Acura Integra Type R Alignment DIY is Quick and Easy

Acura Integra Type R can be aligned without a costly trip to a local shop and no special tools are needed.

In most cases, if you take your Acura Integra Type R to a shop for repairs, you can look at the car and visually recognize the new parts, but that is not the case with an alignment. Having a car aligned is usually fairly expensive and there is no way to know that the work was actually done correctly, or done at all. Fortunately, the basic alignment angles can be adjusted on an Integra Type R with a simple homemade rig and common tools, with the entire process being explained in a thread by “SlapSmak”.

This DIY write-up was posted to the forum almost a decade ago, but the information is still great for anyone looking to adjust the toe-in of their Integra Type R without going to a shop.

Integra Type R Alignment DIY

When the OP first posted his do-it-yourself write-up of his Acura Integra Type R, he included a simple list of the items needed to build the rig, followed by a detailed explanation of how to measure and adjust the toe-in.

I have been doing my own alignments for a long time now as it is way cheaper and given some care, much more accurate than the dipshits who only care if it is “within specs” at the tire installers.

I actually had a readout on my wife’s truck from a couple of years ago that was toe out on the passenger side and toe in on driver side. the dealership told me it was within spec, so the left it. of course the truck was drifting to the right all the time as both tires were pointing to the right all the time. Trying to explain that concept to the service manager was like explaining space flight to a hamster.

Anyway, I have always used the string box method, which is a pita to set up and keep straight if you roll the car back and forth between adjustments. I was thinking about how to keep the strings in the same position on the car, even if the car moves. i know everyone has seen or heard of smart strings, but that is more cash than i am willing to spend. I came up with a solution which costs a total of 10$.

(4) 2″ Mini suction cup (quick release) Item # 46900 (on sale for $.99)
(2) sections 7′ of elastic string $1.29 from joanne fabric
(4) 4″ machine screws and nuts (fine tread)

I disassembled the suction cups, drilled a hole and inserted the screws, securing them with the bolts.

I attach the suction cups to the car, positioning the bolts about level with the front and rear hubs, suction cups to the sides of the front and rear bumpers.

Knot the elastic string and slide it over the bolt.

Using a 1/32″/1mm graduated metal ruler, measure to the center hubs to set up the string. Front track on an Integra is 10mm wider, so the rear measurement will have to each be 5mm outset from the front measure (string to hub)

I finalized on 40mm front, 45mm rear

Center the steering wheel and secure with a deadman (see pics below, 1 long piece of wood, 2 clamps)

Using paper and pencil (or a cool spreadsheet I made in excel if you are me), measure from the front edge to string and back edge to string of the wheel. Take the difference. If the wheel towards the front of the car is a larger number than the back of the wheel measurement, then you have toe in on that wheel.

at the front of the car, loosen the lock nut (17mm open end wrench) and turn the tie rod adjustment arm to make your change (14mm wrench). Roll the car back and forth and re-measure.

At the rear, you will need to loosen the bolt on the compensator arm and move it in or out depending on initial measurement.

I finished out with 1/16″ toe out each side for total toe 1/8″ out
Rear finished 0 toe
Total time 45 minutes

Suction cup front driver fell off once, I licked it, never fell off again. Note to self, use water next time as it tasted like ****.

He also included a handful of pictures of his setup, all of which we have included here. A short time later, he bought a purpose-built steering wheel holder to replace his board-and-clamp setup, making the job even easier while still keeping his costs very low.

In the end, the items needed to build the rig and the basic tools cost less than one trip to the shop for an alignment, so this DIY will help you save money for years to come.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com