DIY Wheel Alignment

Gaijin · 11 May 2016 at 14:20

nutcase_1uk said:
This. When I rebuilt my car with new everything, I had to start from scratch, so I took the time to measure it out with string. I then out of curiosity took it to Abbott Racing to get it checked (mainly wanted to be nosy and used it as an excuse to go there) - was bang on the centre of the required spec.

Thanks, that's good to hear. My garage is nice and flat - well from as much as you can tell from using a spirit level - it's one of the first things I checked.

xs2man · 11 May 2016 at 14:33

Gayjin said:
Reason for this is a while back I changed the suspension on my MX5 for some Koni Coilovers which i'm very pleased with. Aftwerwards, I wasn't able to immediately get a wheel alignment done, and noticed a bit of inside wear.

Then I got the alignment done, and some time has passed and I have recently noticed that the inside wear has progressed to the point of concern. I don't think the garage in question who did the alignment did much if anything.

I was always under the impression you should get the alignment done immediately following a suspension change. If the wear starts on a tyre, then it will continue even after the correction, as the tyre now already has a "rut to track" so to speak.

So it may not be the garage doing nothing, just you left it too late.

Gaijin · 11 May 2016 at 14:59

xs2man said:
I was always under the impression you should get the alignment done immediately following a suspension change. If the wear starts on a tyre, then it will continue even after the correction, as the tyre now already has a "rut to track" so to speak.

So it may not be the garage doing nothing, just you left it too late.

I'll certainly take that on board - I guess we'll see when I find out what the current geo is.

pepsilol · 11 May 2016 at 15:23

Will Gill said:
Don't think Ireland has postcodes, can give you the nearest leprechaun dealership if that helps?

Could have an Eircode ?

Tom_ed1987 · 11 May 2016 at 17:35

I've done it before with good results. To make it easier I used 2 lengths of aluminium bar front/rear with holes drilled equally in each for the string to pass through. You can then quickly set up on any car with differing track on front/rear axles simply by matching the distance from string to wheel hub centre either side of car.

If you want to play around with the effects of different toe alignments it's really the only way to go.

I wouldn't bother for a 1 off setup to factory specs though.