where to get alignment

[dberkstr]

I am going to replace all the rubber stuff on my '83 944 front suspension, plus probably new shocks. I am afraid to take the car to a dealer for alignment, due to the cost. Where do you guys get your cars aligned?

[Obin Robinson]

if you don't want to take it to the dealer... just look up "alignment" in the phone book. try to find a good shop that has a good reputation. the Monro near me has one of those really really really nice computer alignment machines that gives you a printout and tells you the pre and post caster and camber of all 4 wheels. not bad for $40 or so. the guys do a great job there, and they've even done water pumps for me. Ithaca pretty much sucks for foreign car specialists (there's a FEW, but they're not "full service"... just specialists in their own part of the car).

i'm not sure about the Monro in your area, but scout the place out and see if they can do it.

obin

[palaxdad]

I just put new Dunlop SP5000's (245/45/16 rear, 225/55/16 front) on my son's '85 944. Got the tires from Sears (they price matched TireRack) and they aligned all 4 wheels for $75. Gave me a 6 month warranty. I felt a little vibration after several days and took it back, and they rebalanced and re-aligned the front for free. Surprised the heck out of me. Also, tip for the day, most Sears shops open at 8:00 on Sunday mornings and there's never anyone there - no waiting... go some minor stuff done for free - they were bored!!!

I almost forgot - their warranty is good nationwide. I had the original work done in Delaware, the re-do in Pa. and the warranty is still good in North Carolina where my son goes to school.

[dberkstr]

Thanks, Palaxdad.

I have had good luck with Sears in Waterford, CT. on tire balancing. Maybe I'll pay them a visit. I guess the people who fix Porsches would like you to believe they are the only ones with the magic.

[Obin Robinson]

i've also used Sears for alignment of my VW, but not Porsche. they have one of those super-duper cool machines there too. the alignment is as good as new (i get it done once a year just for good measure).

it's neat to get a printout that tells you what the changes were . they have one of those machines at my local Sears.

good luck!

obin

[palaxdad]

Obin, Yes they do give you a before and after printout - at least the one in Wilmington, DE and Exton, PA do...

[adrian jaye]

Hey,

I would DEFINATLEY recommend you take your car to an Authorised Porsche Dealer and get them to do it.

DONT trust it to anyone else, reasonh being (I've been reliable informed that) there is a lot more to correctly aligning a Porsche.

IT takes about 4 hours to do it correctly.

I had it done by both "an ordinary tyre place" and Porsche, and after the Porsche one, if felt totally amazing, better steering, lost the vibration, better lock to lock when parking.

OK it's expensive, I payed a better rate, 'cos of a customer service issue, but it's usually about £250 uk plus I also had them balance the Wheels at £5 balance /per/wheel.

IT is really worth while and I'd recommend it

[Scott R]

I was just told the same thing. I took my Porsche to Sears to have the alignemt done after replacing the front struts. They told me that they A: Didin't have all the required tools, and B: Did not have all the specs for my 87 951. They also told me that if I wanted it done correctly that it was going to cost me three hours labor at my local dealer which equals $180 alignment. After looking into this, its true! You need special tools to get the caster blocks right up front. And special spces for the rear eccentric bolts. So as it stands I am going to replace my power sterring rack this weekend and some bushings, then go down to the dealer and eat the cost for the true alignment.

[blvon]

hi just a note some of the other suggestions sound good but there is not anything hard about the 944 alignment. From the factory all the different adjustments can be made caster,camber,and toe. one suggestion if you have a company owned firestone retail center around you you can get a lifetime alignment for your car. pay once never pay again i got mine for around 109.00 with that i can go every 5 months and have it checked

[Pilot_951S]

Alignment in CT... It's in SW CT but Fairfield County Motorsport has extensive experience with all 944 models. An alignment there is going to run you $250-300 (3-4 hours labor) but it will be done correctly. They have a reasonably modern laser alignment rack. (scales too if you ever need you car corner balanced) You do indeed need a special tool to set up the rear on the later cars not sure about the early cars. Sears doesn't have it. Anyway FCM can do a factory alignment a race alignment or anything in between.

