Alignments

[sweater914]

I'm going to be doing some suspension maintenance this Christmas and will do an alignment afterward.

Where do you guys do your alignments?(will Sears work) I'm good buddies with the rack guy.

Anything special about doing an alignment on a 914?

Advice appreciated

[URY914]

Don't leave to the grease monkeys at Sears. I'm sure they have never worked on or even seen a 914 and wouldn't know where to start. (do you think they could find first gear to drive it on the ramps?) Make some calls and find a shop that REALLY has done it before. It is a true four wheel alinement which needs to be done right.

[rfoulds]

aligning the front end on the 914 is much the same as other older vehicles, but the rear end is another matter. And doing one end without the other is a waste of money.
When you call alignment shops, ask them if they have the correct shims for the 914 alignment.

IF they say, "I'm sure they're the same as the ones I have." Call someone else!

If they say, "um, I think so. Yeah, sure i do." Call someone else!

If they say, "Yes, I have them, in 2mm, 3mm and 4mm sizes," you have now found the right shop!

A 4 wheel alignment done right, will cost you over $100, and they should give you a print out when they are done, to show you the exact results are within tolerances.

[Joe Ricard]

(NOT) Most of these guys are knuckle heads. We could do a better job in your driveway. I will bring the string, level and carpenters square. Even some of them pieces of bent sheet metal. Plus I am quite sure I can make any shim any thickness any shape you need.
I have done my 928 in my garage. Straight as an arrow no tire scrub and corners hard enough to pin you to the door till the straight away.
One more point to add the car must be at the ride hieght you want before start tweeking the wheels around.
See you after the 28th !!

[Jim Smolka]

After finding the ideal shop, it is a good idea to do a corner balance at the same time. Money well spent to make your 914 handle better.

[sweater914]

thanks guys
joe i'll be making a visit for sure, replacing the tie rod ends and doing carb work, no record of an alignment(my baby beens raped for almost 30 years)

[philinjax]

Sweater,
Take Joe's advice and offer of assistance, stay away from Sears or any other Detroit type car alignment service. They will not know beans about the 914 nor likely have the tools and parts necessary to do an alignment of the 914. . Like Joe, I do my own alignments with elemental tools on the concrete ramp in the back yard. It is not that difficult and has worked out well for me in the past ten years.
Phil

[Joe Ricard]

Looking at all the locations of us teeners in and along the Gulf Coast. KarlP West LA Thats (Western Lower Alabama), Gautier and Ocean Springs Mississippi. Jacksonville is a little far but would make a nice trip this summer when some of us are out of school Sweater914 and me unemployed

[sweater914]

i'll be home this summer in late may, not that warm yet on the coast for that time of year, have to attend a wedding, we'll find a date