Problem getting alignment?

[REDLINE]

I don’t know whether I messed up or whether it’s an incompetent shop. I have a ‘18 non-R. I installed the oem camber plates that come with ‘19 and up gt350s.

I took it to an alignment shop to try get the Ford recommended track alignment. The guy said they can’t adjust my camber plates since there are no notches and is not accessible (since it’s below the strut tower). He says I have to remove the front strut so the plate is accessible. Is this correct? How do guys with oem or MM or steeda get theirs aligned? Isn’t vorschlag the only one with visible notches/indents?

If someone can educate me on our suspension, that would be greatly appreciated.

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[JAJ]

... it’s an incompetent shop....

Nailed it.

 

[luc]

I don’t know whether I messed up or whether it’s an incompetent shop. I have a ‘18 non-R. I installed the oem camber plates that come with ‘19 and up gt350s.

I took it to an alignment shop to try get the Ford recommended track alignment. The guy said they can’t adjust my camber plates since there are no notches and is not accessible (since it’s below the strut tower). He says I have to remove the front strut so the plate is accessible. Is this correct? How do guys with oem or MM or steeda get theirs aligned? Isn’t vorschlag the only one with visible notches/indents?

If someone can educate me on our suspension, that would be greatly appreciated.

Simple, unload suspension, loosen the 3 nuts on top and move the strut in or out

 

[meterman]

the guy i used said the same thing until I pulled up a picture of the adjustable plates on my phone and showed him.

 

[REDLINE]

Thanks guys. Lol, I went to another shop and they were like: sure, we can do that

Smh

 

[jmn444]

Some places just don't want to do this kind of work and I don't really blame them, they want the easy/quick toe n go alignments and not people that are looking for anything more than normal tire wear. Takes too much time to mess with camber and get it "right" for what they charge normally....

 

[NoXiDe]

Some places just don't want to do this kind of work and I don't really blame them, they want the easy/quick toe n go alignments and not people that are looking for anything more than normal tire wear. Takes too much time to mess with camber and get it "right" for what they charge normally....

I'd like to think that $90 dollars to $130 is pretty fair for someone to spend the proper amount of time on your car. Isn't an oil change labor just $15 dollars? Let's assume it takes them 10 minutes to do an oil change. If they knock out 6 oil changes in an hr that is $90 dollars. Let's compare that to an alignment... It shouldn't take more than an hr to align the car. Bottom line is If they are not going to do it "right" don't offer the service. It is their fault and they should be blamed.

 

[jmn444]

They get that same fee for cars that are only easy toe adjustments is my point.... from a business perspective why would you want to do something that takes 1 or 1.5 hours for the same fee you can get for something that takes just .5 hours? all while knowing the person that wants this is looking for very specific settings and not just "in spec"

the camber plates are a bitch to deal with IMO for small adjustments and the oem adjustment for rear effin sucks too... have you aligned your car yourself?

 

[NoXiDe]

They get that same fee for cars that are only easy toe adjustments is my point.... from a business perspective why would you want to do something that takes 1 or 1.5 hours for the same fee you can get for something that takes just .5 hours? all while knowing the person that wants this is looking for very specific settings and not just "in spec"

the camber plates are a bitch to deal with IMO for small adjustments and the oem adjustment for rear effin sucks too... have you aligned your car yourself?

I haven’t aligned it myself and wish I took the time to learn. Maybe it would have saved my splitter from getting damaged. The only thing I got out of that shop was a replacement and another life lesson.

i hope I’ve simplified the process for the rear now that I’ve added the steeda rear camber alignment kit.

most shops will charge an extra 30 for our needs too

 

[REDLINE]

I understand that it’s not possible to get the Ford recommended track alignment numbers without camber plates. How about the rear? Do I need a steeda rear camber kit to get the FP track alignment specs?

 

[NoXiDe]

TRACK ALIGNMENT SETTINGS:

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/F...350-Supplement-version-1_sg_EN-US_12_2018.pdf

This is the #1 item that I wanted to get:
https://vorshlag-store.com/collecti...5-up-mustang-camber-caster-plates-oem-perches

However, I don't live at the track yet so I cannot justify that kind of cost for something I may use 2 or 3 times a year. Additionally, there are other solutions available.

1) Front: https://m.bmrsuspension.com/?page=products&productid=1585 | Toughest material available
2) Rear: https://www.steeda.com/rear-camber-adjustment-kit.html

With the two above, you should be able to make it easier on the alignment person.

Some say, have the alignment person set you up with 2 settings one for track (mark it) and another for street (mark it). That way, you know where to dial it back yourself. I'm not exactly sure if I can trust that it will be accurate so I may just settle for one setting in between the two.

Maybe.... -1.6 camber in the front and -1.4 in the rear.

The unlimited alignment visits plan sounds pretty good right now. One thing I'd like to drive home, you technically do not need anything. The problem is the guy you're relying to do the alignment will need to have a lot of luck to get it there unless you supply him these gifts to make it easier on him.

 

[REDLINE]

Thanks

TRACK ALIGNMENT SETTINGS:

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/F...350-Supplement-version-1_sg_EN-US_12_2018.pdf

This is the #1 item that I wanted to get:
https://vorshlag-store.com/collecti...5-up-mustang-camber-caster-plates-oem-perches

However, I don't live at the track yet so I cannot justify that kind of cost for something I may use 2 or 3 times a year. Additionally, there are other solutions available.

1) Front: https://m.bmrsuspension.com/?page=products&productid=1585
2) Rear: https://www.steeda.com/rear-camber-adjustment-kit.html

With the two above, you should be able to make it easier on the alignment person.

Some say, have the alignment person set you up with 2 settings one for track (mark it) and another for street (mark it). That way, you know where to dial it back. I'm not exactly sure if I can trust it will be accurate so I may just settle for one setting in between the two.

Maybe.... -1.6 camber in the front and -1.4 in the rear.

The unlimited alignment visits plan sounds pretty good right now. One thing, I'd like to drive home, you technically do not need anything. The problem is the guy you're relying to do the alignment will need to have a lot of luck to get it there.

Thanks noxide. Those numbers are different than the ones I got with owners supplement. I wonder if it changed over the years. My ‘18 owners manual says -1.5 front with .10 total out and -1.0, -.3 in total for rear.

Also, I have the adjustable OEM camber plates that come in the ‘19 and gt500s.

I’m thinking of picking up that steeda for the rear, although BMR has something similar for half the price.

 

[NoXiDe]

Thanks
Thanks noxide. Those numbers are different than the ones I got with owners supplement. I wonder if it changed over the years. My ‘18 owners manual says -1.5 front with .10 total out and -1.0, -.3 in total for rear.

Also, I have the adjustable OEM camber plates that come in the ‘19 and gt500s.

I’m thinking of picking up that steeda for the rear, although BMR has something similar for half the price.

Those are from 2019 supplement guide. Yours was accurate at that time but I figured they realize more changes offered better results. It does look like it does the same thing. May be a good choice for you.

 

[jmn444]

Tire change for 19 was primary driver i bet, but both specs are conservative

 

[honeybadger]

Skip those steeds rear camber things. They don’t fit GT350s well due to a magneride harness and they’re still ridiculously obnoxious to adjust.

The OEM design is stupid, but works fine for street use. If you’re tracking your car, highly recommend an adjustable upper control arm like ones from full tilt boogie, BMR, etc. more stable, easier to reach, and adjustable in 20 seconds vs minute of swearing and bloody knuckles.

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