can i align truck myself
- Thread starter sychris
- Start date
randy merritt
Donating Member
Re: can i align truck myself
no
no
sytyguy
Moderated User
Re: can i align truck myself
Of course you can. The quality of the result will depend on the time invested, the condition of your steering/suspension, and the availability and quality of the tools you use (specialty tools). I have a digital camber gauge and toe plates from our race team, and I can get my vehicles just as accurately aligned as any shop IMO. It's just math....not rocket science (which is also math, so maybe it is rocket science :lol
.
Now, had the question been, "Is it easier to align my truck myself?" then "No" might have been a correct answer.
Here's some online resources:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/get-in-line-do-it-yourself-wheel-alignment
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/chassis/hrdp_0411_wheel_alignment_guide/
:tdown:
Of course you can. The quality of the result will depend on the time invested, the condition of your steering/suspension, and the availability and quality of the tools you use (specialty tools). I have a digital camber gauge and toe plates from our race team, and I can get my vehicles just as accurately aligned as any shop IMO. It's just math....not rocket science (which is also math, so maybe it is rocket science :lol
.Now, had the question been, "Is it easier to align my truck myself?" then "No" might have been a correct answer.
Here's some online resources:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/get-in-line-do-it-yourself-wheel-alignment
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/chassis/hrdp_0411_wheel_alignment_guide/
JSM
Active member
Re: can i align truck myself
Do you honestly think the monkey's at alignment shop are really THAT good? Sure they have some fancy equipment and need it to compensate for lack of suspension understanding, as it allows them to look for the screen to turn green and nothing more.
10+ years ago I had an alignment done, the job was so horrible I bought a caster/camber guage and have never paid for one since, and don't regret it one bit. I am more confident in my own alignment than the HS drop out kid at the alignment stores ability to decode colors on a computer screen.
Do you honestly think the monkey's at alignment shop are really THAT good? Sure they have some fancy equipment and need it to compensate for lack of suspension understanding, as it allows them to look for the screen to turn green and nothing more.
10+ years ago I had an alignment done, the job was so horrible I bought a caster/camber guage and have never paid for one since, and don't regret it one bit. I am more confident in my own alignment than the HS drop out kid at the alignment stores ability to decode colors on a computer screen.
bshaw1979
New member
Re: can i align truck myself
I work at a shop and also do alignments. I wouldnt call myself a "monkey" as you say. Just get it to green and call it good is just ignorant thing to say. Go do a alignment with your string then i guess. Let me know how that works out.
I work at a shop and also do alignments. I wouldnt call myself a "monkey" as you say. Just get it to green and call it good is just ignorant thing to say. Go do a alignment with your string then i guess. Let me know how that works out.
sytyguy
Moderated User
Re: can i align truck myself
Don't think Jeff was calling you out. Obviously, not all alignment techs are muppets (e.g. Sally is a girl....not all girls are named Sally), but what Jeff is saying holds true.....there are idiots at alignment shops and if you're excluding yourself from that group, then count yourself in the minority. FACT - a tape measure, string and some rudimentary tools will do just as good of a job as the latest in alignment tech. At the basic level, the computer is automating what you'd do with simple tools anyhow (think calculator to abacus).
Now, is it easier and (possibly) cheaper to find a reputable alignment shop and have them do it? Sure. But that hold true for sandwich making as well and I still have bread, meat, and cheese in my house.
Don't think Jeff was calling you out. Obviously, not all alignment techs are muppets (e.g. Sally is a girl....not all girls are named Sally), but what Jeff is saying holds true.....there are idiots at alignment shops and if you're excluding yourself from that group, then count yourself in the minority. FACT - a tape measure, string and some rudimentary tools will do just as good of a job as the latest in alignment tech. At the basic level, the computer is automating what you'd do with simple tools anyhow (think calculator to abacus).
Now, is it easier and (possibly) cheaper to find a reputable alignment shop and have them do it? Sure. But that hold true for sandwich making as well and I still have bread, meat, and cheese in my house.
atkonkler
Is this your bush?
Re: can i align truck myself
Find an old school shop that still does alignments without a computer. ..they tend to know the vehicles better than your typical slack jawed yokel behind s hunter alignment machine...I do believe there is a good spec sheet floating around on syty.
