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do-it-yourself alignment update 200 1993

I realized I never posted back on this one. I tried to do the toe in by making what I thought were small adjustments based on how the car went down the road and measurements using carpentry-type tools. Before a long trip late last year I got a real alignment done and was able to observe and talk to the mechanic doing the work. Turns out I wasn't far off, but my small adjustments were way too big compared to what the mechanic was doing - 1/16 rotation, I would guess. Anyway, what turned out to be out of alignment, was the pasenger side camber - and this was an eye-opener too - had replaced strut inserts and been meticulous about marking the position of the top nuts, but on the driver's side, I actually ended up having to replace the whole strut with a junk yard one and ended up partially obscuring my marking on that side. The unexpected bit here was that the driver's side camber was bang on and the passenger's side needed to be moved quite a bit. By the way, before the alignment, I was really not seeing any driveability issues or tire wear, but afterwards the car did steer better.

Ron
93 245, 210k
near Brantford, ON, Canada








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do-it-yourself alignment update 200 1993



I used the "two tape measure" method after rebuilding the front end, and with new strut assemblies. Worked out pretty well. The car tracked straight and true... just took a few iterations to get the steering wheel to be straight when the car was going straight! :-)

I think the final result was better than what a crappy shop could do, but not as precise as a shop with a high quality alignment machine. Since I live out in the sticks, where the good shops don't have alignment equipment, I think I'll keep at the DIY method. Kinda fun...

-Ryan

--

Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars
1991 745 GL 300k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars







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