DIY wheel alignment - anyone do it?
 

Just canvassing opinion on this one. Having rebuilt much of the front-end and now facing the alignment charge, I'm wondering who's successfully done their own alignment, and by which method?

Dougie.

I have done it in the past using pieces of wood. All seemed good on the road but for peace of mind I popped into the local tyre place as they were not going to charge me if it was OK. I was a mile off.

If I had rushed the job I would not have been surprised but I took my time and double checked everything.

When you consider what tyres cost alignment is cheap. Just make sure all the adjusters are copper greased and in my view it is money well spent.

4-Wheel alignment requires the rears to be set first so that the Thrust Angle is correct. Is there a DIY method for doing it? The fronts are then set against the proper rear setting.
Having had mine aligned at the local tyre depot, I found the rears could then be tuned to the sweet spot using a Gunson Trakrite gauge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0ytDJ0mJoQ


TC

I've used the string method in the past but usually just use my Gunsun Trakrite. Dont think garages with the right equipment can be asked to spend the time to get it any more accurate then what I can.

After I'd had four wheel tracking on new tyres done by MGR on a brand new laser rig, my Gunson gizmo indicated a small residual shear on both rears. Following a small tweek to get zero shear, the drive was noticably nicer. The Gunson hits your individual sweet spot. The Hunter tracking rig puts the wheels into specification. This is always a small range within which lies your sweet spot.


TC

You can do it yes. 4 axle stands set out in a measured rectangle, car in centre, string on each side with a bob weight to keep it taught then measure the distance from string to front of the wheel that's how the race cars do it all be it with a posh frame. Easier to get it laser aligned tho :D