Got a alignment... WOW (after doing rodends)
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:32 pm
I was WAY off after doing my rodends. I thought I did a really good job of keeping everything pretty close, but I had 1.2 degrees toe OUT in the back (on EACH SIDE). You wanna talk about a nervous ride, at 60mph you think about changing lanes and you were nearly in the ditch. I knew it was bad, but I didn't realize how bad
What I found interesting, was that on the rear, they set the camber.. then set the toe, and we watched the camber go from -1.5 to -2.0. ??? So went back and redid the camber... and it affected the toe. At that point, they left everything loose, and adjusted each, back and forth until they got the toe and camber set. So... lesson there is, if you're doing your own alignments, go back and check everything after you're done - you're probably not.
Also interesting - My caster on the right side is less than the left, by about a half degree. I asked the alignment guy about this, and he said normally you want the right side with slightly more caster. I'm guessing one of two things are causing this, either when they welded up my frame, things weren't perfect, or that Brammo is copying the UK frame a little too closely in that location (ie right hand drive, left should have slightly more caster, as is my case).
My settings as I picked up the car from Brammo a year ago:
Front
camber - (L) -1.0 (R) -1.0
caster - (L) 4.0 (R) 2.7
Toe - (L) 0.00 (R) 0.00
Total Toe - 0.00
Rear
camber - (L) -1.2 (R) -1.2
Toe - (L) 0.01 (R) 0.01
Total toe .02 (in)
With new settings, measured by lasers attached to each wheel:
Front
camber - (L) -.98 (R) -1.02
caster - (L) 4.0 (R) 3.5 (why this has changed, I have no idea... but I trust these guys a lot more than les swab, and the change is in my favor so I'll take it )
Toe - (L) 0.16 (R) 0.15
Total Toe - 0.31 (out)
Rear
camber - (L) -1.48 (R) -1.52
Toe - (L) 0.22 (R) 0.19
Total toe - 0.41 (in)
Total cost $79.95, and I got to hang out in the shop and watch them do the work, which took a little over an hour.
Best $79.95 I've ever spent. The car drives like a dream now. Can't wait till the autox on April 20th!
What I found interesting, was that on the rear, they set the camber.. then set the toe, and we watched the camber go from -1.5 to -2.0. ??? So went back and redid the camber... and it affected the toe. At that point, they left everything loose, and adjusted each, back and forth until they got the toe and camber set. So... lesson there is, if you're doing your own alignments, go back and check everything after you're done - you're probably not.
Also interesting - My caster on the right side is less than the left, by about a half degree. I asked the alignment guy about this, and he said normally you want the right side with slightly more caster. I'm guessing one of two things are causing this, either when they welded up my frame, things weren't perfect, or that Brammo is copying the UK frame a little too closely in that location (ie right hand drive, left should have slightly more caster, as is my case).
My settings as I picked up the car from Brammo a year ago:
Front
camber - (L) -1.0 (R) -1.0
caster - (L) 4.0 (R) 2.7
Toe - (L) 0.00 (R) 0.00
Total Toe - 0.00
Rear
camber - (L) -1.2 (R) -1.2
Toe - (L) 0.01 (R) 0.01
Total toe .02 (in)
With new settings, measured by lasers attached to each wheel:
Front
camber - (L) -.98 (R) -1.02
caster - (L) 4.0 (R) 3.5 (why this has changed, I have no idea... but I trust these guys a lot more than les swab, and the change is in my favor so I'll take it )
Toe - (L) 0.16 (R) 0.15
Total Toe - 0.31 (out)
Rear
camber - (L) -1.48 (R) -1.52
Toe - (L) 0.22 (R) 0.19
Total toe - 0.41 (in)
Total cost $79.95, and I got to hang out in the shop and watch them do the work, which took a little over an hour.
Best $79.95 I've ever spent. The car drives like a dream now. Can't wait till the autox on April 20th!