cambopheonix56

OK, so after i get new tires, I plan on gettin an alignment. I have lowerd my car 1" and the place thats doing my alignment asked me what the alignment specs were? would it be different from factory? if so, anyone have an idea what they are?

thanks

95dxhatch

why are they asking you for the specs? their alignment machine/computer should have them in there. all alignment programs ask for make, model, year of car before you begin the alignment. and itll have the specs. not sure what to think of that shop......

cambopheonix56

well it was sears, where i worked so i just asked the service writer. just thought i would clear that up. thanks

neutron91

yeah ive had alot of places ask that too and i dont know why... the specs are saved in the machine... i guess they think the specs change since its lowered i dunno ... ive done my own the last few times so im glad i dont have to hear, "we cant align your car cause its lowered" or "we need the specs" yadda yadda

cambopheonix56

ok. cool. thanks for your help guys

nighttrain33

They should be able to figure out what the before-and-after alignment is. At least the shop that I take my car to is able to tell me that. And that is just a family owned place. There should be no reason for them to ask what the alignment is when you take it in. And it shouldn't have anything to do with how it ends up either.

-Shane

.Ry

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cambopheonix56 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well it was sears, where i worked so i just asked the service writer. just thought i would clear that up. thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sears should know this, as I should know I work there as a former tech and now sales, but we have had several cars come in with different set ups which include lowered suspension, and they set the toe to "0" and set the rest to OEM specs. Now maybe the tech wanted to know what you wanted it set to.

95dxhatch

yea all theyre going to be able to do is set your tow since you cant adjust caster or camber on a civic, unless you bought a camber kit.

neutron91

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95dxhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you cant adjust caster or camber on a civic, unless you bought a camber kit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

or if you have an aftermarket front crossmember... then you can adjust caster

IHateJDM

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by neutron91 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i guess they think the specs change since its lowered i dunno ... </TD></TR></TABLE>

the specs do change when the vehicle is lowered. Factory spec are only good for factory ride height. If they have not aligned a lowered car before, I would find someone who has.

cambopheonix56

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95dxhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yea all theyre going to be able to do is set your tow since you cant adjust caster or camber on a civic, unless you bought a camber kit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I dont need a camber kit, correct? If they set the tow, I will be fine?

IHateJDM

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cambopheonix56 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I dont need a camber kit, correct? If they set the tow, I will be fine?</TD></TR></TABLE>

0 camber allows for even tire wear (as far as the inside and outside of any particular tire). The toe allows all 4 wheels to point straight and wear evenly, so one tire doesn't go bald before the others. On a daily driver, you want 0 toe, but 0 camber is personal preference. With negative camber, the outside tires will sit flat while turning, but with 0 camber, the tire sits flat while pointed in a straight line (ie, better traction for launching).

AutoXer

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cambopheonix56 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I dont need a camber kit, correct? If they set the tow, I will be fine?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No and yes. Make sure the toe is set to 0 though, and not in spec. When the car gets lowered, there's less room to mess with the settings than stock. See my post towards the bottom here:

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1357841

cambopheonix56

ok great. thanks!

EK k kay

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AutoXer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Make sure the toe is set to 0 though, and not in spec.


</TD></TR></TABLE>

Same ****. Honda factory toe setting is 0. I've been to various alignment shops and told them to set the toe in spec and they all zeroed it out.

AutoXer

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chowmien &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Same ****. Honda factory toe setting is 0. I've been to various alignment shops and told them to set the toe in spec and they all zeroed it out.</TD></TR></TABLE>

From the Helms manual:

Total Toe:
Front - ln 1.0 +- 2.0 (1/16 +- 1/16)
Rear - ln 2.0 +2.0 - 1.0 (1/16 +- 1/16)

So while 0 toe is within spec; your car can be set 'within spec' and not be 0.

dantastic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95dxhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why are they asking you for the specs? their alignment machine/computer should have them in there. all alignment programs ask for make, model, year of car before you begin the alignment. and itll have the specs. not sure what to think of that shop...... </TD></TR></TABLE>

after lowering my new car, my alignment shop asked me for my preferred specs. i told them -1 camber up front (the max negative camber, but still within spec) and 0 toe all around. i could have told them "within specs" but they do it to the exact #. for auto innovations in milpitas, ca.