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DIY alignment


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Other who have done this or want to add the “string method” chime in. here is a 5min how to one setting alignment on a 2002.

If you are starting from a recent suspension assembly, eyeball the front wheels straight, put the steering box in the middle, and the steering wheel centered. Make sure the tie rods are the same length.

If checking toe on an intact car or have completed the above on new front parts..

Center the wheel. Jack up front and loosen the adjustment bolts on the tie rods. (don’t need to jack up if you can get your hands under there to loosen’em.

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Put car back down.

Now get two tape measures and

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your choice of “plates”.

Nice

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Or what you have in the garage..

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Set the plates against outside of front tires

Run one tape in front of wheels, one tape behind.

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Hook dumb end of tapes on far plate.

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Read tapes on near plate. Make sure plates are against tires and tapes are tight. If front measurement smaller than back you have toe in. front bigger equals toe out.

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If you want to adjust, spin the adjusters on the tie rods (if old tie rods, you may have to spray some penetrant on the threads.)

After each adjustment, roll the car back and forth a few feet and measure again.

Once you have the toe where you want it, jack front back up and tighten the adjuster lock bolts back up. Done.

Suggested settings (basic…ymmv)

Normal street – 1/16in toe IN

Track – zero

Auto-x – 1/16in toe OUT

Option three….longacre toe bar

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Then get out your digital camber/caster tool….

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Nevermind…another time….

2xM3

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Great job!

Similar to the long bar method:

Jack up front end. Using a piece of chalk (or tire marker), roll tire and mark center of tread.

Lower car and roll it back and forth several times.

Using tape measure, compare front to rear at the mark (try to get 180 degrees apart).

Jim Gerock

 

Riviera 69 2002 built 5/30/69 "Oscar"

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  • 10 months later...

while I know it's an old thread but I take the home depot laser line things that you use to square rooms, hang pictures, etc. Set them up to create two parallel lines. Pull car in between the lines. Measure from the lines into wheel. That way no string, or anything else for the matter interferes with your measurement/jacking/adjustments. The car doesn't have to be parallel to the lines just the lines have to be parallel

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  • 3 months later...

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