Just a quick update for those of you who read my earlier post and got lost in all the gibberish that Jim and I batted back and forth.
This tool from Maximum Motorsports allows you to set both camber and caster angles in your own driveway. It costs apx. $60.00, and is well worth the money.
My problem: excessive negative camber. Could never get an alignment tech to set up the front end the way I want it dialed in. (pretty freakin simple: zero toe-in, zero camber angle.) With this simple tool, it was a snap, and it paid for itself with one use.
The good:
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It is very easy to use. The most difficult part was zero'ing the bubble level initially and finding a level spot in which to work on the front end. It is VERY accurate. MM claims accurate to within 1/8th of one degree. I say it's spot-on if the user knows what the hell they are doing.
The Bad:
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Unless you are fairly well educated, forget it. If you can figure out how to zero out a bubble level on both a vertical and horizontal plane with nothing more than a T-square, you'll do fine. If you have no idea what I'm talking about and you constantly drool while breathing through your mouth, don't bother with this piece of equipment. The instructions that come with it are vague at best.
The Benefits:
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For me, I wanted better handling for my specific application. With sticky, fat-ass tires, a damned good suspension and a rock-solid frame, zero toe and zero cam will yield excellent, stable, awe-inspiring handling. For others, it might just be the ability to double-check work that has already been done. Perhaps you've just smacked a curb or tire-stop, and wish to make sure your alignment hasn't changed? Maybe you have a handling problem and would like to see for yourself, if the alignment is to blame? In any case, this little goodie will pay for itself in one use.
The Review:
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Yes, I've already been asked to review this thing, and explain in greater detail how to properly use it on my website. I should have it up by the weekend. It's not THAT tough, once you know a little about basic front-end alignment procedures.
-JD
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