Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: LT1 alignment

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    402

    LT1 alignment

    I want to adjust the camber on my drivers side. Both tires actually lean in too much on the top but the drivers side is worse.. Which bolts do I loosen to make the slight adjustment? I think on the bottom side of the suspension the bottom bracket that hold the wheel bearings needs to slide in toward the center of the car. Then the tire wouldnt lean in so much. It looks like a leverage principle thing. Anyone ever set their own alignment? I set the toe in already and its perfect. I don't know how any alignment shop could have screwed up so bad but they did.

  2. #2
    Senior Member 5.0THIS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    3,707

    red
    95 Z28

    There is no way this adjustment should be made by hand, off of an alignment rack. Take it to another alignment shop and have it corrected.

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    402
    I set the toe-in using a string tied to the rear tire and brought it around the front side of the front tire to create a str8 line from the rear of the car. And it worked rear good. You should try it. You can see how far in or out your tire is

    And as far as the camber is concerned I can at least inch it along closer to the desired setting. Far better than what it is now.
    Last edited by Chad97z; 08-03-2006 at 05:27 PM.

  4. #4
    Senior Member 5.0THIS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    3,707

    red
    95 Z28

    Quote Originally Posted by Chad97z View Post
    I set the toe-in using a string tied to the rear tire and brought it around the front side of the front tire to create a str8 line from the rear of the car. And it worked rear good. You should try it. You can see how far in or out your tire is

    And as far as the camber is concerned I can at least inch it along closer to the desired setting. Far better than what it is now.


    I've aligned several cars on an alignment rack after a home done alignment, and it was never right. Your eyes can play tricks on you. You're going to need it done on a rack at some point or another, so you might as well have it all done. You can get somewhat close on toe doing it shadetree... but getting your caster and camber correct is almost impossible.

  5. #5
    Senior Member mrr23's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    orlando, fl
    Posts
    7,364

    black
    2014 camaro 2ss/rs

    Quote Originally Posted by Chad97z View Post
    I want to adjust the camber on my drivers side. Both tires actually lean in too much on the top but the drivers side is worse.. Which bolts do I loosen to make the slight adjustment? I think on the bottom side of the suspension the bottom bracket that hold the wheel bearings needs to slide in toward the center of the car. Then the tire wouldnt lean in so much. It looks like a leverage principle thing. Anyone ever set their own alignment? I set the toe in already and its perfect. I don't know how any alignment shop could have screwed up so bad but they did.
    to answer your question, the lower control arm is the adjustment point. the front bolt controls camber mainly. the rear bolt controls caster mainly. so, raise the car up in the air with tire off the ground. loosen the front bolt and slide the arm inward and retighten. the nut is 21mm. the only problem with this is by moving the arm, you affect caster and toe as well. you just don't know by how much. and toe is the biggest killer of tires.

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    402
    Quote Originally Posted by mrr23 View Post
    to answer your question, the lower control arm is the adjustment point. the front bolt controls camber mainly. the rear bolt controls caster mainly. so, raise the car up in the air with tire off the ground. loosen the front bolt and slide the arm inward and retighten. the nut is 21mm. the only problem with this is by moving the arm, you affect caster and toe as well. you just don't know by how much. and toe is the biggest killer of tires.
    Yes, I see that now that you mention it; regarding the toe-in being effected. But I can adjust the toe-in. I have it set as close to perfectly str8 as you can get now. Before I adjusted it, one side was out more than the other. strange.

    But I see that if you physically move the tire inward, then not only will the camber go more positive, but also the toe-in is effected since the tire is now closer to the center of the vehicle. My guess would be , if the tire was moved closer to the center of that car (inward) then the tire would be more towed-out than what it was before. This is just if I am thinking of it right.

    My approach to doing this would be to change as little as possible. Just remembering to step it along in the direction I need to get it. Like make an adjustment and drive it. Then make another small adjustment and drive it again. Each time, adjusting the tow-in to compensate the difference for camber change.

    I have not really checked this out on the car yet, but I presume you're talking about the A and B bolts in this pic? And the "front" bolt is A?

    Also, in theory, shouldn't both lower control arms be equal distance from center in order to have the same camber setting?
    Last edited by Chad97z; 08-05-2006 at 10:47 AM.

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    402


  8. #8
    Senior Member mrr23's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    orlando, fl
    Posts
    7,364

    black
    2014 camaro 2ss/rs

    A and B are the shock mount bolts. look where the arrow for #9 is. right under the boot, you'll see the bolt for the lower control arm. now, draw a line straight back and you'll see the nut for the rear part of the control arm. that one affects caster.

    you are correct, when you slide the arm inward, it will make the toe more negative (outward). you adjust that at #7.
    Cold Air Intake, Muffler Delete, Vinci High Performance Dual Valve Springs, Hardened Pushrods, Yella Terra 1.85 Rockers, Some Hydropdipped Stuff, Strut Tower Brace, Some SS Badges, boost/vacuum gauge, fuel pressure gauge, some checkered stripes, drilled/slotted rotors, ZL1addons Stealth wickerbill, Ruxifey LED side markers

  9. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    402
    Quote Originally Posted by mrr23 View Post
    A and B are the shock mount bolts. look where the arrow for #9 is. right under the boot, you'll see the bolt for the lower control arm. now, draw a line straight back and you'll see the nut for the rear part of the control arm. that one affects caster.

    you are correct, when you slide the arm inward, it will make the toe more negative (outward). you adjust that at #7.
    Oh thats right.. I knew that was the bottom of the strut. I even replaced my struts.

    So why do you say that bolt "Mainly" adjusts camber. I guess maybe the lower control arm does not go str8 in when you loosen it? Instead maybe it pivots back or forward too?


    revised:

  10. #10
    Senior Member 5.0THIS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    3,707

    red
    95 Z28

    On many suspension designs, the inner mounting points for the lower arms are not inline with each other lengthwise down the car. This is done for caster and bumpsteer

  11. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    402
    actually, I see why loosening one bolt or the other can effect the other. Since both those bolts are used to mount the arm, by only adjusting one, the whole arm is slightly angled forward or backward from the original position and causing a variation in the caster. So in order to change only the camber without changing the caster, both screws must be loosened and the whole arm slid evenly toward the middle of the car or outward away from the car. Bingo.
    Last edited by Chad97z; 08-05-2006 at 03:25 PM. Reason: spelling

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Alignment
    By ls1camino in forum Suspension and Handling
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-07-2011, 01:53 PM
  2. do i need an alignment?
    By Ramairgod84 in forum Suspension and Handling
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 06-27-2010, 03:42 AM
  3. Wheel Alignment Guide - DIY Alignment
    By Ed Blown Vert in forum Almost Anything Goes
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 08-06-2009, 03:30 PM
  4. do it yourself alignment.....help....
    By redz284u in forum Suspension and Handling
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-08-2007, 04:21 PM
  5. Anyone do your own alignment?
    By jrummi in forum Suspension and Handling
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 09-14-2005, 08:14 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •