Alignment from Ford dealer

[OrangeCrush5.0]

How's it going everybody? I am new to the forum, this is my first post.

So, I own a 2016 Mustang GT. A couple weeks ago I installed some new parts. I put in new cv axles, Ford racing front control arms, bump steer kit, trailing arms, vertical links, the Ford Racing track suspension kit(shocks, struts and sway bars) and also replaced some bushing and bearings. All of this was installed in my garage, I thought the best place to go for an alignment would be my Ford dealer Boucher Ford(I love this dealer and have never had issues in the past). With the Ford Racing kit, Ford recommends new toe and camber specs.

Stock:
Front Camber -1.03 Total toe 0.00
Rear Camber -1.50 total toe 0.23

Perfmance spec
Front Camber -1.55 total toe 0.00
Rear Camber -1.98 total toe 0.23

Check out the picture for how they gave the car back..... I'm pretty upset that they'd leave the camber that far off in the rear, the steering wheels not straight and the car is pulling to one side also. Anybody live near Kenosha, WI that could recommend a good alignment shop? Has anybody here ever had an alingment that bad?

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[Niz55]

Your rear camber is adjustable from the factory. The front you can buy camber bolts in order to set your camber.

You front toe is very bad. I would toe it in 0.03 on each side.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Oh bejeezus thats a bad alignment. I hope they didn’t charge much for it.

I mean the rear camber is a real pain to do, its a battle of pure will between you and a slotted bolt hole with about a cubic inch of space to work in. Its no fun to finesse to a 1/10th of a degree. That said, those techs did you no favors.

With that suspension, for a sporty alignment, I’d be looking for:
Front toe: zero
Front Camber: 2.3 (w/ camber plates)
Rear camber: 1.8
Rear toe: 0.1-0.15 toe in per side (0.2-0.3 total)

 

[Dr. Norts]

What is the typical camber adjustment range using camber bolts?

Anyone use them, there aren't many threads on them if any with install pics/info.

 

[Coyote Red]

I have BMR front camber bolts & still can't get past -1.2 camber. I've had 2 Firestone shops try. We may need camber plates, Ford installed my camber bolts when I did progressive springs. I have -1.7 camber in the rear, no problems.

 

[Dr. Norts]

I have BMR front camber bolts & still can't get past -1.2 camber. I've had 2 Firestone shops try. We may need camber plates, Ford installed my camber bolts when I did progressive springs. I have -1.7 camber in the rear, no problems.

When you say "past -1.2" are you referring to you can't get more negative or more positive camber with them?

 

[Bluemustang]

Take it to a different alignment shops. That's typical of what Ford dealer has done the time I took it to them. You need to take it to someone who is going to take the time.

 

[Norm Peterson]

How's it going everybody? I am new to the forum, this is my first post.

So, I own a 2016 Mustang GT. A couple weeks ago I installed some new parts. I put in new cv axles, Ford racing front control arms, bump steer kit, trailing arms, vertical links, the Ford Racing track suspension kit(shocks, struts and sway bars) and also replaced some bushing and bearings. All of this was installed in my garage

Check out the picture for how they gave the car back..... I'm pretty upset that they'd leave the camber that far off in the rear, the steering wheels not straight and the car is pulling to one side also. Anybody live near Kenosha, WI that could recommend a good alignment shop? Has anybody here ever had an alingment that bad?

If I ever had an alignment done that came back like that, the next one would be done by yours truly. That's if there was a good reason for not doing it myself the first time.

It's amazing how strong the incentive to learn new tasks can be when somebody else takes such an "I don't care" attitude.


Norm

 

[Niz55]

This is what I use to set my camber at home. Make sure the surface is flat/level. It takes about 2-3 times to dial it in. I take off the tires and adjust the camber front and rear. Drive it and re adjust it again. It has always been spot on comparing it with the alignment machine at the shop I go too.

https://m.harborfreight.com/digital-angle-gauge-63615.html

Also, the dealers alignment racks are ancient and they are not calibrated.

 

[Niz55]

@Norm Peterson

Hi Norm,

What is the best way to adjust your toe at home specially when the car is lowered? No way possible to reach the tie rods when the car is on the ground. I don't have a lift or anything so everything is done on the garage floor.

 

[Norm Peterson]

One way uses a few layers of 2x10 to get the whole car up a bit like it was on a (low) drive-on alignment rack. I've also included the raising & lowering part into an iterative procedure (measuring with the car on the ground, each iteration from the previous one, can provide insight to how much more adjusting needs to be done and in which direction). It helps to have some patience.


Norm

 

[OrangeCrush5.0]

These are the specs Ford recommends. Should I use these numbers?

 

[Norm Peterson]

It depends.

Are you likely to take this car out on any road course? Does your normal cornering tend to be harder than "average traffic" any time you get a clear road ahead?

Or is your driving relatively mild with the majority of it being highway miles?


Norm

 

[BmacIL]

It depends.

Are you likely to take this car out on any road course? Does your normal cornering tend to be harder than "average traffic" any time you get a clear road ahead?

Or is your driving relatively mild with the majority of it being highway miles?


Norm

For spirited driving I'd take the Ford Performance spec, flip the camber front and rear and be done. For only street, about 0.25-0.4 deg less overall camber. For track, add another 0.5-0.7.

 

[Norm Peterson]

For spirited driving I'd take the Ford Performance spec, flip the camber front and rear and be done. For only street, about 0.25-0.4 deg less overall camber. For track, add another 0.5-0.7.

Sounds good. Now it's up to OC5-oh to figure out where his driving fits. I hope he can be honest about his self-assessment, as it's sometimes easy to over-estimate 'need' when there's too much 'want'.


Norm

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