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4/27/2017 8:12 PM  #1


DIY home alignment

OK, now I have a few posts under my belt I can  copy and paste some stuff. This is actually my second write up I did. I'm just a week end warrior but this shows what you can do if you try. I'd be lying if I said the Ford shop manual wasn't a big help to me. This is a link to my first write up on Bangshift.  http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum/bangshift/general-discussion/1045456-setting-caster-and-camber



Recently I swapped out my old drums and 66 spindles for a set of 72 discs with stronger spindles. I wanted to check my camber since it looked like I gained a little more between different spindles and springs settling a bit since I did my suspension 2 years ago. In the middle of installing my Street or Track suspension when it hit me how helpful it would be doing my own alignment even though I never did one before. I spent about $125 on a gauge and did a successful alignment. At the time I set camber at 1 3/8*neg camber and 3.5* caster with 1/16" toe in. the car drove great but I did have a bump steer issue going over crests in roads or RR tracks. With the 72 discs, I installed a Baer bumpsteer kit. I didn't make any real attempt at setting bump steer which I plan on doing. I simply installed all the spacers and called it a day. It's a lot better! I plan on doing more on the bump steer later on, just mentioning it now.

So, here are all the photos! I checked camber on both sides before I started, it was just a tick over 1 3/4* neg on both sides. This is the left side.

  

This is the right side. As you can see, I had them pretty even. I'm pretty lucky as I have a section in my garage where the floor is dead flat.

  

First part of doing alignment, I had the wheels straight and needed a line on the floor parallel to the wheels. I used this piece of angle aluminum and drew a line on the floor with a pencil.

 
   

A little background info is helpful at this point.According to the Ford shop manual a 1/32" shim is worth approximately 1/2* of caster and 1/16" shim on both bolts is worth approximately 1/3* of camber. Armed with that info I went on. Previously my left upper control arm was installed with no shims. I had to add a 1/32" to each bolt on the upper control arm to make camber even with the left side or very close anyway. I ended up with a base line of 1 3/8* neg camber. I was now at 1 3/4* neg camber. I could have left it but I didn't really see a need for that much. I wanted to back down to around 1* neg camber. I also wanted to increase my caster a little bit. Why? because I can! So I set my shim packs up. On the right, 1/32" on both to equalized both sides. Then I added a 1/16" to bolt bolts on both sides to reduce camber a little bit and then added a 1/16" to the leading bolt for a little extra caster. I know, why didn't I just make the leading shim a 1/8" instead of 2, 1/16"? Now I can easily alter caster and camber equally on both sides. Everything is known. If I want a little more caster, just yank out the 1/16" on both sides and replace with 1/8" and caster will be equal. It'll add about 1/2* in my case with my set up.

Right side shim pack.

  

Left side shim pack.

  



If you noticed, the end of the gauge is angled at 40*, this gives me 2, 20* angles needed for caster and hence the pencil line on the floor.

This is the left wheel. I turned the wheels 20* to the left and zeroed the caster at 0* and the bubble at the end is level as well.

  

Now I have turned the left wheel to the right 40*. You'll notice the bubble says 4* caster in the center.

  

Here's the right side, turned 20* to the right and gauge zeroed.



Now, the wheel turned 40* to the left and caster is 4* according to the bubble.

  


Here's a picture of the shims installed, right side shown.



I also adjusted the strut on the right side because when I check caster I was about 1/4* off in caster. I'm anal and I could adjust it.

  so I did! It took a very minute adjustment of the rod, maybe 1/16th or less. 

Here's the camber on the left side, reading about 1 3/8*, you'll notice 1 side of the bubble is on the 1* mark.

  

Here's the right side. Pretty good, huh?

