whats the best or easiest way to do allignment myself on my car. my las set of tires got worn down to the wires on the inner edge and the rest of the tir was still like %40 tread. or is this not allignment?

 

Wiking has a how too on his site. I dont have a link since im at school, but just look for his name.

~Alex

 

Could be. Could be a camber problem, worn bushings or a toe in/out problem. Camber needs to be addressed with camber bolts or new bushings. Bushings of course can't be adjusted. Toe can be diy. Search google. It's not difficult if you set up your measurements right. But time consuming. I'd just get a Firestone lifetime alignment program. Cheaper than buying tires all the time. But I'd check your suspension for worn parts. If it's all stock still, you probabably have some replacements to perform before any alignment

 

Alignment is something that I always to at the dealer, regardless of the brand of the car I own. They have the right spec, which is not necessarily true with the 3d parties.

 

Most shops have the oem specs in their book. Or you can give the specs listed here or in your FSM to the shop.

 

I got an alignment for my Spyder yesterday and they actually said the fronts were pretty far off. They said I would need one of those camber bolts or, what they actually like doing is slotting the hole in the strut. They say it works just as good and gives you even more adjustability down the road. I gave it a try and it actually works pretty well. The car is so much more stable at higher speeds now so it definitely seemed to have done the trick.

They charged a slightly high $40 per side for the mod but its probably a bit cheaper than the bolt and they could do it right then and there. Just another option.

 

$150 for the Firestone, seems like alot at first but will quickly pay for itself

 

I got the Firestone for $129 and have done it maybe 8-10 times in the last 3 years. I do tip the techs and offer to have the shop mgr charge me for unusual work.

 

Firestone will true up MOSt of your suspension, but thereafter thy only do a 'toe and go'.

 

All depends on the firestone you go to and the staff working there.
I've found one place in Houston that will align it to any specs you want and still do the lifetime warranty.

others will only correct to OEM specs, and if they find out you modded your car any time since the last alignment (even replacing struts or other suspension/steering maintenance parts), they will charge you at least $50.

 

bolts for our maxima up front are like 25 bucks for two bolts.

 

If your car is lowered it's probably your camber. My first set of tires (Comp T/A) had wires sticking out of the inside thread in less than 15K miles.

 

I'm talking about the "cam" bolts that allow more adjustment.

 

yeah I need to try this my self intill I can get me one

 

yeah so was i. how expensive did you think they were?

http://gregg-henry.com/albums/goodie...0801.sized.jpg

2 degrees adjustable.

 

I have those. Makes life real easy.

 

Too bad you's guys aren't near Charlotte, NC. I am a tech at a dealership, and I do alignments on the side for my buddies or any one else referred to me for $40, and I do a COMPLETE job, no toe and go bullsh!t, unless that is all that is needed. Also unlike most any other guy anywhere else, I know how to set a car up for "performance" handling, yet still make it steetable and not wear tires; or whatever you want. (auto-x exp.) And I have references as well. Heck, I even offer one free re-do if a guy doesn't like the set-up. (only had one picky-puss take me up on that)

 

Tarzan, you are spot-on sir. I have seen printouts from alignments done at other 3rd party shops for the Toyotas I work on, and they were way off of our specs. Once a lady just had costco or someone align her Highlander, and she came in complaining about the way it drove (pulled, etc.). So she paid us to check it, (I got the job) and the alignment was jacked-up, no wonder it drove that way. So I fixed all the adjustments, and later she called and raved about how well it drove after we did the alignment.

 

I've got a local shop that does my alignments.
Never had a problem with him.

 

How much did you pick those up for?

I've never really bothered searching for them, I just heard they were expensive.

 

internetautomart has them for 20 bucks a box. i didnt install mine and so i sold them.....yes for bolts they are not cheap, thas for dam sure.

 

and exactly what settings do you recommend for a Maxima for auto X/ road course/street use then?
just to see if you know what you're talking about.

 

that's the owner's call, i don't auto-x mine. And which one do you want? auto-x, road race, HP street?

 

Here's my DIY alignment from yesterday. The local Firestone shops regret the day I was born.