Ride Height & alignment on budget

AlienTekniX · 02:48 AM

My car's rear end is lowered about as far as the adjustment allows for. I am too inexperienced to try it myself, on a poor man's budget, and can only spend my money once. I am about to buy new tires and need an alignment badly. Would a shop, like Pepboys or equivalent, be able align my '66 912 with that much camber? I don't know if it gets in realm of highly experienced technicians when it comes to that kind of set up or could some college kid that has been trained at a monkeys level be able to handle it at least? I know that my mileage may very with who I get but I just want to know if it would out of the question they could get it right or not, they do carry warranties on there work and I can always try to get them to do it right a second time if they botch it. (one of the few positives of corporate businesses)
And if isn't to tough, would it be out of the question to ask for them to raise the rear like 1/2 an inch?
I am in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles area) what kind of shop wouldn't kill me on the price to get an alignment and basic rear height adjustment done if anyone has a sugestion?

Gunter · Gunter's Garage

DO NOT go to a shop that has no experience with Porsches!
Don't waste your money, you'll be sorry.
First thing is to make sure that all bushings, struts and shocks are good, if not, they need to be replaced before an alignment is done.
Lowering, alignment and corner balance has to be done together on all 4 wheels by someone with experience on these cars.

Jim Smolka · 08-20-2006, 03:22 AM

To get it done 'right', recommend a corner balance and align after the ride height is adjusted. Recommend this to be done by a local P-Car shop. Others should chime to recommend a good shop. Here on the East Coast, this can be done for around $300.

davidppp · 08-20-2006, 03:31 AM

Do it yourself.

Its very very simple, and you will learn lots..and be able to do it again and again..you need only very simple almost free tools.

That is how the vast majority of racecars are aligned..with string..

And, I have seen cars aligned professionally which were so out it was obvious just by a careful look!

Kind regards
David

RallyJon · 08-20-2006, 03:47 AM

Go here and read the scans posted halfway through the thread:

Toe Adjust Techniquest

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

Quote:

That is how the vast majority of racecars are aligned with string…

Yet it's much easier said than done. Stringing a 911 is a long time consuming process. First, you need a flat surface. If your garage floor undulates, you’re doomed. Second, on a 911 you'll have to get under it to change the rear settings. You'll have to jack it up. Move things around. Roll the car about. Re-string it...

But whatever you do, don't take it to Pepboys.

Todd Simpson · 08-20-2006, 06:21 AM

Pep Boys may warranty their work if you take it back, but how will you know they got the alignment wrong? Even general foreign car specialists are surprised at the amount of adjustability in the 911 rear suspension. You need a Porsche specialist, period.

Do you know if you have adjustable rear springplates? Your post seems to indicate you do. That will make raising the rear a simple operation.

umadog · 08-20-2006, 08:58 AM

I'm new to this as well, but having gone to a couple of shops for various fixes have had good luck with Tony at TLG Auto in North Hollywood...He only works on rear-engined Porsches...818-982-7610.
I'd be interestesd in what he might quote you for the alignment/suspension adjustment...I may have to go down that road myself soon.

RFR · 08-20-2006, 09:21 AM

Where in the SFV are you?

I am in Granada Hills.

Roman

AlienTekniX · 01:03 AM

Roman- I'm in the city of Winnetka

Umadog- thanks for the # , I'll let you know what Tony says tommorow

Todsimpson- yep I got adjustable plates, I just want to raise it a little (maybe as much as 1.5") and get it little more balanced out, the back right corner seems to droop

Rallyjon- Thanks that thread was enlightening, I am gonna look at my setup and see if maybe I can pull it off after all. My inexperience is killing me though.

Davidppp- I would like to do it myself, I grabbed the Ray Scruggs booklet images. The "pro" shop who did it before I got it obviously made two major errors. I am very wary of "mechanics" and would much rather do it

Everbody else thanks for your insight I will avoid the low end shops. If I do try it wish me luck!

From the tire wear and eyeballing it I think the the right front needs to be toed- in 2-3 degrees and the right rear needs to come up an inch the left a half inch.

jevvy · 08-21-2006, 05:56 AM

set the strings up even if its just to see how far things are out - its easy once you get into it, just make sure thestrings are paralel

MOMO3.2 · 08-21-2006, 06:03 AM

TRE gets my vote.

Mike

Miguel Antonett · 08-21-2006, 06:14 AM

IMHO. Don't mess with it. As statted above you need to check bushings, links, road ends...

Take it to a place that knows P-cars; you'll save time and money, in the long run.

Just aligning the 4 corners should be around $200 (east coast).

Do it right the first time!!!! and you can take it from there...