Got a Four Wheel Alignment Today - Toe Was Out of Spec On All 4 Wheels
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Got a Four Wheel Alignment Today - Toe Was Out of Spec On All 4 Wheels
At Modshack's suggestion, I had a four wheel alignment done on my car today. The car has approximately 4,800 miles on it. The toe on all four wheels was significantly out of spec. I know others on the forum have had similar results, including Modshack.
The front toe was the worse. 1.19 degrees total toe. Factory spes are -.10 to .20. The rear was .61 degrees total toe. Factory specs are -.20 to .20. Now all four wheels are well within the factory specs. I just wanted to pass this on to others who might want to have their alignment checked.
The front toe was the worse. 1.19 degrees total toe. Factory spes are -.10 to .20. The rear was .61 degrees total toe. Factory specs are -.20 to .20. Now all four wheels are well within the factory specs. I just wanted to pass this on to others who might want to have their alignment checked.
#3
Safety Car
As I've said before, the chances of getting an "on spec" alignment out of the factory is slim to none... Figure 10 potential adjustments in 3 minutes of rack time?....
Everyone here is always complaining about inside tire edge wear down the road a few miles...Some have even shown pics of the cords and metal belts showing.....This is TOE induced, NOT camber as many surmise. Toe was out on 3 of my 4 wheels, and 4 of 4 on Zpirates car....
#4
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
#5
Drifting
Yep I know what ya mean. I just had mine done, 27K miles, 4 new tires, balance and 4 wheel alignment. The guy said that just about every corvette he aligns, is "way" outta factory spec.
It now feels like a brand new ride. steering feels tight again.
It now feels like a brand new ride. steering feels tight again.
#7
After reading Modshacks post on tire wear, I got my 08 in Monday. Camber was -1.1 on the left, -.5 on the right. Toe was out a touch on left also. The technician took the extra time and set everything to spec, Zero +/- numbers..
#8
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
BTW I didn't mention it in my original post, but my camber was fine all the way around. Just the toe was out of spec.
#9
Racer
Any performance guys and/or tuners out there heard anything about making sure your 'vette is "toe'd in" on the front end to reduce tramlining?
The folks at RMCR recommended this to me, and I thought I'd see if anyone else had similar experiences/results.
The folks at RMCR recommended this to me, and I thought I'd see if anyone else had similar experiences/results.
#10
Drifting
Member Since: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Delton (WI Dells) WI
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toeing it in will help reduce tramlining, however at the expense of steering response. Toe in will make the steering a bit sluggish, depending on how much toe in you give it.
I like to have 0 toe and prefer to have crisper steering response in exchange for the little bit of tramlining that may occur.
#12
My car's steering was great, I could not tell anything was wrong. I'm sure in another 5K miles or so, I would have found the left front chewed up on the inside. New car or not, I would have the alignment checked soon after it comes home.
#13
Le Mans Master
That is the first thing I do also. I try to get the dealer to check alignment as part of buying the car, even on the Corvette. You cannot trust the alignment from the factory. They only have a few seconds to rough align the car as it comes off the assembly line.
The last time I bought a GM car, the dealer would not align it until it looked like there was a problem. I drove the car for a few weeks, took it to the alignment shop of my choice, and sent the bill to the service department at the dealer. GM reimbursed me for the cost of the alignment.
One other point is that the car can be "within factory specs" and still be set too aggressive for the way you drive and acceptable tire wear. My Z06 came from the factory with -1 deg. camber, and with wide tires, I was getting noticeable inside tire wear within 1000 miles. I gradually backed off the camber, and found that anything more than about -1/8 deg. will give you significant inside tire wear for street driving.
When you get an alignment, you need to be able to TELL the shop what settings you want. Don't just trust them to set everything to factory specs.
The last time I bought a GM car, the dealer would not align it until it looked like there was a problem. I drove the car for a few weeks, took it to the alignment shop of my choice, and sent the bill to the service department at the dealer. GM reimbursed me for the cost of the alignment.
One other point is that the car can be "within factory specs" and still be set too aggressive for the way you drive and acceptable tire wear. My Z06 came from the factory with -1 deg. camber, and with wide tires, I was getting noticeable inside tire wear within 1000 miles. I gradually backed off the camber, and found that anything more than about -1/8 deg. will give you significant inside tire wear for street driving.
When you get an alignment, you need to be able to TELL the shop what settings you want. Don't just trust them to set everything to factory specs.
#14
Le Mans Master
Everyone here is always complaining about inside tire edge wear down the road a few miles...Some have even shown pics of the cords and metal belts showing.....This is TOE induced, NOT camber as many surmise. Toe was out on 3 of my 4 wheels, and 4 of 4 on Zpirates car....
I set my toe-in to zero and left the camber at -3/4 deg. and I still got significant inside tire wear. Toe-in will make the problem worse by causing feathering wear, but you need to reduce the camber to -1/8 deg or less to eliminate inside wear.
#15
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I just came back from a long drive in the twisties this morning. It's amazing how much better the steering response feels after the alignment.
I was also wondering if the fact my car was shipped from PA to NC when I purchased it affected my alignment. I know it was strapped down in the trailer.
I was also wondering if the fact my car was shipped from PA to NC when I purchased it affected my alignment. I know it was strapped down in the trailer.
#16
Safety Car
Corvette GS2 tires at 10K and On spec alignment:
Fronts:
Rear:
As I said earlier, your mileage may vary, but there is NOTHING wrong with the factory specification, provided it is ON SPEC and not at the outer edges of the range...
Last edited by Modshack; 08-03-2008 at 11:09 AM.
#17
Melting Slicks
Can any suspension/alignment gurus recommend specs for a good street alignment. I would like to hand the tech a set of specs to go after versus just letting them get within spec. Looking for a good set of numbers for a good "tire life/handling" compromise. I know you have to give up one or the other, but figure there must be a good middle ground for street use that also leaves in a bit of descent handling.
#18
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Can any suspension/alignment gurus recommend specs for a good street alignment. I would like to hand the tech a set of specs to go after versus just letting them get within spec. Looking for a good set of numbers for a good "tire life/handling" compromise. I know you have to give up one or the other, but figure there must be a good middle ground for street use that also leaves in a bit of descent handling.
#19
Safety Car
#20
At Modshack's suggestion, I had a four wheel alignment done on my car today. The car has approximately 4,800 miles on it. The toe on all four wheels was significantly out of spec. I know others on the forum have had similar results, including Modshack.
The front toe was the worse. 1.19 degrees total toe. Factory spes are -.10 to .20. The rear was .61 degrees total toe. Factory specs are -.20 to .20. Now all four wheels are well within the factory specs. I just wanted to pass this on to others who might want to have their alignment checked.
The front toe was the worse. 1.19 degrees total toe. Factory spes are -.10 to .20. The rear was .61 degrees total toe. Factory specs are -.20 to .20. Now all four wheels are well within the factory specs. I just wanted to pass this on to others who might want to have their alignment checked.