Doing my own alignment

[Tori]

I know, I know, I know that the corner balance has to be done before an alignment. I've stated this in prior posts. What i'm doing right now is just familiarizing myself with the car and what it takes to align it. I should have scales available to me this weekend and since i've never done a computerized alignment before i'd prefer to know what i'm doing beforehand. I know it's a process of balance, align, rebalance, realign.

[Tori]

Originally Posted by brianlay

The fender height method assumes the axle height is close to 12 inches. That's about what you get with a normal wheel and tire combination. It also assumes the fenders have the same dimensions side to side, but that's rarely true on these cars. For precise height measurements, no matter what your target height, the factory method is the best way. Suppose you set the height exactly the same side to side using the torsion method and then measured the fender lips and they are slightly different. The factory spec for height difference side to side is 5 mm (.20in). How are you going to know where you are unless you "calibrate" the fenders?

Something isn't right with your camber measurement. The car should have no trouble being adjusted to 0 degrees. The negative camber limit, even with some height lowering , is close to -2.

It's hard to believe you can't get back to zero. Are you sure you calibrated the alignment system?

Hi Brian, I can buy that. That makes sense that the body could be crooked and can see now why the other measurement would be prime. I suppose its possible that i set the machine up wrong, but it's really a fool proof system. A trained monkey (like me) can operate it. The machine walks you thru the set up. When i set it up again after the corner balance we'll see if i get the same numbers.

[Tom '74 911]

Sorry, I didn't mean to beat a dead horse or come off as a jerk! : )

Seemed like you were still chasing the camber adjustment weirdness and the pull w/out eliminating some of the basic variables first.

I should have included 'verify ride height' before corner balance too.

Here's 2 sheets I made up and use that might be helpful for taking notes on all this stuff...