Well, I missed the last Auto-X, because I spent all day trying to get my car aligned at the local Firestone and they ended up telling me 4 hours later that my car was to low to get up on the rack.
I was going to purchase the Firestone lifetime alignment deal, but if they can't even get my car up why bother?
Anyways, most of the guys at the local SCCA do their own alignments.
I was wondering if any of the RX-7 owner do? Tools needed? Any recommendations?
Should I even bother?

 

I personally do not align my own FD, but I know it has to be doable with any of the cars that the SCCA guys are driving. There self alignment kits vary in level of feature and most of them are just 4 points with strings or cords hooked on each side of the car. You just get them up against the wheels and you'll be able to determine the angles of your wheel alignment from the trigonometry the device creates. Shouldn't be too hard, but it might be a bit of a paint getting to your trailing arms/toe links with the wheel on if its lowered. You might have better luck with getting it on one of those drive-on lifts where it lifts the car from the wheels. You'd at least be able to adjust things from underneathe. Good luck. I'd like to hear how it goes if you align your own car successfully.
-Dave

 

I can do front and rear toe very easily with the car on the ground and a tape measure. The rears are easy to get to if you lay behind the car and reach through the suspension, the fronts are obvious. Just find the center line of the chassis and measure to the front and rear of the tire tread.

For caster/camber you need a bubble gauge or such, I have yet to invest in one but plan to.

 

i think it only makes sense to invest in the appropriate equipment and learn the techniques if you are changing your settings very frequently (ie a street car that you autocross a couple times a month).

however, nothing compares to the accuracy of the new laser alignment rigs.....and assuming you find a competent shop (big assumption of course) the convenience is definitely worth the cost.

good luck
fabian

 

That's weird that the Firestone didn't have some wood blocks or something so that your car could get up on the rack. If nothing, pick up some 2X4's at Home Depot and bring them with you. I run fairly aggressive (for a street-driven car) alignment settings, and I feel that the once or twice a year laser alignment is worth it's weight in gold. You'll be surprised how much it moves over the course of a few months.

 

I do my own, But I have access to an alignment machine at work