At 12:05 PM 2/5/02, johnf@ihot.com wrote:
I'm getting new tires on Thursday and will delay having the wheel alignment done for 25mi or so. The question I have is, if the car is lifted, keeping the suspention loaded, how is this a problem? I can see how the ride height and thus toe-in is effected by lifting using the normal jack points.

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There is some difference of opinion on this subject. Some of our members believe that you can lift the car at the lower control arm before or during an alignment and still get a good alignment. I don't think so. In my opinion, lifting at the lower control arm or lower ball joint lessens, but does not prevent, front end movement due to jacking.

If you mean that the car will be lifted only thru the front tire patch, so that the weight is always on the wheel/tire combo, I see no problems.

Wally Plumley

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the " normal " alignment procedure normal car they lift the front wheels off the circular metal pads after adjustments drop it back down , then check the settings. It is this lifting of the front wheels off the ground which jacks up the front suspension and makes the 928 alignment be wrong . They must make adjustments then roll the car back and forth on the ground (ramp )
reposition on the pads and check specs .

Jim Bailey

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There are two alignment racks (that I have seen) that don't require the car being lifted...so you really do get accurate, repeatable measurement.
John Bean has one and Hunter has one. Both use "targets" that attach to each wheel (not electronic heads) and there are outboard cameras built into the front. You roll the car a little bit with the targets on, and it looks for the elongation of the pattern. It's the only way I do my alignments these days...after years of not being able to get consistent readings. Search out a shop with one of these up-to-date racks.

Technology to the rescue, once again!

Kim John Crumb

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