Tackle an alignment??

[DaSuprawolf]

Well today at work i stayed after to do an alignment on my car. My steering wheel has been cocked, and after lowering, of course the camber is a little on the negative side. After getting under the car, i was like "oh crap, those don't look so good". The turn dials for adjustments are really rusty, and don't look that easy to mess with.
Front toe shouldn't be a problem, but should i even try adjusting the others?
what have you done? how easy is this to do?
what do you guys think? Thanks, -Brian.

 

[Ckanderson]

pay for it... its easier and more accurate

 

[suprageezer]

I get mine done at the toyota dealer, Im on the second set of tires and have never had to rotate them, these supras have awesome suspensions once set right.

 

[DaSuprawolf]

well i actually work for Toyota, it was just after work and all the techs with experience with these type of alignments were gone.
I was just wondering if you guys done it your self and how it turned out.
plus some of the tabs holding the dial looked like they were bent out, this might be a lost cause, or quite a bit of money.
-thanks

 

[MmmBoost]

i did the alignment at my work also, and there is nothing that is hard.

first of all, i assume that you are using a good hunter or similar computer rig?

rear toe and camber is both adjustable, try and get the camber equal on both sides, and focus also on the toe being neutral (0 degree thrust angle)

after that, hit front camber and caster. our a-arm is set up with 2 cams, one in front and the other in back, rotate them the same direction to change camber, and the opposite direction to change caster. the actual numbers don't matter too much if you cant get them to stock specs since its lowered. the only numbers that really matter are the cross camber and cross caster (difference in between the 2) they should be within .5 degrees of each other, or it will cause a pull.

adjust in this order
rear camber, rear toe, front camber/caster, front toe.

the cams are loosened by loosening the bolt side (not the nut side) and then turning the nut side. make sure they are torqued to 85 ft lbs.


good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions. im an alignment tech at my work.

 

[DaSuprawolf]

sweet, thanks for the info and motivation!

the rig is the latest Hunter, really nice. I know about all alignment angles and such, i was just worried about even touching those cams.
thanks Mmmboost.

 

[Nick M]

Yeah, I am confused. If you are tech at Toyota, why are you asking people that don't know, how to align your car. I don't get it.

Pull the specs from TIS, you the machine does not have it. If you need to learn to do alignments, your dealer should have had you in chassis class.

I don't mean this to sound scolding. After I read it, it does, but it isn't.

 

[Facime]

He wasnt asking how to DO an alignment, I think he was looking for some advice on how difficult it will be to make the adjustments with everything all rusty and nasty looking.


before you tackle breaking that stuff loose, get a can of "Blaster" from wherever. Spray everything the night before, then again in the morning, then that evening when you have the use of the shop, spray again right before you work on it. That will help loosen stuff up a bit but Its still gonna be a bitch. My 86.5 had a real clean looking suspension and my alighment guy had a bitch of a time with it. My 89 is even worse.

be prepared though, if you break something you are probably gonna need to order it or boneyard it which will cost you time.

 

[DaSuprawolf]

believe me, we have more experience with these cars than the Toyota techs do. All they really do is maintenance on one to two year old cars. When i bring in my car their all like "wow, that brings back memories".
the reason i asked you guys is if you've done it your self, and how hard it really was. I was looking/hoping for replies like Mmmboost's. (thanks again)
Im only 20 years old and work at Toyota as a "lube tech" but i consider myself to know more than an average 20 year old gear head.
I've done several alignments before, just wanted to know if i should even mess with it.

 

[DaSuprawolf]

thanks Weezl.

 

[flight doc89]

be prepared though, if you break something you are probably gonna need to order it or boneyard it which will cost you time.

QFT, be prepared to cut out some bolts.

 

[lumpy]

Hey, I work at toyota too and we just got a new Hunter as well! It's pretty damn easy. If you are trying to do it w/o the rack forget it. If you are gonna do it on the hunter it's cake. As far as the eccentrics not moving just bust out a torch and heat 'em up. Remember though if you do use fire your adjustments will move as the metal expands/contracts. I JUST put my 88 on the rack Saturday and it was off all around. Only time I needed a torch was to loosen the inner/outer tie rods in front.

Take your time and do it right!
-Brian

 

[Nick M]

believe me, we have more experience with these cars than the Toyota techs do. All they really do is maintenance on one to two year old cars.

:bsflag:

Who is we? The internet community? Are you kidding me?

 

[Junior]

he's actually correct, most dealerships only have experience with cars made in the last few years, on something like ours they'll be consulting the book same as us.

That said, I think their reading skills and readiness to read the book probably exceeds that of the average member here. Which is really sad.

 

[DaSuprawolf]

oh i not know, maybe the people who own MKIII supras?
All but one or two techs at my work tell me they dont know anything about my car.

 

[Nick M]

Huh. I was one of seventy five or so the last time I worked at Toyota. There ins't really a "Supra guy". Anywhere. It is just a Toyota. There isn't something special that nobody understands.

 

[Nick M]

Nevermind. Just get done what you need to. With the stock specs, the car handles very well.