Alignment Hardware

[ILoveOffRamps]

I will preface this with I'm obviously not going to buy this equipment any time soon, but I'm interested in learning for a potential future purchase.
I am starting to get tired of paying for alignments, and am interested in buying the hardware myself.
If I snagged this:
http://www.saferacer.com/longacre-digital-cc-gauge-w-acculevel-and-quick-set-adapter.html?productid=485

and then a pair of turn plates (I'm assuming I could make an equivalent spacers for the other axle to get the car level).  A local SM guy says they use trashbags on the ground and dish soap so the tires don't bind, but they only do that when the cars are on the scales. He has access to a shop for alignments.

Anyone do your own alignments? Experiences and/or product reviews/recommendations?

Does anyone know how turn plates are made?? I was thinking you might be able to make your own (no idea how much this would cost). Seems like you could take 2 plates (upper is free, bound by lower box with a large enough overlap to prevent binding) and put ball bearings and some grease between the two plates. Do some calcs on required bearing diameter, but looks like I can buy 100 loose 1/4" balls for $10. Each corner only has to support 700 lbs max. The cheapest I've seen a pair plates for are $180 on ebay. Don't remember the brand. I assume they are random cheap stuff. Seems like I could make my own pair for about that or less.

Comments/Suggestions

[grubby]

So, why are you getting alignments all the time? I typically get a fresh alignment at the beginning of the year and the only thing I change throughout the year is toe out. After watching Brian over at Dinos with a laser alignment setup, and seeing that it took him an hour to do my alignment, and he had easy access to alignment bolts because the car was on a lift, I cannot even imagine trying to do my own caster alignments in any reasonable amount of time. $75 bucks a year isn't a bad price to pay for an accurate alignment in my opinion. Just my $.02.

[civic52]

I went and had the CRX aligned today by Brian. He did a great job and was very open to listening to what I wanted. Mine didn't even take him 30 minutes. Save yourself the hassle and let the pros do it.


My $.03.

[nevr2qk]

I'll third the pay-someone-else, even if for sheer laziness.

To answer your question though, the turn plates are just to avoid binding while the weight is on the tire.  A few sheets of newspaper works well also.  If you want to get fancy, two sheetmetal plates with wheelbearing grease in between.  No balls required.

In addition to a caster / camber gauge, you'll also need toe plates.

And before you do any of this, you should corner weight the car with you in it and race level fuel.

If you do buy any of these toys, I'll be happy to use my car to show you how to use them.    I run so much static camber, the laser alignment machines won't read.

Brock

[ILoveOffRamps]

Part of the multiple alignments is the suspension fiasco that I had going on (finally over). The other part is  I'd like to do it myself is so I can play around with the numbers. Everyone has an opinion, followed by the "try and it and see how it works" but it's expensive to try. I'd like to be able to run 2.0 camber for one event, come back and try 2.5 the next, take tire temps, and compare mental notes.

I'm working with a guy who is going to put the car on scales for me, but I couldn't get it done before Sunday.
I know I'm lacking the lift portion of this equation, but I'm just in spit-balling mode.

To answer your question though, the turn plates are just to avoid binding while the weight is on the tire.  A few sheets of newspaper works well also.  If you want to get fancy, two sheetmetal plates with wheelbearing grease in between.  No balls required.

Your right, I didn't think about that. The bearings would be over kill. I'd just have to keep that grease from going everwhere.

If you do buy any of these toys, I'll be happy to use my car to show you how to use them.    I run so much static camber, the laser alignment machines won't read.

1st volunteer. If/When I ever do this, I'll let you know.

Oh and, I don't need toe plates. I have Sean's!

[grubby]

Oh, that's where they went, eh?

Regarding the turn plates - at Mid-Ohio a few years back I saw a guy use two 12" linoleum tiles with some grease in between. Worked like a champ and the cheapest solution I've ever seen.