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Alignment question



 
 
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  #11  
Old June 22nd 05, 03:22 PM
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<<steering feels loose at high speeds, but normal at low speeds >>

My '99 Camry does this. At highway speeds the steering feels loose but
It doesn't pull to any side. There is no uneven tire wear either. Does
this mean there is something wrong with steering or suspension?

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  #12  
Old June 22nd 05, 04:16 PM
Steve
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Mike Walsh wrote:

>
> Having lived in the Northeast US I can confirm that one pothole can affect front end alignment enough to be immediately noticeable. Florida roads and weather are much easier on your car.
>




If that's true, you need to buy a better-built vehicle!

I agree that a lot of rough-road driving WILL affect alignment
eventually, but a single pothole?!? It would have to be severe enough to
knock the tire off the rim and bend the rim to knock any of the vehicles
I own out of alignment. In fact, I *have* bent a rim and then had the
alignment checked and found it to still be spot-on.

In general, I like to have the alignment checked about every 50,000
miles, but it usually doesn't need adjusting unless a component (ball
joint, bushing, etc) is really starting to deteriorate. I've found this
to be true for both my 60's vintage torsion-bar / unequal-length A-arm
front suspension cars and for my 90s vintage FWD McPherson strut vehicle.
  #13  
Old June 22nd 05, 05:23 PM
Jeff Strickland
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"Ajanta" > wrote in message
...
> Jeff Strickland > wrote:
>
> : In theory, you could go through life never having an alignment. The

problem
> : is, theories quite often do not pan out...
>
> In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are
> different. :-)


Exactly, sorta.


  #14  
Old June 22nd 05, 07:27 PM
Ray O
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"Ajanta" > wrote in message
...
> Ray O > wrote:
>
> : [Chicago area]...The condition of roads in
> : the Chicago area are a close second to those in Massachusetts. Until
> our
> : street was resurfaced last year, we had to drive over a bump almost as
> high
> : as the rest of the curb to get into the driveway, and driving down
> alleys in
> : Chicago is like driving on an unpaved road. We usually end up needing
> : alignments about halfway through the life of a set of tires, about
> 25,000
> : miles.
>
> We drive all over Chicago area and road quality is highly variable.
> mostly bad. Even 'premium' showcase roads like Lake Shore Drive are in
> such bad shape. The city spends a lot of $'s on trees and flowers but
> roads don't seem to be any priority.
>
> BTW I was able to contact the previous owner of the car and know a
> little mo The front end was aligned about 40,000 miles ago when he
> got the Regata 2 the car has now. Maybe I would do the same, get
> alignment when I change the tires.


After years of putting up with miserable roads and years of construction
traffic, it finally seems like most of the roads that I travel most often
have been repaved, i.e. Golf and Higgins Roads in Schaumburg, I 355, and
I-90. I think Palatine Road will take a few years to complete, who knows
when LSD will be done next?
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply


  #18  
Old June 22nd 05, 11:17 PM
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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.


  #19  
Old June 23rd 05, 06:07 AM
Steve
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Firestone has a Lifetime alignment. 159.99; currently on sale at 139.99 in
the west coast.

6000 miles or 6 months is a good schedule to keep the tire warranty good.


--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Undercar Specialist


"Ajanta" > wrote in message
...
> 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?



  #20  
Old June 23rd 05, 05:08 PM
C. E. White
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Ray O wrote:

> A steering rack itself is not really adjustable, other than the crush collar
> that determines loading on the rack. As the name implies, a crush collar
> does not adjust - once it is crushed, it is set.


But steering racks do wear, which introduces additional
play. And at least in the old days, some had adjustable
pre-loads.

> Loose feeling at highway speeds might be caused by an out of alignment
> condition, not enough positive caster, or an improperly functioning power
> steering pump.


Would loose ball joints, or tie rods ends also contribute to
a loose feeling? And running the tires at too high a
pressure can definitely make a car feel squirrely.

Regards,

Ed White
 




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