Fresh suspension - how do I align it well enough to limp to the alignment shop?
 

Hi all,

I finally got all my suspension reassembled from my winter refresh project (all new ER rubber bushings, turbo tie rods, all new bilsteins). Since I had my rear t-bar and spring plates re-plated, I have no means of knowing how everything was lined up before disassembly.

I'm not going to attempt the DIY alignment and/or corner balance, but need to get things roadworthy enough to limp it over to the local Porsche suspension guru - about 15 miles away.

I didn't move the front camber plates, and I made sure the turbo tie rods were the same length as the old ones on each side, so I'm not too worried about the front.

I used the online spring plate angle calculator to index the rear spring plates with the ride-height eccentric centered, so I'm not too worried about that.

What should I do with the toe and camber eccentric bolts? I'm thinking of just putting each in the middle of their adjustment range.

Thanks!

Just drive it there and becareful, as long as it does not rain, you should be fine.

Or call AAA and have it towed.

Depending on how far the shop is you should be ok.
You could use a tape measure to get the toe close just to be sure. Unless you have real wide tires the camber won't make much difference.

15 miles.....i'd just drive it as is.

15 ... just drive it over there.

Yup, keep it under 125, just drive it.

If you just want to check to make sure it is not way off you could check it with a string alignment.

You will need four stands, jack stands work very well. Two long (7') polls or rods which are straight and true. Two sections of string (20') or a ball which you use as one long section. A tape measure.

On a flat level surface set up the jack stands at the outside corners of your car. Then set the rods across the front and rear of the car. This should be at approx wheel center height. Run the string taught from the front to the rear at the same distance from the center of each wheel center. Run the string on both sides of the car.
You can now measure to check toe on the front and rear, you can also check if the front and rear are square relative to each other. Measure from the string to the outer edge of the wheel in front and behind the wheel center.

You can now either adjust or just satisfy yourself that it is close enough to drive a short distance. You could check camber with a straight edge and a level or with a correct length level, again this would be rough but enough to give you confidence to drive a short distance.

If you make any adjustments roll and bounce the car before you remeasure.

some people drive 365 with alignments off worse that you probably have - it will be fine for a short trip