Alignment question

How often car needs to be aligned? (I have Toyota Camry 98 V6 LE )

Should it be combined with oil change and tire rotation, or is needed
less frequently?

Does any chain (or local garage in Chicago area) have a great
"lifetime" alignment deal?

It's needed less frequently.
When you get it done, you need a four wheel computerized alignment
only.
It's the one thing I have done by the dealer.
Apart from component wear, the only items that are really adjustable on
the Camry are the tie rods in front and those adjustable links in the
rear.
There's really no reason they should move once set correctly.
The struts are an integral part of the suspension geometry, so unless
they wear, or the ball joints wear, alignment should stay good.
Last time I noticed a very slight amount of drift something like 30,000
miles or more after an alignment, I paid something like $80 basically
for nothing.
The before and after printouts were essentially the same.
In my experience slight variations in the tire sidewalls are more
likely to cause a slight drift than alignment.
The Camry is not like the old swing arm A frame with adjustment shims.
As I've said there really are no adjustments available for caster and
camber, only toe in and that should be stable.

Daniel > wrote in article
.com>...

> When you get it done, you need a four wheel computerized alignment
> only.


A person who understands front end geometry is MUCH MORE important than a
computerized rack.

The advantages of the computerized rack are really targeted towards the
shop owner, who can - within an hour or so - have a minimum wage earner
taking front-end alignment readings due to the simplicity of operating the
machine.

Virtually anybody who posts on this board can be taught to set up a
computerized alignment machine in an afternoon, but there are very few
people here whom I believe understand HOW to make the proper adjustments
and manipulate the steering and suspension geometry correctly.

The operator plugs the car year, make and model into the computer, which
asseses the readings against the database for that car.

The operator then adjusts things in the direction that the machine
instructs them to, until the machine says it is okay.

If the machine operator doesn't understand front-end alignment theory....

......and he doesn't have to, since the machine does the work.....

.....or if he doesn't know the specifications....

.....again he doesn't have to, the machine takes care of things.....

......chances are that he will not be able to align a vehicle that does not
have its specifications stored in the computer database.

I have been aligning race cars for 40 years with a two-wheel alignment
machine and string.

Locals with unique cars such as street rods and muscle cars come to me when
the local chain turns them away because there are no specs in their
computer database for a '36 Ford with a Mustang II front end.

Finding someone who knows what they are doing should be your primary
concern.....

If they know what they are doing, the equipment they use to get the job
done is a moot point.

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 17:17:23 -0500, "*" > wrote:

>Virtually anybody who posts on this board can be taught to set up a

I guess you are new to this. It isn't a board, and you obviously
haven't read many of the posts.

DTJ > wrote in article
>...
> On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 17:17:23 -0500, "*" > wrote:
>
> >Virtually anybody who posts on this board can be taught to set up a
>
> I guess you are new to this. It isn't a board,...


I have been participating on this and other "newsgroups" for a number of
years.....


> ...and you obviously
> haven't read many of the posts.
>

I HAVE read a number of the posts, and I STILL contend that I could have
MOST of the participants here - virtually anybody who can grasp the concept
of "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey" - satisfactorily setting up a four-wheel
computerized alignment rack in an afternoon......it's THAT easy.

Now, if the question were to concern having them do a quality alignment, or
troubleshoot a problem beyond the specifications in the machine's database,
then all bets are off.......

True, true, how can one do a comprehensive alignment with out knowing the
functions of caster, camber and toe in, sai, thrust angle and set back?
"*" > wrote in message
news:01c578b6$679dc120$30a4c3d8@race...
>
> DTJ > wrote in article
> >...
>> On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 17:17:23 -0500, "*" > wrote:
>>
>> >Virtually anybody who posts on this board can be taught to set up a
>>
>> I guess you are new to this. It isn't a board,...
>
>
> I have been participating on this and other "newsgroups" for a number of
> years.....
>
>
>> ...and you obviously
>> haven't read many of the posts.
>>
>
> I HAVE read a number of the posts, and I STILL contend that I could have
> MOST of the participants here - virtually anybody who can grasp the
> concept
> of "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey" - satisfactorily setting up a four-wheel
> computerized alignment rack in an afternoon......it's THAT easy.
>
> Now, if the question were to concern having them do a quality alignment,
> or
> troubleshoot a problem beyond the specifications in the machine's
> database,
> then all bets are off.......
>
>
>



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On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 07:18:44 -0500, "*" > wrote:

>I HAVE read a number of the posts, and I STILL contend that I could have
>MOST of the participants here - virtually anybody who can grasp the concept
>of "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey" - satisfactorily setting up a four-wheel
>computerized alignment rack in an afternoon......it's THAT easy.

Well either you have not read the posts, or you have too much faith in
idiots. I, and probably every non troll here, would PAY to see you
try to teach judy, carl, and some of the other idiots, to operate
heavy machinery. They can't even operate a car.

it should be done if not checked at least 1 a year
or when you buy new tires or if you have and front end work done. tierods
struts things like that

In alt.autos.toyota Ajanta > wrote:
> How often car needs to be aligned? (I have Toyota Camry 98 V6 LE )

When:
- you notice abnormal tire wear
- the car pulls to one side when you take your hands off the wheel
- steering feels loose at high speeds, but normal at low speeds
- you get in an collision that bends the frame
- you disassemble suspension or steering components
- you've hit a bunch of curbs, potholes, or frost heaves
- you've driven over 25k in the northeast US (see item above)

> wrote in message
news:ZT%te.23731$R21.15866@lakeread06...
> In alt.autos.toyota Ajanta > wrote:
> > How often car needs to be aligned? (I have Toyota Camry 98 V6 LE )
>
> When:
> - you notice abnormal tire wear
> - the car pulls to one side when you take your hands off the wheel
> - steering feels loose at high speeds, but normal at low speeds
> - you get in an collision that bends the frame
> - you disassemble suspension or steering components
> - you've hit a bunch of curbs, potholes, or frost heaves
> - you've driven over 25k in the northeast US (see item above)
>

Good post, but I would revise it a bit:

When:
- you notice abnormal tire wear
- the car pulls to one side when you take your hands off the wheel
- steering feels loose at high speeds, but normal at low speeds
- you get in an collision that bends the frame
- you disassemble suspension or steering components
- you've hit one curb, pothole, or frost heave
- you've driven over 5 miles in the northeast US (see item above)