Shadetree diy alignment tips? (fun with a cheap laser! :)
 

How do you guys do diy alignments?

Every time I go and try to align a car, I feel I'm reinventing the wheel.
Somewhere, somehow, someone has a better system. Today though, I'm pretty happy with my progress.

I've got three cars to do. I am so sick of string I could yell. Because of this, I usually punt to a tire shop and some slack jawed punk takes my $ and says "this is the best we can do". Since I'm installing adjustable camber arms in my wife's and my car to reduce inner tire wear, I needed something a little better. The SC needs bushings too. I went to HF and got the cheapest tile laser they had at $29 bucks.

Marked the midline of the car using a plumbob. Marked the rear with a sharpy, made two measuring boards with markings on each side, and sunk brads in the center.

Here's where things get cool.

When aligned, the laser shines off the plumbob and the brads like Indiana Jones lining up the crystal in the maproom in Raiders of the lost ark.

Since the laser itself is so cheap, it isn't mounted squarely on it's own base, so I couldn't depend on that, but, laser light shine straight, so once the centerline was marked and the boards positioned, I could realign the laser down the side of the car.

Left rear toe at 7cm and 7cm (approx 0 degrees) Right toe in at about 7mm vs 6.8.- about 2mm over 55mm of rim diameter. Quick google search on rise over run angle calculator later- approx 2 degrees of toe on the right.

That is by far the most accurate first reading I've ever gotten compared to string, with both sides measuring 7mm on first attempt. It means I nailed the centerline.
Had this been string, I would've tripped over it 20 times by now and be shouting obscenities.

Now, (Because I know it's coming)- how do you guys do it easier?????:)
Take it to alignment shop NOT ALLOWED!!! :D


check out the shining brad! So easy to line up.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639317860.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639317860.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639317860.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639317962.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639317962.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639317962.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639317962.JPG

genius ! thanks, this is way better than my sticks and tape measure way