One more thing... most Porsche dealers do crummy alignments, if you want your car properly aligned take it to a race shop. Only a race shop really knows the value of a correct alignment vs one that is "within spec".

[adrial]

I had my alignment done by my local Porsche mech (Rennsport in Bedford, NY).

Before:
L R
Front:
Camber: -.4 -.4
Caster: 2.5 2.8
Toe: .07 .04
Total Toe: .10
set back: -.17

Rear:
Camber: -1.0 -1.4
Toe: .17 .18
Total toe: .35
thrust angel: -.00

After:
L R
Front:
Camber: -.4 -.4
Caster: 2.6 2.5
Toe: .08 .09
total toe: .17
set back: -.12

Rear:
Camber: -1.1 -1.0
Toe: -.00 .00
Total Toe: .00
Thrust Angle: -.00


Based on the numbers, IMO it was an alright alignment...opinions welcome.

[Pilot_951S]

Looks like a perfectly stock alignment to me.

BTW does that rack read in 100ths of a degree or degree minutes (60ths of a degree)?

If you want more performance there are a few changes to make. (for street use)

Front camber to -1.5
Front toe, back it off to zero or nearly zero (increases response and decreases understeer)

Rear toe, just a tiny bit of toe in, maybe 0' 04" degree minutes total, makes the car more manageable during a slide.

Track alignment would have similar toe settings with -2 to -3 degrees camber up front and -1.5 to -2.5 degrees camber at the rear.

[adrial]

Yep...it was a perfectly stock alignment
I really dont know if it reads in 100th's or minutes...I would assume 100th's but I really dont know.

It'll be my first season of DE's / autox this coming spring..so I'll see how I like the stock settings.

Would I really be able to notice the changes you mentioned on the street anyway?

thanks,
Adrial

[adrian jaye]

Originally posted by blvon
...but there is not anything hard about the 944 alignment...

no, but you should see some of the monkey's who think they can do a good job and can't.

A "proper" alignment is done with

a) correct factory spec's
b) using all the reight tools and equipment
c) knowing how to use the tools and equipment correctly
d) knowing specific fixes for the model that is being worked on.

trust me, skimp on this and your selling your car short

[adrian jaye]

Originally posted by Pilot_951S
One more thing... most Porsche dealers do crummy alignments, if you want your car properly aligned take it to a race shop. Only a race shop really knows the value of a correct alignment vs one that is "within spec".

Like anything, you get good and bad dealers. The trick is finding a good one. You'll useually know the bad ones from the stories.

I'd still trust an OEM any day of the week. After all my life (& wallet) is in the mechanics hands who I've entrusted my car to at the last service !

[adrian jaye]

Originally posted by blvon
...you can get a lifetime alignment for your car. pay once never pay again i got mine for around 109.00 with that i can go every 5 months and have it checked

There's no such thing as a free lunch !

[Pilot_951S]

Adrial,

If you drive the car hard on the street you would notice the front end changes immediately. On the track certainly. The rear end changes you would probably only notice with experience. If you are going to track the car then you will NEED more negative camber up front or you will just waste the outside edges of the front tires.

[rscupper]

I suggest you check with your local PCA and ask for recommendations from the 944/951 racers. The shop(s) they use will have more experience with your car's suspension than the dealership. They will have all the proper tools & specs, too.

Most invaluable though is their knowledge of different set-ups. Don't worry, they won't try to set you up for the track if you're not doing that, but they will give you good, accurate advice for a set-up based on your driving, current components, and tires.

A good prep shop should cost about the same or slightly less than a dealer.

[adrial]

Thanks for the heads up pilot_951S, I drive the car kind of hard on the street on occasion. I'm probably no where near the limits of the car when I'm driving "hard." I need to learn to drive at DE's n autox before I start driving hard. Don't wanna end up in that tree over there

I'll get the alignment done come spring...before the DE/autox season starts. More money spent on the car, what a surprise