JoeMag

Cris -- i think technique looks fine, but you need something under your wheels so they can slide on the scale pad when you're bouncing car.

rsrdan

I use the exact technique as you do Chris..seems to work fine!

rsrdan

me in the car

SundayDriver

I would add a couple of things to some of the suggestions.

Inflate tires to HOT pressures.
Set shocks full soft in addition to unfastening sway bars which was mentioned.
I don't use any slip plate but I do roll the car back and forth after each adjustment, then very slight bounces front and rear to settle.
If you are aligning, I think it is very important to roll the car back and forth, in addition to bouncing.

chris walrod

Yes, the good 'ole bounce and roll is SOP amongst the open wheel crowd.

Setup tires are used as well. A set of wheels that the outer lip of the wheels are machined parallel to the mounting face to ensure straight wheels and accuarate toe and camber measurements. Then a sample set of tires are mounted, but not run on track and positioned on the car in the same fashion each time on the pad. Valve stems 'down' is often used such that the same part of the tires rides the scales each time. Of course this may be overkill for a road going racecar. I certainly dont have an extra set of wheels and new tires for this

Nordschleife

it makes more sense to me to set the car up on the tyres it is going to race on. Do the corner balance and alignment all at the same time. A useful shortcut is to turn the scale screen and alignment screen upside down so you can read them more easily when you are under the car. I use a spreadsheet which prompts the mechanic to make the correct adjustments and also stores all set up values.

R+C

chris walrod

Yes, a good idea. I have to appologize as I wandered-off the subject and its relevance to what we are trying to achieve here, not so much what I am accustomed to in that some races we used 12 to 14 sets of tires throughout the weekend.

kurt M

I think you need to do both before taking readings. Bouncing unloads stiction in suspension. Rolling removes binding from tires gripping the stale surface or tucking in while the car is up. Each does a different thing. Bouncing will not remove a tuck bind. rolling might not remove a stiction bind.

trackjunky

I use kitchen garbage bags with a squirt of windex in it. Like oil on ice.

Larry Herman

I still like my cast iron, made in china, 50 lb turn plates. For $100 per pair, you can't beat them. The only problems is that shipping is around $100 too.

kurt M

Larry I don't think anyone is knocking your plates only giving tips for the unlucky masses thast don't have them as well.

Larry Herman

No worries, I didn't take it that way. I just mention them as an alternative to the $1000 a pair aluminum ones.

kurt M

$1K? Wow I am saving even more money than I thought! I gotta find some go fast parts to spend it on.

chris walrod

Zip lock -- funny to see the simplest stuff used on complicated machinery..

kurt M

Does your drover drove as dirty as he looks?