Has anyone done their own around here?
I'd be grateful if you could walk me through (hands on, of course).

Thanks!

 

With how cheap, fast, and good lester is at apex it doesnt really make sense to do it yourself. 80 bucks and you can relax in your drivers seat for 45 minutes while he sets the alignment to within 0.00 of your requested specs on his laser rig. Toss in another $50 and another 15 minutes in the drivers seat and he'll corner weight it.

 

There's no question as to how good Les is. (Btw, last couple of times he would not let either me or my buddy sit in the car. And, I was not too happy with the rake he put on. But, I guess I should have been a lot more specific).
What Les lacks in personality he utterly and completely compensates with his knowledge.

However, I've realized that the more I tear into the car, the better I am at understanding of how things work. And, in the end, it makes me a better driver/mechanic.

So, I'm still hoping to learn the intricacies of alignment. Alas, I don't have a race engineer, so I must come prepared, loaded up with all the knowledge I can absorb.

 

Fair enough.

 

I do mine all the time. Well every time I change something that is. I did a write up once on how to do it that might help. It is on a different kind of car but all the same tools and technique.

DIY Poor Mans Wheel Alignment - LS1TECH

Changes with the Miata is I use 4 ramp platforms rather than jack stands in the rear and I use 2 laser levels on it.

 

I've been reading up on this. Curious, why even bother with jack stands and just leave it on the floor after leveling floor?

 

No way to get underneath to make adjustments with it on the ground. It's way too low for that.



Just to clarify on the Miata since the rear is adjustable it takes 4 ramp platforms rather than jack stands.

 

Just got an alignment from Les.
$130. :/

 

Just an alignment or an align and corner weight?

 

Just alignment

 

I guess his prices have gone up. Still not a terrible deal.

 

Compared to $75 or so? Hmm...
I'm still hoping I can find a lifetime alignment for $75.

Les does splendid work, albeit pricey. This is the second (third) time I paid that much, but the quality is worth it.

 

I'm working on finding a good camber gauge so I can do my own. Hopefully once I make my new control arms I'll be at the point where I want to try an alignment change over the lunch break, and I have everything put the camber gauge to do that at this point.

 

I've got a "torpedo" level Sears.com
which makes for a great camber tool. Just need to tape it to an alum frame, and good to go. Was working for a while on a DIY string box (a la ICM string box), but gave it up for lack of time.

If you wanna find the time to play with this, I'm down.

 

I bought an entire box of the cheapest self stick tiles Home Depot Racing sells for leveling and sliding. I was going to make some short wheel stands out of scrap 2x6's I have kicking around. And just do the string off jack stands for now. First car on the rig is going to be my wrx because I need to replace the broken springs in it. I was going to rock the phone camber gauge for that one since the actual number isnt important, just that its the same side to side.

 

Phone level gauge is not the most accurate of things. But, hey, as long as it works.
Lemme know if you want an extra hand with the beer.

My pm box is full. Just text me. 6174079659

 

Alright. I kind of want to have all the idiot moments worked out so I only have shame in private. Thinking I'm going to end up making some sweet steel square tubing T brackets to mount the camber gauge to the wheel now that I'm googling around for stuff. Dammit, why do I always come up with things to save money and go overboard making it awesome?

 

 

How much do you estimate each ramp weighs (without the risers)? Awesome job btw.

 

Ended up not aligning the car, still drives straight with no crab, still trying to diagnose a suspension clunk in it. Probably going to do it next weekend.