Car cant be alligned

[xzeror]

Took my car to get alligned after i got new ball joints, at autozone they said they couldnt becuase it was lowered and stuff. but the guy went along with the allignment and afterwards he said it wasnt fixed, but it was much better than before. I noticed that there was tire wear on the inside, and the guy who did the allignment pointed it out that the right rear camber bolt was different than the other one i guess someone changed it. But anyway the steering wheel was very close to center, and until yesterday i had to slam on my brakes because some asshole cut me off made the tires screech/lock up, i noticed that my steering wheel had gone way off, im not sure if its me or not but i dont recall it being like that after the allignment. What could have caused this? i searched around the forum and found that people bought camber kits but i thoguht that was only for cars that have been lowered a lot.

ooh the car needed to be alligned before too just never took it to get alligned becuase i did not have powersteering and wanted to get new ball joints before i did.

Can slamming on the brakes mis allign the car :S?

After the allignment the car pulled to the right, and after slamming on the brakes the car pulls to the left.

 

[IJ.]

Front shouldn't be an issue as there's enough adjustment even lowered, rear can be a problem as once you drop it they can either get Toe correct or Camber correct but not both.

Only way hitting the brakes would change anything is if they didn't do up and adjuster tightly enough and it's moved.

 

[xzeror]

so i would have to go to somewhere where they specialize in alligning cars that have been lowered? since autozone only has the oem specs? and i believe i have camber on the rear tires buying a camber kit would help get rid of it?

 

[IJ.]

Only way I've found to do it right is to shorten the lower transverse arms 15mm each, this puts the adjusters back in the middle of their range.

 

[xzeror]

did you cut then weld it back together?

 

[IJ.]

Yep cut on a diagonal so you get a longer/stronger weld.

 

[Who]

I see you live in Miramar, FL. Try calling Pete at the Davie Tire Outlet 954 321 6618. He has been in the tire and alignment business for over 30 years. If Pete can't do it he will let you know and he is honest. . If Pete can't fix you up than you need to go see the alignment nazi at Weber Wheel Alignment, West Palm beach (561)585-4886. They specialize in aligning modded cars and trucks. It won't be cheap at Weber so bring all your spare change.

 

[xzeror]

I see you live in Miramar, FL. Try calling Pete at the Davie Tire Outlet 954 321 6618. He has been in the tire and alignment business for over 30 years. If Pete can't do it he will let you know and he is honest. . If Pete can't fix you up than you need to go see the alignment nazi at Weber Wheel Alignment, West Palm beach (561)585-4886. They specialize in aligning modded cars and trucks. It won't be cheap at Weber so bring all your spare change.

ty i will call him

 

[survyor2]

I see you live in Miramar, FL. Try calling Pete at the Davie Tire Outlet 954 321 6618. He has been in the tire and alignment business for over 30 years. If Pete can't do it he will let you know and he is honest. . If Pete can't fix you up than you need to go see the alignment nazi at Weber Wheel Alignment, West Palm beach (561)585-4886. They specialize in aligning modded cars and trucks. It won't be cheap at Weber so bring all your spare change.

Thanks for the WPB number. I was going to look for a shop tomorrow.

 

[lewis15498]

Also wouldnt trust AZ to align it.

 

[YoungGunSupra]

sorry to thread jack but does anyone know of a good place to get the alignment in southern california?

 

[A. Jay]

I've had 2 out of 2 good experiences with big-o tires, if that helps.

On the second one they aligned it to the specs of a '97 non-turbo supra. That's what the sheet said, along with a lot of numbers in red font (they said it came with age, and that they evened things out on both sides so it'll still drive "normal" enough). I pointed that out and they said that computer might have the same specs for both models, that they type the VIN in so there can't be a mistake, but they'll double check. They printed out a sheet of OEM specs for my year, laid them side-by-side for all three of us to see (two people were taking care of me at this point), and yea, way off. They said that they're sorry, and if I had time they'll throw back on the lift immedietly. Afterwards, they gave me a new sheet with everything in green, and said again sorry and complimented me on noticing that.

I'll keep the first experience short: The car wasn't alright, but a place didn't say that. I had to align it again and this time went to big-o, and they let me know of the problem.

Anyways, I'd go there again.

 

[xzeror]

ok well i took a hard turn where i felt the car slide and the steering wheel is back to where it was almost in the middle and it pulls to the right again...i think its what IJ said they didnt tighten everything up, going to take it back probably tommorow

 

[Keros]

IJ, when chopping out 15mm of the lower rear arm, can you/should you splint the weld with some metal plate to add a little extra strength?

 

[supraduper]

if your wheel is changing locations when you hit a hard turn you have other issues, like your p/s rack bushings are worn and shifting... or you have bad control arm busings, causing them to shift under severe load.. definitely have to start with faulty suspension components before any alignment will be effective

 

[Satan]

^^Exactly. Don't let them give you that "lowered" BS. On my 91 (using Eibach springs and Tokico struts), after replacing all of the suspension bushings, the front aligned great. The rear had some issues, until I replaced the rear subframe bushings.

On my 87T, there in Florida... same suspension setup (w/stock bushings) and never an alignment issue from being lowered. If you have some custom stuff done to lower (like cut springs), that may be another issue. If you did not tell them it was lowered, they would just shut up and align it (providing the rest of the suspension is in good enough shape). Alot of shops will ask you, just so that they can charge that "extra" for the service.

Good luck!

 

[IJ.]

IJ, when chopping out 15mm of the lower rear arm, can you/should you splint the weld with some metal plate to add a little extra strength?

Nope that's why I did the angle cut so the weld is longer and diagonal against the load, mine was done back in 97 with no signs of cracking.

^^Exactly. Don't let them give you that "lowered" BS. On my 91 (using Eibach springs and Tokico struts), after replacing all of the suspension bushings, the front aligned great. The rear had some issues, until I replaced the rear subframe bushings.

On my 87T, there in Florida... same suspension setup (w/stock bushings) and never an alignment issue from being lowered. If you have some custom stuff done to lower (like cut springs), that may be another issue. If you did not tell them it was lowered, they would just shut up and align it (providing the rest of the suspension is in good enough shape). Alot of shops will ask you, just so that they can charge that "extra" for the service.

Good luck!

Well guess I'm just a fucking moron then that knows nothing and people should just ignore me......

 

[xzeror]

if your wheel is changing locations when you hit a hard turn you have other issues, like your p/s rack bushings are worn and shifting... or you have bad control arm busings, causing them to shift under severe load.. definitely have to start with faulty suspension components before any alignment will be effective

i just got my fresh rack and pinion and ball joints then thats when i sent it to get alligned.

 

[IJ.]

i just got my fresh rack and pinion and ball joints then thats when i sent it to get alligned.

Did you fit new Rubbers?
(look at RonnieK's poly rack mounts well worth the effort)

 

[xzeror]

how will i know i need new rack mounts and im not sure if they fit new rubbers, but thats a good deal from RonnieK if i do need them i will send him a pm. what do i look for just if they are old and worn?