DIY Front End Alignment

[Rockable]

I restore old cars and put updated suspension and drivetrain in them. These are cars with a solid rear axle, so only a front end alignment is needed and lots of these cars have wheel wells that make it difficult to mount the 4 required alignment sensors that come on today's alignment machines. After doing a little investigation, I bought a DIY front end alignment kit from AutoSolo (www.autosolotools.com) and just completed an alignment on my 56 Ford Wagon project. Wow! I'm impressed with the quality of the tools and the price. Right now, I have one more car to align after it comes out of the upholstery shop. I figure the tools will have paid for themselves after that because doing an alignment on an old car like this can get time consuming since it's never been aligned. I wish I had bought these a long time ago because I had much rather do it myself.

 

[Lorydr]

It's funny on most of the reality car build/restoration tv shows, in that you rarely see any alignment procedures. Maybe just off camera, hopefully.

 

[whateg01]

I restore old cars and put updated suspension and drivetrain in them. These are cars with a solid rear axle, so only a front end alignment is needed and lots of these cars have wheel wells that make it difficult to mount the 4 required alignment sensors that come on today's alignment machines. After doing a little investigation, I bought a DIY front end alignment kit from AutoSolo (www.autosolotools.com) and just completed an alignment on my 56 Ford Wagon project. Wow! I'm impressed with the quality of the tools and the price. Right now, I have one more car to align after it comes out of the upholstery shop. I figure the tools will have paid for themselves after that because doing an alignment on an old car like this can get time consuming since it's never been aligned. I wish I had bought these a long time ago because I had much rather do it myself.

I've seen some that use your phone and cameras. I haven't clicked the link yet to see what this one does. I hate to see the prices charged for an alignment on a solid rear axle vehicle. I'm really not all that concerned over caster and camber. I'm more worried about toe. I can get close with a tape measure but it's hard to be on both sides of the vehicle at the same time. I did ask about getting my f150 aligned after putting a lift kit on it and found it humorous when the guy kept insisting that I need the 4 wheel alignment. I guess maybe they check to see if the axle is straight?

 

[lolaetype]

It's funny on most of the reality car build/restoration tv shows, in that you rarely see any alignment procedures.

Probably because they haven't yet figured out how to write in a bunch of scripted (fake) drama.

 

[whateg01]

Probably because they haven't yet figured out how to write in a bunch of scripted (fake) drama.

I watched a fabrats video last night where they are building a truck and he did the alignment on the lift. You're right, it wasn't very dramatic.