everything we buy related to our cars.

Brian

Bob Rouleau

Porsches require a 4 wheel alignment and since toe and camber is adjustable omn all wheels it takes much longer than on a chevy malibu for example.

blueboxster393

Thanks for the info.

I will go to a reputable Porsche specialist to do the alignment.

My 90 C2 Targa deserved it

Colin 90 C2

I have found that competent dedicated alignment shops are more than capable. We have a local Bear alignment shop that is reasonable (around $100). I took the specs in and they gave me back a printout of the alignment.
When I was looking, the dealer wanted $250.

Turbohead

What he said !

38D

5k miles...I wish. How about $1600 slicks per race weekend

38D

5k miles...I wish. How about $1600 slicks per race weekend

race911

There's no secret handshake to figuring out how to align a 911, at least from 964's backward. Once you get it set up on a machine (if you're going that route), everything flows from the rear toe being symmetrical. (You CAN have zero toe in the rear with 1/2" out on one side, 1/2" in on the other.....would be a lovely driving car.)

So the secret, magic, or whatever you want to call it comes from knowing what to do when you can't get one corner to its preferred point. Where do you "err" with regards to too much rear toe-in, not enough negative camber achievable in the front relative to the rear. (I realize I'm talking mostly to track type alignments here, not by-the-book stock settings.) Is the $99 guy going to know what to do? For that matter, is a dealer guy generally going to know? No, usually the guy who has seen these cars for alignments weekly, if not daily, is going to have a clue. Is he worth the price of a dinner out with the Mrs?

That said, on my old Hunter C-111 I could slam an alignment out in as little as 45 minutes, drive on to drive off. But for every one of those there was a 2+ hour pure hell experience.