Alignments on Lowered SHOs

[CTOESHO]

Well I did a search and didn't come up with anything except for factory alignment specs. I just got my SHO lowered with Tokicos/SHOshop Linears and was wondering what I should tell the alignment shop to align it to. Since it's been lowered a little over 2", does this mean it's impossible for them to align it back to factory specs? Any info would be great. Thanks!

 

[Ishodu]

I got mine aligned to camber -1 deg all around and caster as positive as possible and a straight toe. At -1 deg the tire will ware a bit more on the inside than the rest of the tire but it will help it bite into a turn more.

 

[CTOESHO]

Well I took it to the alignment shop and the front rear GTP arm is too long. I'm gonna see if I can't cut it down, however he could only get my front wheels to a -1.7" camber with the SHOshop Linears. The rear right however he was able to get to -.5. The rear left since the one bar was too long is at -2.5" camber. *Sigh* more work to do I guess.

 

[drivinhard]

-1.7 makes for good track cornering

 

[shoinoff95]

CTOESHO--Do you have any type of camber plates or camber adjustment kits or did he break the spot welds and move the plates over during the front alignment?? Also I am just wondering on what the ride feels and handels like???

On a side note, if you do use a camber adjustment kit from say prosuspension, would it be a waste of time and money or would you be able to get the camber set about right on a 2" or so drop from the SS Linears?? shrug I am just wondering cuz if you can get better camber using an adj. kit I would probably go that way when I finish putting together my suspension project!

 

[Nook]

If you go to www.specprod.com they have the informationfor the correct alignment items for the fronts and rears on the Taurus/SHO. The fronts are adjsutable pretty much on the fly, and the rear toe/camebr bushings are as close to on the fly as you can get, the problem is you have to fit under the car to do it.

The question is, do you want your car aligned for the tires to last longest, or aligned for something else?

N

<small>[ June 25, 2003, 12:40 AM: Message edited by: Nook ]</small>

 

[shoinoff95]

Nook:
If you go to www.specprod.com they have the informationfor the correct alignment items for the fronts and rears on the Taurus/SHO. The fronts are adjsutable pretty much on the fly, and the rear toe/camebr bushings are as close to on the fly as you can get, the problem is you have to fit under the car to do it.

The question is, do you want your car aligned for the tires to last longest, or aligned for something else?

N

By getting my car aligned after I lower it, I want to have the settings close to spec as I could get so that way I won't be buying tires every 4 months!! I checked out the site and by following the applications menu, after choosing what make/model/year, it showed three options for the early model taurus. I clicked on each of the three options for pics and descriptions and it only showed that they were for the rear only, is this right?? Would these kits give enough adjustment for the ss linears 2-2 1/2" drop up front and 2" rear??

<small>[ June 25, 2003, 01:17 AM: Message edited by: shoinoff95 ]</small>

 

[Nook]

There are the 3 rear options, and the fronts are listed on the chart on the right. You want the 87330 for the rears, but they are for the stock control arms. Maybe you can just replace the gtp ones that need cutting, instead.

If you don't want to cut those arms up, You might look at the 87375s. These are templates that reposition the top of the strut outward, then maybe you can use the adjustable gtp arms for the fine tuning. If you are using wider rims or rubber though, I wouldnt go too far out on the top or you might rub fender when your rear drops.

For the front you want the 89625 for gen 1s, 89635 for gen 2s. Do a search on their site by part number and you'll see them detailed with pics.

When you get aligned, be sure to go to a nice shop that will let you sit in the car while they do the readings, too. Also, if you can avoid tire stores and find a suspension shop, that's better as well. Most tire stores align 'within specs' which is just a standardized amount of sloppy alignment range. They would rather sell you tires in 6 months than do a correct alignment to begin with.

N

<small>[ June 25, 2003, 08:26 AM: Message edited by: Nook ]</small>

 

[CTOESHO]

"CTOESHO--Do you have any type of camber plates or camber adjustment kits or did he break the spot welds and move the plates over during the front alignment?? Also I am just wondering on what the ride feels and handels like???"

No, I do not have any kind of camber adjustment kits at all. I don't think he broke any spot welds to move the plates for the front alignment. Should he have normally done that for a better alignment (-1.7 too much for daily driving). Hard to tell how it handles now cause the rear is so out of wack.

Last night I took the rear left control arms off to see if I can shorten them. I found out that the bar the alignment guy told me to shorten could of been shortened by over 1/4" by just adjusting the GTP arms! I also swapped the left front GTP arm with the left rear one. Are they interchangeable? I also measured the 4 arms and they are around 22". Does this sound about right? Thanks.

 

[CTOESHO]

Nook-Is it impossible to get my camber angle back closer to 0 if I don't get a camber kit in the front? Or is there "ways" around it? Thanks.

 

[CTOESHO]

Also, can an H-Brace be installed after an alignment is done or would that throw off the alignment? Thanks!

 

[blewbyu]

Also, can an H-Brace be installed after an alignment is done or would that throw off the alignment? Thanks!

Come on, teh H brace is held in by the bolts that make up the rear alignment. SO Yes it would through everything off. Do the parts then the alignment. IMHO

 

[shoinoff95]

Thanks Nook for the specific part #s to look for and the good advice received. Another question that I am wondering is that I will soon be getting a set of short sfc's for my SHO, but would it be wise to get those welded on before I get any suspension work done? Would they have anything to do with the alignment?

 

[CTOESHO]

blewbyu:
Also, can an H-Brace be installed after an alignment is done or would that throw off the alignment? Thanks!

Come on, teh H brace is held in by the bolts that make up the rear alignment. SO Yes it would through everything off. Do the parts then the alignment. IMHO

When the guy did the alignment, he didn't adjust any of the H-Brace bolts, he only adjusted the 4 GTP arms. If I have both rear wheels off the ground and just remove the bolt but do not move the arms, I imagine I could install the brace and reinstall the bolts with no issues.

 

[blewbyu]

It will still throw off the alignment, maybe not a lot, but if you have gone to the trouble of lowering it, put on everything you have, and then get it aligned, if you have to drive it for a while in between mods/hop ups, go to NTB, get the 6 month alignment, as long as you have cool guys there, it is never a problem, or at least it has not been for my GN,RX7, and SHO's. Good Luck to ya

 

[shojuan]

blewbyu:
if you have to drive it for a while in between mods/hop ups, go to NTB, get the 6 month alignment, as long as you have cool guys there, it is never a problem, or at least it has not been for my GN,RX7, and SHO's. Good Luck to ya

Or learn to do it yourself! thumb

 

[3.8Lwagon]

i have the 89635, camber adjustment kit for the front struts and i like it. the only problem i had was that the bolts that hold the strut plate to the strut tower would break free, so the shop that i bought the kit from spot welded the bolts in place

 

[Nook]

i have the 89635, camber adjustment kit for the front struts and i like it. the only problem i had was that the bolts that hold the strut plate to the strut tower would break free, so the shop that i bought the kit from spot welded the bolts in place

DUDE !! Did you get those from me????? If so, let me know and we can get you a new set. Specprod is good on their warranty as long as they were installed at a shop.

N