Does anyone do their own alignments? What do you use to measure camber? I was thinking about getting a nice camber gauge, something more accurate and easier to use than using a plumb and measuring.
They have a rebco one at summit that attaches right to spindle. Havent seen any reviews on it or anything, not much info on thier website either.
Maybe I will just get a angle finder and straightedge.
Any reason why you want to do your own alignments?
I will look when I get home, turbo mag or sport compact did a review on one, like a month ago.
Jeller
I was going to say use a digital angle finder and a straight edge across the rim’s lip. But all the angle finders are only accurate to .5* and cost $100-$200.
Until I found this… http://www.wixey.com/anglegauge/index.html
Ask Sureshot007…I think he does his own alignments.
I found it for ya:
http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/tech/0711_sccp_fastrax_camber_caster_gauge/index.html
I do my camber using trig 
Make sure the both tires are inflated to the same pressure, and you are on level ground with the wheels straight forward. Using a ruler, and something that will sit flat on the ground and taller than the wheel (like a large t-square), and a scientific caculator. Place t-square on ground next to wheel. Pick a spot to measure from - I usually use the lip of the wheel. Measure the distance from the t-square to the bottom lip (a), and to the top lip (b), and the distance between the two points on the t-square ©.
theta = arc tan [(b-a)/c]
on scientific calculators, arc tan may look like tan^-1
I think this fastrax tool would be easier to use, and more accurate. I think it will cost me about as much as one alignment done at shop. I got charged 90 bucks for a rear wheel alignment last time I went in.
I have the smart camber tool which seems to work great. A buddy of mine has been aligning their GT3 and IT cars with one for years with great results. He even compared their alignment to a new snap-on machine, measured by a snap-on factory rep (from what I was told) and its was dead on.
I measure toe with strings.
Dan
Here is a quick look at my setup. I stole this from another forum that I post on…
After waiting weeks for Racer Parts Wholesale to replace my damaged in shipping Camber gauge I was finally able to set things up and get a decent reading of the rear alignment.
Here are a few shots of the “tools” , two of which I got at Walmart for 4.62 each ;).
Here is the setup I am using to measure toe. Basically just some 1/2" conduit jack stands, and fishing line. Eventually I would like to attach this to the car so I can easily roll the car between adjustments. For now I was just doing the rear so it should be fine.
and the toe gauge in use (yes a tape measure would work here, but I thought to keep things more repeatable I would buy this)
Finally the camber gauge…
I really need to double check the level of my floor before I make any changes to the camber but I think Im pretty close, probably within 0.1-0.2 degrees.
RR
0 toe
-0.4 deg neg camber
LR 1/16" toe
0 deg camber
So I have a little shimming to do but nothing major. Im pretty happy considering I cut the rear axle beam up and narrowed it 2" overall and welded the hub plates back on.
More to come, Im sure the front will be much more intersting.
I really need to get the scales back and cornerweight the car before I do much more alignment work.
Dan
+1 :tup: It takes longer, but can be doen. Idid it almost the same way.
Juicedz4 has a nice setup, you can get those a few places, I have some SCCA and Racer Mags with ads for similar equipment, they aren’t that expensive if you plan on doing your own alignments regularly.
true^^ thats my next investment
