I am going for a new alignment tomorrow and have a question about the UK alignment specs.

I have gotten it before but my tires have been chewed up quick and car feels unstable so I am thinking they are not reading it correctly.

Do the US alignment machines normally read in inches? Or degrees and minutes like in the UK alingment spec sheet?

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl...r:26,s:0,i:172

I just want to make sure I have them do the correct specs. Especially the rear toe which is what has been destroying my tires. I have had them do .40 total rear toe but if they are doing .40 inches that is way too much rear toe I believe.

 

.40 inches is 10mm...so yes that is far too much

 

Where are you taking it Ryan? I had one local shop do it once, but he complained about it being too much work when I picked it up so he no longer does it for me. I now have to drive almost 2 hours to a tuning shop! I've heard there's a place in Albany that would do it (Albany Speed Shop), might try them next.

-Mike

 

I am going to Firestone. I have had them do it to my specs in a few of their locations before. I have a lifetime alignment with them.

 

There is your issue right there...haha...Firestone. These guys could not give a shit about your specs. Most of them dont even know how to do a proper basic alignment, much less custom specs. The shop I get my alignments done at knows how to convert the numbers to work with the US machines. Please find somewhere more reputable to go to before you get your car screwed up!!

John

 

Well I make sure they show me the specs in their computer and all. I tell them I'll give them $20 tip if they get it right.

 

+1
Firestone monkeys dont care what specs you give them. I have the lifetime alignment deal on my car and its been on their alignment rack 5 times. Everytime I ask for CR specs and they havent got it right yet. On the last alignment, they somehow manage to get my RR tire with -3.00 camber and on the RL tire at -1.8.

Ive given up on Firestone and will take my car to another alignment shop. Save your $20 tip and use it to feed a poverish child. They are more deserving.

 

you may want to try this converter on the ground control site.

http://www.ground-control-store.com/toe-out.htm

the chart references toe OUT, but its the exact same calculation for toe IN.

I had my alignment done with the 1/4 inch total rear toe- its implied to be toe IN. the 1/4" TOTAL TOE IN is about 40"- not inches, but 40 minutes.

this is on '03 AP1.

good luck. i really hope your alignment guy is not a complete tool. Its not really complex math, but you've got to know what you're doing- hopefully he passed grade 12. ask him what the machine reads in. i was lucky as the alignment machine read in minutes and not inches.

oh, and cancel your appointment at firestone. I had mine done at HONDA and gave the specs specifically to the alignment guy- ask questions, look at the machine. I got a great printout about 8 pages long showing each of the specific changes made...cost me $150 for the spec alignment.

most "alignment" shops only adjust toe...why? its dead nuts easy to adjust and take your $100 for only 20 minutes of work. The Honda dealership charged me shop rate on the alignment as it was more complex and it actually made the mechanic work for his dinner.
darcy

 

Check out the last post of this thread. Hope it helps!

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/502...ch-to-degrees/

Here's the quote:

Sorry to bump an dead thread but if you search for "toe degrees" this thread comes up. Just thought I would post a table of toe in degrees and inches for stock S2000 sized tires (24.9 inches) and save people the trouble of busting out the old scientific calculator:

Toe in Inches = Toe in Degrees
1/16 = .14
1/8 = .29
3/16 = .43
1/4 = .58
5/16 = .72
3/8 = .86

Also the above 'simple' formula is a bit off. It is much more accurate with 2.3 instead of 2 as the magic number:
Toe in Inches * 2.3 = Toe in Degrees
Toe in Degrees / 2.3 = Toe in Inches

 

I got my alignment done today at Firestone lol. I definitely feels infinitely better than it did before! Alignment was all over the place before as you can see in the picture.

I would like a little less camber in the rear but -2.8 is the least he could get on the driver side rear for some reason. He was about to get down to around -2 on the passenger side. At first the best he could get was -3.4 on the driver side. I raised up that corner suspension a little bit and he was able to get it down to -2.8.

How does it look over all?

Steering wheel is slightly off which is annoying but I have come to realize that is the Firestone special lol


Here's the before after spec print out.