Front end alignment question.

[Busamike]

Still getting the feel for the cobra and I am thinking the front end needs alignment. I bought it 3 weeks ago and its a MK3 with the 87 gt mustang donor. Can I take it to a trusted shop or is this something I should do? Ive read a lot of posts where the guys are doing themselves. I can turn a wrench so if its strait forward enough Ill do it with the proper instruction. But I do not want to spend all day doing something a shop can do in 30 min. My life long curse, Id rather be playing as opposed to working. And by playing I mean driving it like I stole it. I thank you. Mike

[Rdone585]

Not all alignment shops can do a proper alignment on a C*bra, so choose your shop wisely. If you choose to do it yourself you will need specialized equipment and it will take some research to do a good alignment. There are many youtube videos showing how to do an alignment using different techniques and equipment.

[Busamike]

Thank you. Thats what I needed.

[egchewy79]

I bought the Tenhulzen 2 wheel alignment tool and it's pretty straightforward. it'll take a few hours, but very gratifying.

[johnnybgoode]

I've done it both ways and prefer doing myself since I'm OCD. If you chose to go with a shop try and find one that is close and will let you in and work with the tech (they usually pull the insurance card and if so I move on to another shop). When I used a shop I loosened the UCA jam nuts slightly so the tech didn't have to fight with them and bend the pivots, you also don't want someone grabbing on to your nice Al adjusters with a pipe wrench or vice grips so either find someone that will let you watch/help or be very specific about how you want the job done. My 2 cents. Scott

[nuhale]

I wouldn't go to a chain place but the good shops are out there. I was referred to a shop 30min away that was awesome. They really took their time and allowed me to work with them. The result was PERFECTION and for only $100. IMO I would find a place like this. The garage method can get you there but it will take some time and patience.

[Busamike]

Thanks again guys. I really appreciate the input. Mike

[CraigS]

You can do a rough alignment fairly cheaply. Camber can be done w/ a carpenter square and an accurate rule.
Here is the chart. It goes up to 4 degrees of camber. The way you use it is to measure from the square to the rim at top and bottom and find the difference. With negative camber the top distance will be greater than the bottom distance. Go down the chart in the column for your wheel diameter. When you find the number closest to yours, the extreme left column will be your camber. I have included the tangent of the angle just for good measure.
deg ..tan …..17 .......16 .......15 .......14 .......13
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
0.1 | .0017 0.0297 0.0279 0.0262 0.0244 0.0227
0.2 | .0035 0.0593 0.0559 0.0524 0.0489 0.0454
0.3 | .0052 0.0890 0.0838 0.0785 0.0733 0.0681
0.4 | .0070 0.1187 0.1117 0.1047 0.0977 0.0908
0.5 | .0087 0.1484 0.1396 0.1309 0.1222 0.1134
0.6 | .0105 0.1780 0.1676 0.1571 0.1466 0.1361
0.7 | .0122 0.2077 0.1955 0.1833 0.1711 0.1588
0.8 | .0140 0.2374 0.2234 0.2095 0.1955 0.1815
0.9 | .0157 0.2671 0.2513 0.2356 0.2199 0.2042
1.0 | .0175 0.2967 0.2793 0.2618 0.2444 0.2269
1.1 | .0192 0.3264 0.3072 0.2880 0.2688 0.2496
1.2 | .0209 0.3561 0.3352 0.3142 0.2933 0.2723
1.3 | .0227 0.3858 0.3631 0.3404 0.3177 0.2950
1.4 | .0244 0.4155 0.3910 0.3666 0.3422 0.3177
1.5 | .0262 0.4452 0.4190 0.3928 0.3666 0.3404
1.6 | .0279 0.4749 0.4469 0.4190 0.3911 0.3631
1.7 | .0297 0.5045 0.4749 0.4452 0.4155 0.3858
1.8 | .0314 0.5342 0.5028 0.4714 0.4400 0.4085
1.9 | .0332 0.5639 0.5308 0.4976 0.4644 0.4313
2.0 | .0349 0.5937 0.5587 0.5238 0.4889 0.4540
2.1 | .0367 0.6234 0.5867 0.5500 0.5134 0.4767
2.2 | .0384 0.6531 0.6147 0.5762 0.5378 0.4994
2.3 | .0402 0.6828 0.6426 0.6025 0.5623 0.5221
2.4 | .0419 0.7125 0.6706 0.6287 0.5868 0.5449
2.5 | .0437 0.7422 0.6986 0.6549 0.6113 0.5676
2.6 | .0454 0.7720 0.7266 0.6811 0.6357 0.5903
2.7 | .0472 0.8017 0.7545 0.7074 0.6602 0.6131
2.8 | .0489 0.8314 0.7825 0.7336 0.6847 0.6358
2.9 | .0507 0.8612 0.8105 0.7599 0.7092 0.6586
3.0 | .0524 0.8909 0.8385 0.7861 0.7337 0.6813
3.1 | .0542 0.9207 0.8665 0.8124 0.7582 0.7041
3.2 | .0559 0.9504 0.8945 0.8386 0.7827 0.7268
3.3 | .0577 0.9802 0.9226 0.8649 0.8072 0.7496
3.4 | .0594 1.0100 0.9506 0.8912 0.8318 0.7723
3.5 | .0612 1.0398 0.9786 0.9174 0.8563 0.7951
3.6 | .0629 1.0695 1.0066 0.9437 0.8808 0.8179
3.7 | .0647 1.0993 1.0347 0.9700 0.9053 0.8407
3.8 | .0664 1.1291 1.0627 0.9963 0.9299 0.8635
3.9 | .0682 1.1589 1.0908 1.0226 0.9544 0.8863
4.0 | .0699 1.1888 1.1188 1.0489 0.9790 0.9090
Caster you need a tool to get a number but, if you assume yours is close, you can make both sides equal. Rig something like a yard stick so it sits against the front surface of the X frame and sticks out toward the upper ball joint at the same height as the BJ. Measure stick to BJ. Toe in can be measured w/ two tape measures and some pieces of wood to approximate this setup.
http://www.longacreracing.com/products.aspx?itemid=2445&prodid=10270&pagetitle=Toe-Plates-with-Magnets-(pair)
Be sure to stay away from the bulge of the tire sidewall at the bottom. If you decide you want to spend some money on tools I really like this supplier. I use their caster/camber gauge w/ a home made wheel adapter.
https://live.staticflickr.com/1755/42572430562_42b43fcc4b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/27RYQpu)Align tool (https://flic.kr/p/27RYQpu) by craig stuard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152454123@N04/), on Flickr

[Busamike]

Sweet, thanks bro. Mike