Who here does their own alignment?

[Pussy30]

It's E36 5 lug conversion guys. I have some older IE plates that will be for sale soon.

I was using IE camber plates, the kind that utilize the stock bearing assembly. Even fully adjusted for negative camber I was getting positive camber and wasnt getting the drop I wanted. I went out on a limb and went with cosmo, so far their great, biggest downfall is I need to fab up a spacer so the coilover spring hat has space to spin and isnt pressed against the bottom of the camber plate. Bad as it sounds temporarly (obviously) the spring is resting on the bottom of the camber plate.

[nrubenstein]

OK, that explains it, the only "Stock" vehicle I have is my wife's, the e30 gets everything adjusted since it's running a GC setup.

Unless you've welded in rear adjusters, toe plates and a camber gauge are all you need.

[nrubenstein]

What arms were used? is the wheel placement off so it can't be set in proper placement will make a difference.

*shrug* If his suspension is completely fucked and needs to be completely redone (which it sounds like it is now that he's said more), that doesn't change the fundamentals of giving it an alignment.

It just means he needs to toss some parts in the trash first.

[bimmerteck]

Unless you've welded in rear adjusters, toe plates and a camber gauge are all you need.

The e30 can be adjusted in the rear but has yet to require it.(PO welded in an eccentric style kit when he did the subframe bushings.)

[j0oftheworld]

Get an initial alignment at a shop but unless you do major changes the "at home" system is great for "tweaks" and dialing in frequent track/racers!

Here's how I do it...

String:
Sharpie:
Jack stands:
Tape measure:
Straight edge (metal):
Cheap magnetic angle finder:
Box of 12x12 1/8" thick composite tiles:
Bucket of water and a long 1/4" tube zip tied to a yard stick or similar:

1. Mark where your tires sit in your garage and then pull the car out. Then center and outline the tire patches w. the 12x12 tiles.

2. Set the bucket of water on a jack in the center of were your 4 wheels are marked out. Adjust the height so the water shows up on the yard stick somewhere in the middle so you have a range. (make sure there's no air in the line)

3. Find your highest point and put 2 tiles there. Then level the remaining spots to that spot. My garage is 2/4/9/11 tiles for my tire patches. I put lithium grease in between the bottom 2 at each spot.

4. Find a spot on your jack stands that is the same height as your hub centers. Tie the string there and stretch it out past the wheels front/back.

5. Square the "hub faces" of your wheels (since the front/rear hubs are not equal depths) and set your string there front and back.

6. Measure toe from the outer lips of each wheel (not tire).

7. Make a straight edge that is equal to your wheel lip diameter to place your angle finder on for camber.

After lifting or adjusting anything I just tug on the tires to make sure thee suspension is settled prior to remeasuring.
Any questions to clear anything up just ask.. It's very simple and accurate enough for most people I know at the track!

[Adrian_Visser]

I got a "pro" alignment done at a shop after doing a simple string alignment similar to what is described above. Instead of a slight pull to the right like I had when I used a string and tape measure I now have a more noticeable pull to the left. Obviously I will not be going to that shop again, fucking retards. All new front end components BTW.