Alignment kit that isn’t overpriced

[kyngfish]

I made my own because it think 500 is ridiculous for something that mounts strings to your car. Then someone thought up a better idea.

I went ahead and bought one. If I can find aluminum tube segments it would be extremely lightweight and packable

https://www.calipergarage.com/

[Jeff Alton]

Ok....

Strings are rudimentary, but get it in the ball park.

How will you measure caster? It can be done, but wondering what from that kit will allow it...

You would do well to level the car perfectly, don't rely on the floor to be level.

That said, we use "smart strings" at the track if we need to make adjustments on the fly, but then put in on the alignment rack once back at the shop.

Cheers

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

That said, we use "smart strings" at the track if we need to make adjustments on the fly, but then put in on the alignment rack once back at the shop.

Cheers

This is essentially the smart string setup for a fraction of the price. For those of us who don’t have a rack back at the shop - and don’t have time to wait the month it takes to get into a good alignment shop and/or don’t want to spend 300 every time to set up their car

And

Are also tired of the crap work budget alignment shops do

You can get pretty dialed in with strings. Like anything else. It’s measurement. I had my Mercedes up at les schwab and they had it on their rack with lasers and they were telling me there was no toe in at the rear wheels while I was sitting there looking at massive toe in (it ended up being nearly a quarter of an inch toed in) the fancy tools are only worth how good the people are at using it.

YMMV

[aus911]

Hi Kyngfish,
This is worth a read,
search Stringless Wheel Alignment for DIYers..... by boyt911sc

Cheers
Ray

[winders]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Strings are rudimentary, but get it in the ball park.

Rudimentary? I have seen a lot of pro teams using string (monofilament) setups to align there cars at the track and at the shop. They get you more than just "in the ballpark".

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by aus911

Hi Kyngfish,
This is worth a read,
search Stringless Wheel Alignment for DIYers..... by boyt911sc

Cheers
Ray

Interesting read but the explanation is hard to decipher. Also it looks like it only references 2 wheels instead of four. Call me basic but I’m gonna stick with the strings

[pdtweeks]

In past I crewed for SCCA Regional Formula Ford team, and we used string (monofilament) alignment method to get our older Royale chassis dialed-in at start of season.

Great results are all about who is measuring and how precise you want to be….this is not something that you want to rush through.
We were able to keep pace, and in some instances, out-run & out-handle newer cars.

I have used this method for recent 1983 911 SC build, and even my 1966 VW Beetle suspension refresh….its about consistancy and patience, and can be very rewarding.

[buster73]

For toe and camber I used strings with good success for many years but have now switched to a pair of self-levelling cross-head lasers (ca. 50$ each). Once you have your routine on how to best position them, they make alignment a straightforward job. And in contrast to strings you can work around the car. Certainly not as accurate as pro equipment but precision is good enough for my street driving. Many tips on lasers in this forum.

[T77911S]

i made my own toe plates for my race car out of a 2x4 and plywood.

the 2x4 keeps the plywood straight and provides weight to hold the plywood.


works great.

https://www.amazon.com/Longacre-LON52-79501-Toe-in-Plates/dp/B000VAOHB2/ref=asc_df_B000VAOHB2?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539281984671&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584138871253924&psc=1

[Mahler9th]

Lots of ways to skin the cat.

The owner/founder of SRP is a friend and I witnessed him developing SmartStrings and SmartCamber. If you go to the SRP web site you can read more about his background. And note that he wrote a book about his experiences working with Roland Kussmaul. One of my friends, a fellow PCA member and excellent driver did all the transcription for the. Like the owner of SRP, she is a Porsche fanatic and accomplished driver.

I got to see the SmartStrings kit in action on many IMSA Fridays... especially at the Flying Lizards paddock spot. The owner/founder of SRP was a key technical leader for that team, and they won a bunch of races and championships.

I have used the string method frequently-- no need for lasers. I have a custom set up for my 911-- attaches to the car.

When I have helped set up the cars of friends, I have just used jack stands and fishing line.

Now I need reading glasses to measure to 1/32".

And I still want some Zebco 202's for my fishing line like I have seen in IMSA and IndyCar paddocks.

[jjeffries]

This is a subject near and dear to me. In 2018 I needed to re-set my 82SC after replacing all the suspension bushings.

I have a scissor lift which makes such work easier. Back then I built these wooden platforms, which include threaded feet to allow leveling. I also learned that most newer homes have garage floors with pitch built-in (so water shed offvehicles will go out of the home, not in).

I think the Smart Strings set is a sound value, but I couldn't justify the cost so build something acceptable but a bit ring-ding. I used a simple angle finder and borrowed a set of digital scales. I got good results, the car drives straight and handles predictably. How would it measure on a freshly-calibrated and well cared-for Hunter rack? Dunno. But I'm a former service manager and am well familiar with such equipment. I don't happen to buy that strings - done properly - yield inferior results, but I am truly an alignment amateur.

After a major overhaul of a 12 year off-the-road '87 924S, I'm currently completing its alignment, having built brackets to better mount the end bars, migrated from string to fishing line and, because the 924/44/68 has specific caster adjustment, I bought a Longacre gauge.

I've done this (versus calling a favor to get it done at a dealership) because I enjoy things-geomtric and making my own gear, such as the brackets and the fixture for mounting the camber/caster gauge on each wheel. I find it satisfying and appreciate learning more about the elegance of the Porsche (and VW) engineering.

Yes, I definitely could have had one of these two cars basically aligned for the dosh I've spent on the supplies ($100-150) and Longacre gauge ($170), but even a proper corner balance on the 911 would have cost at least twice that.

I'm not corner balancing the 924S since the front ride height is fixed.

How often will I use this stuff? I don't do trackdays anymore and prefer to get something done right then leave it the hell alone, but maybe I'll end up helping a friend or two.

Kind regards,
John

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by winders

Rudimentary? I have seen a lot of pro teams using string (monofilament) setups to align there cars at the track and at the shop. They get you more than just "in the ballpark".

This!
Strings are only as good as the operator. I have been using strings for a couple of decades. Mine are caveman, pier blocks and chunks of wood. Add a digital level and you are in the track. This is not a process that requires sub-micron levels of accuracy. I remove the wheels and use my shop made tools for camber. And the disc surface for camber and my digital angle gauge for caster. Putting blocks of wood under the 4 corners allows me to get my measurements with the suspension semi-loaded. Having done this at least a couple dozen time but less than a hundred it’s not difficult, just time consuming. The real pain comes from buying Snap-On thin wrenches in the proper size, for the rear adjusters. Without them it becomes difficult to loosen and tighten them.
Tools, like anything are only as good as the operator, you can give a monkey a laser, but the only thing you will get is eye burns. I have seen guys use a micrometer as a clamp. Don’t be that guy. Ray Scruggs has a fantastic booklet explaining the settings. Being able to tune my suspension is very satisfying, almost a zen thing, add digital electronic scales for weight and balance is a close second.

[Gianni at Pelican Parts]

I know we carry the Fastrax Toe Adapter kit and Camber/Caster Gauge from SPC

[Jeff Alton]

Originally Posted by winders

Rudimentary? I have seen a lot of pro teams using string (monofilament) setups to align there cars at the track and at the shop. They get you more than just "in the ballpark".

Quote/read my whole post.... We used them at the track. For 5 years at the Daytona 24. Nothing else was really available at the track...... its what everybody used, with a proper platform, hub stands, turn plates etc. What the hell else is available at the track during a race weekend?

Cheers

[winders]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Quote/read my whole post.... We used them at the track. For 5 years at the Daytona 24. Nothing else was really available at the track...... its what everybody used, with a proper platform, hub stands, turn plates etc. What the hell else is available at the track during a race weekend?

Cheers

I quoted the pertinent text. You said:

"Strings are rudimentary, but get it in the ball park."

My point was that strings are not rudimentary. That pro teams use them at the shop too and not just at the track. They are deadly accurate if you know what you are doing.



What you use at the track or the shop was not important to my response so they were not included in my quote.

I know of race teams that use laser-based systems at the track as well as the shop.

[Mahler9th]

Some great pictures in this thread.

Love the 924 and that rig. Nice!

And thanks Scott!

My set up is like shown in the picture above. Folks should remember that as long as the suspension is in a repeatable state, toe can be set... even in full droop.

Lots of ways to do this.

I use fishing line because I want 1/32" in out back. I started in ~1997 with no reading glasses. Now I am about 1.75.

[kyngfish]

Didn’t mean to start a debate about the efficacy of strings here y’all. I was just pointing out that the kit being sold above does the job, and is relatively right-priced.

Smart strings is a great product - but in my humble opinion, way overpriced for what it is.

[jjeffries]

Kyngfish - I thought it was good discussion. Always learning from everyone else here. I saw that Ferrari F1 string setup photo elsewhere … very cool!

I’ll say that I enjoy finding these things which we can do when perhaps we (I) didn’t think we could.

BTW, the Longacre gauge is lovely to use.

Thanks everyone on this thread.

John

[chrismorse]

Hi John and Mike,

Mike, quick question, how do you set toe with the wheels in droop?? I'm assuming you know from running bump steer measurements, how much toe in/out to add to the droop measurement to have it right at ride height??

John, Nice 924, a couple of weeks ago, i helped my step-son get into an 87 924S, that needs a little love. It is red too.

I like the idea of using adjustable height boxes to get the corner weighting and alignment done - nice to have room to get under it to make the adjustments, with the alignment gear intact.
Quick question, since you can't roll the car fore and aft to get the "stiction" out, how did you allow for lateral shift??
Tom Perazzo of Garage Time fame had some slick, (pun intended) teflon slip plates.

I, too was a service manager, (unfortunately, not porsche :-) and my dad's 74 has been undergoing a restomod, (also off the road), for 10 years. I also bought the inexpensive pipe cllamps for a string alignment set up.

Regards amigos,
chris

[47silver]

caster can be read by using a digital level or a camber gage on the wheels.

I hope to try it this weekend and will post what I find.
some also suggested placing the level on the strut above the ball joint and below the strut shroud.
problem with that is being exactly perpendicular to the strut forward to back.