Heavy Steering Revisited
 

After putting 7" fuchs up front I noticed that the toe is off.

I have complained about very heavy steering before.

When the wheel is straight, the left front wheel is straight and the right front wheel is slightly turned right.

I bet this has something to do with my heavy steering while driving (not parking).

Think it is time for an alignment.

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David

1988 911 Carrera Coupe
Leonoff Net

If your front end has been lowered, an alignment may not cure the heavy steering feel if they are unable to adjust it to factory specs.

Joe

The car has not been lowered.

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David

1988 911 Carrera Coupe
Leonoff Net

from the looks of the picture on you're other post, the camber is off too. amazing how much a good alignment improves handling.

Now I just have to find a place to do a proper alignment.

That's easier said then done. Most shops try to set the toe and send it on it's way.

I suggest you learn how each adjustment is made, then take it to the shop and stand there watching the guy do the work, and observe the reading yourself. If he try's to tell you the car has no provision for adjusting Camber, caster, etc, or that your car won't come into spec, tell him BS and show him how to do it. Take the wrenches into your own hands. That's right, be a real A hole. It's the only way to get it done right.

The guys that drop the car off at Tires-R-Us and pick it up later after the alignment is "done" are fooling themselves, I can almost guarantee the car is not aligned properly.

Not to say there aren't some good shops, I just have never found any. In 16 years of Porsche ownership, the only way I have ever gotten a proper alignment is as above.

When I take the car in for alignment, I expect to spend 4 hours or more there. I usually don't make any friends. But I leave with a proper alignment.

Perhaps I should find a real porsche shop. Or how about a dealer?

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David

1988 911 Carrera Coupe
Leonoff Net

Take your Porsche to a Porsche Dealer, I don't think I've ever heard anything so ludicrous on this board! http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/silly.gif


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8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.

I know, I know. But it might be the lesser of two evils.

I assume the dealer would know how to align a porsche.

I for one avoid dealers except for warranty work.

I just want my car aligned properly and I do not know who is qualified in my area.

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David

1988 911 Carrera Coupe
Leonoff Net

Chuck, I have heard really good things about these guys. They are in Mountain View.

http://www.customalignment.com/

Tom

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82 911SC Coupe

Why don't you learn to do your own alignment. Simple, but time consuming. There is enough brains around here to hold your hand.

I can't really understand how you can duplicate an accurate alignment at home without and alignment machine? Many garages don't even do their own alignments and use anothers because they don't want to purchase the equipment. If it was so easy, why wouldn't they do it at their shop with whatever tools they have?


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8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.

Dont take your car to the dealer!!! I got charged $400 for a $100 alignment at the dealer!!! The reason I aligned it is because I lowered the suspension. When I asked them why they were charging me $400, they told me "everything in the back was siezed, it took 6 hours for the alignment, we're giving you a good price" !!!!! I had the whole rear suspension apart the day before, so i know nothing was siezed. Besides, they also told me they had to torch the bolts to loosen them, but when I checked the bolts, there was no signs of heating anything up. The worst part of all this was that my car pulled to the left and had a weird non-centering feel to the steering wheel, AFTER the alignment. This was Auto Strasse, in Montreal, by the way.
Please, dont go to the dealer.

Mike
86 Carrera t

Any suggestions in the Long Island NY area?

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David

1988 911 Carrera Coupe
Leonoff Net

We were very lucky as a local club in that one of our members owned an alignment machine in his body shop. He showed us a lot of things about alignment that really helped us. His alignment machine could align all four wheels. We could literally "try out" different alignments to see how they felt.

Good luck,
David Duffield