Alignment Tools

OK, so I've decided to make the leap and buy real tools to do alignments with my car. What do you all recommend for a) toe and/or B) Camber?

I've been looking at the Fastrax Caster/Camber system with the Toe "wings" as a solution to all of the above, but I have my concerns about the limit of the camber measurement (±4º) and the adjustability to compensate for non-level surfaces (e.g. at the track).

I've also looked at the Smart Camber Digital system and have used something similar that I have made. It's nice and easy to use and quick to reset in non-level situations. However, it is a camber only solution and I'd need other ideas for toe measurement.

Any advice you all have would be helpful!

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Bill
Planet 6 Racing
bill (at) planet6racing (dot) com

I have a set of the "caliper" style, sliding-pointers-on-a-bar toe gauge that I'm confident gets me +/- 1/16th inch. I got them from a stock car outfitter but can't remember which one...

K

A level floor and string for toe;

a pyrometer and track time for camber.

I have had very good, repeatable results with toe plates. I made my own. It will not tell you relitive front to rear but great for setting front or rear. Strings for a true 4 wheel alignment.

Longacre toe plates for $57 for alignment

http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/item...?id=152&catid=5

and camber gauge for $130

http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/item...?id=129&catid=5

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Tim Linerud
San Francisco Region SCCA
#95 GP Wabbit
http://linerud.myvnc.com/racing/index.html

racer_tim @ yahoo dot com

[This message has been edited by racer_tim (edited March 21, 2005).]

I made cool little plates that sit inside the rim lip, and are held with small bungees. I hold my smart level against them and poof....camber is done. I check the ground first of course, then it's just a case of simple math. For the toe, I just clip on two inexpensive laser pointers, and point out and down to tape measures. It works for me because my ideal toe is close to zero, so I don't worry too much about the math! They can also be used to do some other front to rear checking.

The self leveling laser I have comes in VERY handy if I need to set up a flat plate, level scales, or to check anything against plumb, or to even transfer measurements from the chassis to a flat plate for measuring. There is no better one man labor saving device!

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Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by lateapex911 (edited March 21, 2005).]

The "caliper" type used by Kirk can be found here:

http://allstarperformance.carshopinc.com/p...c450fe0c171cae0

I have been using them for three years and they will get you there with a minimum of fuss. Important for me as I usually have no crew. For camber I use the smartlevel in the basic smartcamber frame.

Dave Z

Bill,
FYI: The Smart Camber Gauge can be used for caster also. When you buy the kit(from me of course) it, comes with all the directions,paperwork,etc to do both camber and caster. Give me a call and we can chat about my set up that i use.

Bob

Quote:

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Originally posted by 1stGenBoy:
Bill,
FYI: The Smart Camber Gauge can be used for caster also. When you buy the kit(from me of course) it, comes with all the directions,paperwork,etc to do both camber and caster. Give me a call and we can chat about my set up that i use.

Bob

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fyi, it's worth it to get the optional hands free adapter. Makes it much easier to use, i think.

s

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http://www.swltech.net/gallery/