Since I got new 16" tires a few weeks back, I figured I'd take it in for an alignment since it had not been aligned since last Spring when I had all the bushings replaced. I want to maximize tire life on these things.

First thing, my guy got a new low-profile 4-post alignment rack in his shop. The platforms are maybe 6" above the floor at the lowest position. We did have to put 2 2x4's and 1 1x6 in front of the ramps to keep my ITR lip from scraping, but that was it. I didn't have to take my bumper off like last time.

Next thing, when we raised the car up and he looked underneath, he said he could hardly believe how dry my engine looked around the bottom with it about to turn over 300K miles. That was pretty cool to hear.

After he got all the sensors mounted and hooked up, toe on all corners except the right rear was very close to OE spec. Left rear was still in spec, and he only slightly moved the right rear, and front left and right. From what I remember camber is around -2° up front and -1.4° rear.

The shop also has one of these old-school rolling toe gauges mounted in the floor. I can't find a pic but it's like 2 knurled plates in the floor that you drive over, and any toe angle will push the plates in or out, and a big needle pointer on the side will show how much toe you have. After rolling the car over that and test driving it, he decided to give the front tie rods another 1/4 to 1/2 turn or so. After driving it again, he commented on how tight everything on my car suspension-wise feels.

He also told me the first time I rotate these new tires in about 5K miles or so, to bring it back in so he can check to see how they're wearing and compare it to how he set the alignment. I love the work this guy does.

If you ever need alignment or other chassis work done in the Memphis area, give Doug Zellner a call at Zellner Alignment in Collierville, TN. 901.861.0476

Car drives straight as an arrow. It did before, too, but it still does now. I don't have the printout handy to list the actual specs, but here's a pic to show how it sits. Car is on my original GS-R front springs, OEM ITR rear springs, Koni Sport shocks on the lowest perch height, Function7 rear arms, OEM ITR rear sway bar, and full HardRace bushing kit.

 

thats awsome man. i hope im lucky enough to find a good guy to align my **** when the time comes.

 

Seen your car many times on the site over the years. 300k? Cheers brother...for keeping a good car on the road, and taking damn good care of her to boot.

May I ask what kind of tires you got by chance?

 

anddd why would I want to do that? I think they look better with them. I need to replace my passenger side one that's a lil bent from an old fender bender.

I went with 205/45-16 Dunlop Direzza DZ101's this time. I've had Sumitomo HTR-Z II's, Yok ES100's (2 sets) and Kumho Ecsta SPT's on these wheels in the past and all of them were loud as fawk. I'm hoping these will be a bit better in the noise department but I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

^^^UGGGGHHHHH Honestly, I'm starting to think there is no such thing as a quiet 45/16. Saddens me.

 

haha yea... I thought about going with falken 912's (have those on my wife's Corolla in 195/60-14) but they're asymmetric tires, and I like to be able to flip my tires on my wheels after awhile to extend their life.

 

Haven't seen your car/pic in awhile, sure does look great though.

 

Congrats

What would you attribute this to, the bushings replacement and/or other things?

 

Yeah I guess just all the stuff I've replaced over the years. The only worn out stuff left on my suspension that I can think of is some of my front sway bar stuff (original OEM sway bar bushings and ball joint-type end links).