Non computerized alignment?

[dishdude]

My '98 Cirrus has a slight pull to the right, and although it isn't wearing tires unevenly I think it might be time for an alignment. There is a guy in town that came recommended but does all the measurements by hand.

Am I better off going with someone like this, or risk going to a shop with a computerized rack that is out of calibration or being operated by someone inexperienced?

 

[CBR.worm]

I would trust the guy with the good reputation over the shop with the good rack that may or may not be qualified.

Good alignments are hard to come by.

If he does everything by hand, he may be better equipped mentally to compensate for something to get rid of your pull, even if it is out of spec.

 

[The Critic]

Two of the best alignment shops (reputation wise) in the south bay area - Johnson's alignments and West End Alignment, are non-computerized.

Hypothetically, non-computerized alignments can be equally good if the person doing the measurements knows what they're doing. Unfortunately this can be difficult to prove.

 

[yonyon]

I'm pretty sure that if they 'measure' caster without dissassembly or if they adjust anything using a shim, then technically there's a computer involved. That wouldn't be necessary on a cloud car, so it should be possible to do a non-computerised alignent.

 

[Colt45ws]

My alignment was done the old fashioned way. Its perfect. If the person knows what they are doing, and actually cares, it will come out fine. Just as with anything.

 

[tommygunn]

I did mine at home with a piece of string, measuring carefully between the front tires. I only did the toe, since thats all I cared about.

My suggestion? Doing it without a computer is tricky. Its not easy. But done well it works fantastic (or, at least, my car rides fine and doesn't wear tires, took a few tries to get it perfectly trued up though).

 

[artificialist]

It was my understanding that the Chrysler cloud cars were built without a way to adjust camber and caster, and you would have to install certain things to make those adjustments possible.

Also, check out all front suspension components before starting the job, or the alignment will not work.

 

[The_Jeff]

Go to the recommended place. I worked at a tire shop where they paid an hour flat rate. From the service manager thru the master tech on down they wanted it done as fast as possible. Had a car in with 1.5' positive camber come back for a realignment under warranty and we diddled with the toe a little and shipped it out with the same camber problem, and told him it was "not adjustable". Sure it's adjustable, get a camber kit/ eccentric bolt for the strut, but we didn't want to bring that up.

PS with six weeks' experience working only weekends they set me loose on alignments.