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Alignment

To: 6pack@autox.team.net
Subject: Alignment
From: SamuelsMA@aol.com
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2006 15:14:32 EDT
Listers:
 
My '76 has a lot of suspension modifications performed by the previous  
owner.  The car is lowered, has Koni's all around (rear tube shock  
conversion), 
and has swaybars front and rear.  The springs are higher-rate  than standard, 
with 1 coil removed.
 
I noticed recently that the rubber boots on my outer tie-rod ends had  
disintegrated.  I purchased new outer tie rod ends with grease fittings  from 
TRF.  
Although I considered replacing the tie rod ends myself, I knew  that the car 
would have to be re-aligned afterward, so I brought the car to a  local tire 
store to do the installation and alignment.  They have worked on  my '76 
before, and on my '70 before that.
 
I got the car back and it drives fine.  However, I asked them to give  me a 
copy of the alignment sheet.  That is the sheet that includes the  alignment 
specs in their database and compares what the tech achieved with my  car to the 
specs.  It shows some actual measured values from my car as  compared to the 
"specified range."
 
In the front, the spec for camber is -0.8 to +1.3 degrees.  They got  -1.8 on 
the left front and -1.5 on the right front.  Toe was even and  within spec, 
so that was not an issue.  There is no spec for caster, so it  may not be 
adjustable.
 
In the rear, the spec for camber is -0.5 to +1.5 degrees.  They got  -2.4 on 
the left and -1.7 on the right.  They got 0.38 degrees for toe on  the left 
(spec is 0.0 to 0.12) and 0.17 on the right.
 
Questions:
 
1.    What are appropriate specs for camber and toe  front and rear for my 
car, considering its modifications?  I only have my  race car to go by, and it 
benefits from a lot of front and rear negative camber  (2.0 degrees front, 2.5 
degrees rear).  That car actually is set with a  little bit of toe out in 
front to help it to turn in more readily.  I don't  think those specs mean much 
for my current situation, given the fact that I use  the TR6 for gentle street 
driving, not track driving.
 
2.    My Haynes manual lists only the following specs  (unmodified car):  
Front toe in 0 to 1/16 in, front caster 2.75 degrees +/-  0.5 degrees, front 
camber -0.25 degrees +/- 0.5 degrees.  There are no  settings listed for the 
rear.
 
3    Is it likely that we can achieve the desired  settings (whatever they 
are) given where I am starting here?  The readings  look like a mess to me.  
The 
shop manager wants the car back on Monday so  that he can try to improve on 
the settings with some sort of shimming  procedure.
 
Thanks!
 
Michael
'76 Tahiti blue
CF 57044U




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