Find an old school shop that still does alignments without a computer. ..they tend to know the vehicles better than your typical slack jawed yokel behind s hunter alignment machine...I do believe there is a good spec sheet floating around on syty.
bshaw1979
New member
Re: can i align truck myself
Don't really understand this thinking. Technology doesn't work backwards.
Don't really understand this thinking. Technology doesn't work backwards.
mattw
Active member
Re: can i align truck myself
I also have a caster/camber gauge and do my own alignments. I made jigs to hold the gauge and allow me to measure tow in/out. If you decide to go this route prepare to spend a lot of time doing the 1st alignment or two. Once you get the hang of it things will go much quicker.
I also have a caster/camber gauge and do my own alignments. I made jigs to hold the gauge and allow me to measure tow in/out. If you decide to go this route prepare to spend a lot of time doing the 1st alignment or two. Once you get the hang of it things will go much quicker.
Re: can i align truck myself
A person with years of experience will know what vehicles like what settings. A machine just goes by the given range. But, you can still make those measurements with a computer just as easily as by string and measuring tape.
I have to find it but I have a spread sheet on Excel that makes doing it yourself much easier.
A person with years of experience will know what vehicles like what settings. A machine just goes by the given range. But, you can still make those measurements with a computer just as easily as by string and measuring tape.
I have to find it but I have a spread sheet on Excel that makes doing it yourself much easier.
bshaw1979
New member
Re: can i align truck myself
Will not be as accurate and will take 10 times longer. Thats my point
Will not be as accurate and will take 10 times longer. Thats my point
Typhoon#747
Donating Member
Re: can i align truck myself
It all depends on how much your time is worth. If you want to spend 4 hours on your knees; jacking up, adjusting, fooling with a string and a tape measure, jacking up, more adjusting, etc. and so on... By all means, go for it. I would rather take it to an alignment professional that someone has recommended or one that has good reviews. It's generally $100 or less with a coupon. My 4 hours are worth more than that.
Some things are best left for purpose built equipment and professionals.
It all depends on how much your time is worth. If you want to spend 4 hours on your knees; jacking up, adjusting, fooling with a string and a tape measure, jacking up, more adjusting, etc. and so on... By all means, go for it. I would rather take it to an alignment professional that someone has recommended or one that has good reviews. It's generally $100 or less with a coupon. My 4 hours are worth more than that.
Some things are best left for purpose built equipment and professionals.
mattw
Active member
Re: can i align truck myself
4 hours maybe the 1st time.. An hour or two the 2nd time.. 45 minutes or less once you get good at it..
Shops around here are ~$50 and I'm too cheap to pay that..
I figure my tool paid for itself after the 1st 2 alignments I did. I enjoyed learning how to do an alignment and I'm very happy that I can do it myself since I seem to like taking things apart over and over thus requiring a re-alignment..
4 hours maybe the 1st time.. An hour or two the 2nd time.. 45 minutes or less once you get good at it..
Shops around here are ~$50 and I'm too cheap to pay that..
I figure my tool paid for itself after the 1st 2 alignments I did. I enjoyed learning how to do an alignment and I'm very happy that I can do it myself since I seem to like taking things apart over and over thus requiring a re-alignment..
sytyguy
Moderated User
Re: can i align truck myself
The original question was CAN I? Not should I. And to answer his question....YES, you can. And you mind find it has it's own reward, despite the extra time spent doing it.
This gets to the core of hotrodding itself. If this mentality were taken for the last 60+ years by everyone, I'd hate to see where we'd be today (in the hotrodding and modding community in general). Truth be told, some people don't care if it's more cost effective, efficient, and painless to take it elsewhere.....they still want to do it themselves to gain a better understanding of their vehicle and make them a better all-around mechanic. I doubt Grumpy Jenkins took his daily driver to the dealer when it needed a tune-up, and to a lesser extent, some of us want to do it because WE CAN. Plain and simple.
The original question was CAN I? Not should I. And to answer his question....YES, you can. And you mind find it has it's own reward, despite the extra time spent doing it.