Wheel alignment, corner balancing and ride height adjustment

[cschmueck]

Hi,
I am planning to get this done this year. has anyone got a recommendation in Northamptonshire? I live in Irthlingborough, that is 5 miles from Santa Pod raceway, but strangely can't find anyone in the area that has the equipment and skills.

Thanks all in advance!

[sladey]

Centre gravity. They are ridiculously obsessed with getting it right. Not cheap but worth it

[911hillclimber]

double click post.

[911hillclimber]

CG must be the ultimate place to go to for perfection.

Most alignment place have no idea about corner weighting, and early cars are hard work to get right as the rear has to be carefully adjusted.

I think CG will strip the suspension as required to get the result.
Recent DDK visits on here all say how good they are so may chip-in on this thread.

i did mine myself using some borrowed scales, a Dunlop camber gauge and fishing line down both sides of the car, took a full day.

Seems to drive ok, but hard going, but saved about £1000.
Car is only used cruising around on the busy roads and into Wales.

CG, Greatworth classics (Silverstone way) are both Midlands players so probably close to you?

[cschmueck]

Thanks both,

I had the work done by Northampton Motorsports last year- they did a good job and it cost close to £1000. problem was that they dropped the ride height by about 40mm and the tyres rubbed on the body work as a result.
I am running 7'' wheels, so it is quite tight. I had found a ride height slightly on the high end of 620mm ground to wheel arch together with about 3deg camber that made the setup work ok and just wanted that configuration refined. I had asked them to keep that ride height which they ignored.
Took the car back the following week and they just "wrenched the rear up as high as possible using the adjustable plated I had upgraded the car to, not prepared to pull the torsion bars again. On their first attempt the ride height ground to wheel arch was 580mm both sides, after their second go it is 590 and 600. So assume the corner balancing must be out. The lower side is is still rubbing and they are blaming that on running non standard wheel width...

Bottom line now is that I don't want to drive the car with the rubbing tyre for long stretches- the places recommended by you are out of my comfort zone there, so would be a trailer job I guess...
Other option is finding a set of affordable flat 6es...
Thanks!
Christian

[chris68]

I'm with 911hillclimber on this. Centre of Gravity do a very good and thorough job. Many here are full of praise. But, if they're too far away I'd consider the DIY route. With research, common sense and simple tools you can get great results at home. There's a reason high end race teams are still using the 'fishing line' method to set wheel alignment. Have fun .

[BILLY BEAN]

CG will sort the geometry while you wait. Although you may have a long day. I arrived at 10.00am and left at 6.00pm. I just took a couple of books to read and some sandwiches for sustenance. They have a small waiting area.

[911hillclimber]

IIRC I had to do repeated iterations of a set procedure until I had all the angles and pressures/weights close and 'right'.

I really wanted a ramp by the end of the session.
It is hard going to do, but very much a DIY job if you understand what is happening and how to adjust.

If you have the money, go to CG!

[neilbardsley]

Hi,
I am planning to get this done this year. has anyone got a recommendation in Northamptonshire? I live in Irthlingborough, that is 5 miles from Santa Pod raceway, but strangely can't find anyone in the area that has the equipment and skills.

Thanks all in advance!

AHS at Lutterworth. Ask for Alan. Proper Vee Racer who will setup your car.

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