Front End Alignment question & Specs > within
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 2
From: SW Florida
Front End Alignment question & Specs > within What a better place to pose a front end alignment question than this forum. 
The last set of tires I had on my TA wore out bad on the outer area of the front tires. The rest were ok. Obviously I need a front end alignment.
Since then, I have put a set of Goodyear Eagle F1/GS D3 tires on the car (275/40-YR17).
1. Question: Are those 4 wheel alignments worth the extra money, or is the regular 2 wheel alignments just as good?
2. I have heard that a sight change to factory spec may be better:
Thrust align only on f-body vehicles. Thrusty angle should be no more than + - 0.13
Camber: -0.5 degrees
Caster: +4.5 degrees (left side), +5.0 degrees (right side)
Toe: 1/16" Toe-in
Might this be better than the factory specs?
3. Last question: Will a GM dealer do a better job on the alignment than late say Firestone, Goodyear, Sears store etc?
Thanks,
Ron
The last set of tires I had on my TA wore out bad on the outer area of the front tires. The rest were ok. Obviously I need a front end alignment.
Since then, I have put a set of Goodyear Eagle F1/GS D3 tires on the car (275/40-YR17).
1. Question: Are those 4 wheel alignments worth the extra money, or is the regular 2 wheel alignments just as good?
2. I have heard that a sight change to factory spec may be better:
Thrust align only on f-body vehicles. Thrusty angle should be no more than + - 0.13
Camber: -0.5 degrees
Caster: +4.5 degrees (left side), +5.0 degrees (right side)
Toe: 1/16" Toe-in
Might this be better than the factory specs?
3. Last question: Will a GM dealer do a better job on the alignment than late say Firestone, Goodyear, Sears store etc?
Thanks,
Ron
Re: Front End Alignment question & Specs > within A 4 wheel alignment is for cars with 4 wheel independent suspensions (that have independent adjustments for each wheel). So, your choice is now a 2 wheel alignment.
If you are wearing the outside edges of the tires, you may have positive camber or just not enough negative camber (which allows the tires to see positive camber during body roll). Camber would be the most likley culprit. For general street use, I recommend a mild performance alignment and have found this to work well:
-.7 to -1.0 degrees of camber
4.5 degrees of castor
0 toe (not in or out).
There is some information about alignment specs under the "techincal" page on my website (something I put together one evening, it may be useful).
http://home.columbus.rr.com/trackbirdsz28/
Just my thoughts. Hope this helps.
Kevin
If you are wearing the outside edges of the tires, you may have positive camber or just not enough negative camber (which allows the tires to see positive camber during body roll). Camber would be the most likley culprit. For general street use, I recommend a mild performance alignment and have found this to work well:
-.7 to -1.0 degrees of camber
4.5 degrees of castor
0 toe (not in or out).
There is some information about alignment specs under the "techincal" page on my website (something I put together one evening, it may be useful).
http://home.columbus.rr.com/trackbirdsz28/
Just my thoughts. Hope this helps.
Kevin
Re: Front End Alignment question & Specs > within Oh, and as for alignments. I've found good alignments at many places (NTB did my last one, and I was talking to the guy while he did it...to my specs). I'd not pay dealer prices for an alignment...ask around and see who is good in your area and try them....
Good luck!
Good luck!
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 2
From: SW Florida
Re: Front End Alignment question & Specs > within Kevin...
Thanks so much for the info. And to think, I have had shops try to sell me the more expensive 4 wheel alignment on a car that has no adjustments on the rear!
Your web site is lookin good. Keep working on it.
Ron,
Thanks so much for the info. And to think, I have had shops try to sell me the more expensive 4 wheel alignment on a car that has no adjustments on the rear!
Your web site is lookin good. Keep working on it.
Ron,
Re: Front End Alignment question & Specs > within Thanks, I'm still working on the site. I sat down one day and decided to put a website together. I'm still real low on the learning curve.
Alignments use the rear wheels as a reference to do the front. Since there is no adjustment in the rear, there are only 2 wheels to adjust. (Now, you could make a very slight case for a "semi-4 wheel" on cars with adjustable LCA's, but mostly the rear axle just needs to be "square" in the vehicle). Glad I could help out...
Kevin
Alignments use the rear wheels as a reference to do the front. Since there is no adjustment in the rear, there are only 2 wheels to adjust. (Now, you could make a very slight case for a "semi-4 wheel" on cars with adjustable LCA's, but mostly the rear axle just needs to be "square" in the vehicle). Glad I could help out...
Kevin