  

Sorry no pictures on setting toe. Between being sick, roto tilling and slugs of beer I set the toe. I was at 5/16" toe in. I set it to 1/8". I had to turn the left sleeve towards the front about 1/16th of a turn and the right side the same amount except to the firewall. OK, so I set this all up in my garage. How does it compare to a laser alignment in a garage? I bet pretty good. Not that I'm a cocky SOB but simply because I put the attention into it. What good is a laser alignment by someone who doesn't give a crap and simply sets each side with in range even though they're at opposite ends of the spectrum? I like the spindle mount gauge with it's 40* angle. It's easy to install, easy to use. I took my TTD's off and put my old steel wheels on because I was too lazy to make an extension to thread on to the spindle threads but I will make one...one day. BTW, I'm not a professional mechanic, just a weekend warrior. It just takes the willingness to try and a couple hours, the results are well worth the effort. IMO a caster camber gauge should be part of your tool box. It'll pay for itself very shortly

I hope you enjoyed my write up. I forgot to mention I used 3 mil black plastic contractor garbage bags folded up for my turn tables, they work great for that! Oh, the car drives very nicely the short bit I drove it.Funny, the car steers very easy even with the 4* caster. Not sure if it's because of the rod ends in place of the tie rods or different angles of the tie rod arms since they're a little lower. Whatever it is, it's easier then when it was set at 3.5*with the stock spindles.


I'm not a complete idiot.....pieces are missing. Tom
 

4/27/2017 8:30 PM  #2


Re: DIY home alignment

Nice write up.

Just additional info
Cars equipped with MustangSteve Cobra or GT front brake brackets can read caster directly off the lower edge of the brackets with a digital level without having to steer the wheels back and forth.
Camber can be read directly by placing the level on the inner surface of the rotor.   This feature makes alignments super simple with the purchase of a $30 digital level from Home Depot.

Then all you need is a tape measure to measure toe.

I am thinking a 65/66 with 67 or later spindles will always experience bumpsteer when topping a rise in the road due to the difference in ackerman angle.  I don't think you will get it all of the way out with a bumpsteer kit because the bumpsteer is caused by the ackerman angle differences rather than a car being lowered and having original spindles. The ackerman differences cause the tie rod assembly to be nearly 3/4" shorter than stock length.  My opinion, based on prior experience. Your results may vary due to vehicle ride height, shocks, springs, etc.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

4/27/2017 9:06 PM  #3


Re: DIY home alignment

MS wrote:

Nice write up.

Just additional info
Cars equipped with MustangSteve Cobra or GT front brake brackets can read caster directly off the lower edge of the brackets with a digital level without having to steer the wheels back and forth.
Camber can be read directly by placing the level on the inner surface of the rotor. This feature makes alignments super simple with the purchase of a $30 digital level from Home Depot.

Then all you need is a tape measure to measure toe.

I am thinking a 65/66 with 67 or later spindles will always experience bumpsteer when topping a rise in the road due to the difference in ackerman angle. I don't think you will get it all of the way out with a bumpsteer kit because the bumpsteer is caused by the ackerman angle differences rather than a car being lowered and having original spindles. The ackerman differences cause the tie rod assembly to be nearly 3/4" shorter than stock length. My opinion, based on prior experience. Your results may vary due to vehicle ride height, shocks, springs, etc.

Actually when I first started I was going to try to make something to mount on the upper and lower ball joints but I just really didn't have to room to work or see.

As far as the bumpsteer, as you see I have Street or Track suspension. When I first had the car on the road with the stock 66 spindles I was expecting some bump steer issues since a lot was changed and the car was sitting about 1.5" lower. Nothing, nada. As I got a few miles on the car it showed up. I lived with it because I knew I was going to swap spindles. I don't believe Ackerman issue. The wheel base is exactly the same from 65 to 70 so the Ackerman should be the same. I'm not sure if you're aware of CSRP brakes but they make copies of the KH set up. They also reproduce the Granada spindle in direct form as well as corrected for the 65/66 cars. I spoke with the owner of CSRP, Dennis. He told me the only difference between the 65/66 and the 67 & up spindle is not the angle for Ackerman but the horizontal offset. The 65/66 have .500" more offset.

Working on my car what I discovered was the suspension has a more travel then the tie rods do. Or at least the rod end on the Baer kit. The rod end would run out of travel, bind up at which point the the camber went positive and the tires toed in. It could be that rod end has less travel but I can't help wonder if this is the real issue and stock tie rods run out of travel just like the rod end but obscured by the boot?

Street or Track also makes a coil over version. I was talking with another member on the VMF a few years ago on something else. I was asking him if he was having bump steer issues. He use to road race. He told me he was not having any issues while I was. We both had the stock 66 spindles. His alignment was so close to mine it was almost exactly the same. what we discovered was I had more travel then he did.

