I understand the concept of adjusting ride height to get cross-weights close...but what about spring preload and other things that I'm leaving out which is certainly a long list considering this post is only one sentence long.

Everyone around here wants from $400-1200 to corner my car, so I think buying a set is the right idea.

 

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=381226

Buying a set...... Of scales?

I have the Proform scales coming in tomorrow and will let you know if they are worth a $**** or not. If they are, they were just a hair over 700 sitting on my doorstep.

 

1200? Tell them to DIAF.

 

Sure would be nice to have a decent scale set-up available. Wish I had the time to get to West End while I was in LA.

I too want to learn a cheap way to do this.

 

Buy my old scales I picked up on here a few years back that's still sitting in the box I got them in, then youtube cross weight


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZhZS...eature=channel

 

Um... how much for the scales?

 

Tuner/race shops are expensive here too, but there must be a SM racer near you who has scales and won't rape your wallet. I had mine done along with a minor alignment tweaking for $100 up at Summit Point. I don't mind paying that on a very infrequent basis, though I'd like to own scales some day.

 

I have a set of these Longacre scales, but I think I paid about $1200, so either their prices have gone up or I bought them through vendor at discount. It was about 5 years ago, so my memory is fuzzy.

I use Accu-Line bolt on alignment plates and the ICM alignment strings + digital camber gauge when I do my corner balancing and then alignments. The plates were a bit pricey(like $600), but WELL worth it. I have used the scales and alignment plates about 20 times, mostly during tech days to help other people corner weight, but just in the savings to myself of doing my own setups everything is almost paid for in savings alone.

The plates are awesome because:

• no need for setup jacks to get undercarriage clearance for accessing the alignment bolts
• easy access to coilover collars for cornerweighting, so no need to remove the wheels each time you make a change(major PITA savings)
• No need for roll on/off pads(built in locking sliders)
• SUPER accurate - no variables introduced by tires or wheels
• easy to level the corners using a DIY pvc water pipe setup(built in water scales)
• incorporated toe plates on ALL 4 hubs allowing you to CW, then align and then recheck CW before slapping the wheels back on.

So far, no issues with the scales - I am very happy I bought them.

 

I've thought about buying that alignment stuff to save cash in the long-run.

 

http://images.harborfreight.com/manu...5999/45742.pdf

I can't find them on the site though. They are an expensive alternative to stacked wax paper and tile flooring.

I have Smart Strings sitting in a box waiting on the scales to get here. Again, if you wait a couple days, I'll let you know how they work and take pictures of the setup. With the smart strings, your supposed to be able to mount them on any car, which will save money in the long run even with DD's that the morons at the alignment shop can never get right.

 

I bought the lifetime alignment at brake check, so everytime i fubar my suspension, or change it, they put it back to the specs i want.

 

Most of the places around here who align cars for less than $300 will tell me the car is "done" with up to 1* variance in any measurement.

 

that sux *****. i sit in mine while the guy is doing the adj. and he shows me where it's at and asks if i'm happy. my variance is 0.1* on the newest hunter alignment setup.

 

Around here, all we get are toe and go shops.

 

I tip my alignment guy, it goes a long way.

 

Word. I'm using NTB who has a Hunter machine and techs that will do what you ask within the adjustment limits. I tip them after they are done so they are helpful next time I come in.

 

Get some wireless scales so you can sit in the car with the display box. Also I have this great xls sheet where you plug in your current numbers and it will tell you what to do.

 

Holy S!

NFW would I pay that. ~$150-200 gets me aligned & corner balanced, to my specs, with me in the car. Plenty of discussion about it too, if I want, including a review of previous setups I've run.

Takes a couple of hours to do it with a lift, turn plates on tables, and John Beam setup, can't imagine how long it would take at home . I've spoken to racers who have spent an entire weekend with strings, and only ended up tired, po'd, and unsure of their setup.

 

Wanna share that spreadsheet??

 

Here is an article on corner weighing.

Also, this website is AWESOME. I recommend a full read.

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets11.html