4 wheel alignment

[Doctor J]

The alignment shop 12 years later

After almost two months after lower control arms replacement, I decided to have all four wheels to be professionally aligned on my 87 Camry wagon. The first owner have had messed up with camber cams, caster spacers and steering wheel in order to create acceptable car’s handling instead of replacing the control arm bushings.
The replacement of both arm assemblies took me about 3 hours, with the total part cost $127 incl. shipping. Following the installation, I was able to set near correct camber angles, but I wanted them to be at factory specs, so I called around to find a good alignment place. The most reasonable estimate over the phone was from the Action alignment shop, in Cypress, Orange County. The same shop in 1995 did outstanding job for re-setting the toe-in on my 79 supra (fast, reasonable priced and permanent), so I decided to stop by on my way after work.
When I double checked the price by asking the manager, the figure was $10 higher, and I was told that the shop’s alignment machine has no computer attachment to get the printout before and after adjustment. After hearing that, I wished them a nice day and left.
So now I’ll try the different place and will post the results.

[fredk]

theres another camry with camber cams, i guess im not nuts after all

[aussie_gen1]

<BUMP>

Mum's '89 Apollo / Camry has very heavy steering at low speeds, and progressively lightens up to almost normal at highway speed. Tyres are inflated correctly. Is this an alignment issue, or something else perhaps? No power steering, but it is FAR too heavy to be correct. Any thing else I should be looking at?

[atobe]

but you have no power steering it's suppose to be like that... alignment has nothing to do with how hard your steering is

[Jimnist]

Maybe the steering shaft could be binding? Have you been in a front collision?

Dust boots on rack cracked?

Or the universal joint is seized? That happened to me, but it got progressively worse with speed as the steering damper would kick in, making it near impossible to turn when going faster than 40k's. It wouldn't self return either.

[aussie_gen1]

Originally Posted by atobe

but you have no power steering it's suppose to be like that... alignment has nothing to do with how hard your steering is

OK, well it has some problem. I've driven far bigger cars with much lighter and less variable steering.

Originally Posted by Jimnist

Maybe the steering shaft could be binding? Have you been in a front collision?

Dust boots on rack cracked?

Or the universal joint is seized? That happened to me, but it got progressively worse with speed as the steering damper would kick in, making it near impossible to turn when going faster than 40k's. It wouldn't self return either.

I forgot to mention, it self centres quite well, probably on the over enthusiastic side of normal.
Not sure about a FE collision, mum parked it under a ute, but gently. And it has been heavy since she bought it two years ago.
Will jack it up and test the steering and look at what you said (if I can find it.)

[fredk]

caster can make it heavy, but if you start taking caster away it wont recenter after a turn

[white90dx]

I have no problem with a shop that doesn't do computer printouts... You just have to trust the guy(s) doing it. Slightly bent wheels and other issues can ruin computer alignments anyway.

West End Alignment in Gardena does it all by hand, and Darrin does a great job - mostly club racers 'n stuff. I just go to the local shop (that has been around forever!) and talk to the tech to make sure he knows what I want.

-Charlie

[zppeacock]

I did mine at my tech college on there new hunter rack.

[Justin727]

Try to find a place that uses the HUNTER DSP600 or newer.


edit: if you ask for a before and after printout to shops with these machines they will or should provide you with both Doctor J