I also calculated at 5* caster, this lowers the tie rod about .500" closer to the road surface, the same as stock spindles with stock caster setting of 0* So that should help is my thought when swapping later spindles on providing you can get 5*.



I had this gap also on the ball joint boot. The other guy did not have this gap. This is why I suspect too much travel is a big problem. As of now i have my car driving great,


 


I'm not a complete idiot.....pieces are missing. Tom
     Thread Starter
 

4/27/2017 9:52 PM  #4


Re: DIY home alignment

Ackerman differences on the spindles are easily measured. Track width is wider on 67-73 Mustangs compared to 65/66.  That is why spindles have different ackerman.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

4/27/2017 10:41 PM  #5


Re: DIY home alignment

MS wrote:

Ackerman differences on the spindles are easily measured. Track width is wider on 67-73 Mustangs compared to 65/66. That is why spindles have different ackerman.

Hmmm, you bring up something I hadn't thought about, the track width. I'll have to PM you when I'm not tired and falling asleep. it's good to get some fresh blood and different perspective of something.


I'm not a complete idiot.....pieces are missing. Tom
     Thread Starter
 

4/28/2017 2:52 PM  #6


Re: DIY home alignment

Thanks for sharing this Huskinhano.  I appreciate the time it took to take pics and do this write-up.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Where did you purchase the gauge? Was it from www.goracin.com as the gauge says on it?
2. How did you learn how to use the gauge? (If I had one I don't think I'd know how to use it.)

 

 

4/28/2017 5:09 PM  #7


Re: DIY home alignment

Michael H. wrote:

Thanks for sharing this Huskinhano.  I appreciate the time it took to take pics and do this write-up.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Where did you purchase the gauge? Was it from www.goracin.com as the gauge says on it?
2. How did you learn how to use the gauge? (If I had one I don't think I'd know how to use it.)

 

Glad you liked it. I bought it off eBay. It's basically a rebadged Longeacre. Longeacre is a US company that makes this type of stuff used by guys who are road racing or what ever. Goracin is in Nevada. It come with simple, easy to read instructions. If you know how to use a simple torpedo level, you have this licked. It's like anything else you have to use it and get comfortable with it. I still go back and look at the instructions.

One thing you're going to learn about me. I'm very vocal and just love to get on my soap box and preach about it. Once you do it, you'll understand why. The whole thing about this is you will pay more attention to details doing this on your car that will make up for any inaccuracies. The alignment is only going to be as good as the person doing it. I won't lie either. I relied and used the Ford shop manual. It's worth it's Weight in gold.


I'm not a complete idiot.....pieces are missing. Tom
     Thread Starter
 

5/01/2017 9:21 AM  #8


Re: DIY home alignment

Huskinhano wrote:

Michael H. wrote:

Thanks for sharing this Huskinhano.  I appreciate the time it took to take pics and do this write-up.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Where did you purchase the gauge? Was it from www.goracin.com as the gauge says on it?
2. How did you learn how to use the gauge? (If I had one I don't think I'd know how to use it.)

 

Glad you liked it. I bought it off eBay. It's basically a rebadged Longeacre. Longeacre is a US company that makes this type of stuff used by guys who are road racing or what ever. Goracin is in Nevada. It come with simple, easy to read instructions. If you know how to use a simple torpedo level, you have this licked. It's like anything else you have to use it and get comfortable with it. I still go back and look at the instructions.

One thing you're going to learn about me. I'm very vocal and just love to get on my soap box and preach about it. Once you do it, you'll understand why. The whole thing about this is you will pay more attention to details doing this on your car that will make up for any inaccuracies. The alignment is only going to be as good as the person doing it. I won't lie either. I relied and used the Ford shop manual. It's worth it's Weight in gold.

Good deal.  I know how to use a level and I can read and follow directions and I have a Ford shop manual.  (I was just afraid the gauge wouldn't come with any directions and expect you to already know how to use it.)
Sounds like I just need to get the gauge and I'll be good to go.
Thanks again for sharing this.  My car needs an alignment before I take it on a road trip to The Bash in Oct.  I've been dreading trying to deal with a local shop and trust them to do it right... sounds like I need to just do it my-own-self.

 

Board footera


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