Firestone -- alignments for life?

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Aug 17, 2004 9:09 pm

Les Davis wrote:

I just had my Miata done at MM Autowerks. Kevin is a great guy, not exactly cheap, but I have confidence that he did it correctly and I know he spent a great deal of time on the car getting it right.

It sure is nice to have the fancy tools (cheap camber gauge, string, jack stands, ruler, etc.) needed to do my own alignments. Even with the formula car.

Seriously, being able to do your own alignments can be handy as well as a $$$ saver. Plus, when the steering wheel is "slightly" off center you can fix it. Try that with a "paid for alignment".

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

DickRasmussen wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

I just had my Miata done at MM Autowerks. Kevin is a great guy, not exactly cheap, but I have confidence that he did it correctly and I know he spent a great deal of time on the car getting it right.

It sure is nice to have the fancy tools (cheap camber gauge, string, jack stands, ruler, etc.) needed to do my own alignments. Even with the formula car.

Seriously, being able to do your own alignments can be handy as well as a $$$ saver. Plus, when the steering wheel is "slightly" off center you can fix it. Try that with a "paid for alignment".

I actually have a camber gauge also, and have done my own alignments for years. I only paid this time because, after installing the suspension, I wanted to get it very precise, so that I could then have a good frame of reference for my very unlevel garage floor. In the future, I will probably do my own, however, on the Miata, it seems to be a slightly more complex procedure than I'm used to. Seems as though the two control arm bolts via their relationship to each other determine camber, caster, and toe. This is a little intimidating. On that note, anybody done their own Miata alignment that cares to share their experience? Is it as difficult as I'm fearing?

Brian Herring · **Posted:** Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:58 pm

Les Davis wrote:

DickRasmussen wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

I just had my Miata done at MM Autowerks. Kevin is a great guy, not exactly cheap, but I have confidence that he did it correctly and I know he spent a great deal of time on the car getting it right.

It sure is nice to have the fancy tools (cheap camber gauge, string, jack stands, ruler, etc.) needed to do my own alignments. Even with the formula car.

Seriously, being able to do your own alignments can be handy as well as a $$$ saver. Plus, when the steering wheel is "slightly" off center you can fix it. Try that with a "paid for alignment".

I actually have a camber gauge also, and have done my own alignments for years. I only paid this time because, after installing the suspension, I wanted to get it very precise, so that I could then have a good frame of reference for my very unlevel garage floor. In the future, I will probably do my own, however, on the Miata, it seems to be a slightly more complex procedure than I'm sured to. Seems as though the two control arm bolts via their relationship to each other determine camber, caster, and toe. This is a little intimidating. On that note, anybody done their own Miata alignment that cares to share their experience? Is it as difficult as I'm fearing?

You switching away from STX? Did we scare you away?

- dow

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Brian Herring wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

DickRasmussen wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

I just had my Miata done at MM Autowerks. Kevin is a great guy, not exactly cheap, but I have confidence that he did it correctly and I know he spent a great deal of time on the car getting it right.

It sure is nice to have the fancy tools (cheap camber gauge, string, jack stands, ruler, etc.) needed to do my own alignments. Even with the formula car.

Seriously, being able to do your own alignments can be handy as well as a $$$ saver. Plus, when the steering wheel is "slightly" off center you can fix it. Try that with a "paid for alignment".

I actually have a camber gauge also, and have done my own alignments for years. I only paid this time because, after installing the suspension, I wanted to get it very precise, so that I could then have a good frame of reference for my very unlevel garage floor. In the future, I will probably do my own, however, on the Miata, it seems to be a slightly more complex procedure than I'm sured to. Seems as though the two control arm bolts via their relationship to each other determine camber, caster, and toe. This is a little intimidating. On that note, anybody done their own Miata alignment that cares to share their experience? Is it as difficult as I'm fearing?

You switching away from STX? Did we scare you away?

- dow

Yeah, its not at all unusual for me. In fact, if/when I actually run a full seaon in the same car/class, that will be more surprising.

Time to go get my butt whipped by some different people. I considered finishing out the season in STX, but I'm pretty much destined for a third place for the season regardless, so I might as well get some seat time in the new car.

Brian Herring · **Posted:** Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:06 am

Les Davis wrote:

Brian Herring wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

DickRasmussen wrote:

Les Davis wrote:

I just had my Miata done at MM Autowerks. Kevin is a great guy, not exactly cheap, but I have confidence that he did it correctly and I know he spent a great deal of time on the car getting it right.

It sure is nice to have the fancy tools (cheap camber gauge, string, jack stands, ruler, etc.) needed to do my own alignments. Even with the formula car.

Seriously, being able to do your own alignments can be handy as well as a $$$ saver. Plus, when the steering wheel is "slightly" off center you can fix it. Try that with a "paid for alignment".

I actually have a camber gauge also, and have done my own alignments for years. I only paid this time because, after installing the suspension, I wanted to get it very precise, so that I could then have a good frame of reference for my very unlevel garage floor. In the future, I will probably do my own, however, on the Miata, it seems to be a slightly more complex procedure than I'm sured to. Seems as though the two control arm bolts via their relationship to each other determine camber, caster, and toe. This is a little intimidating. On that note, anybody done their own Miata alignment that cares to share their experience? Is it as difficult as I'm fearing?

You switching away from STX? Did we scare you away?

- dow

Yeah, its not at all unusual for me. In fact, if/when I actually run a full seaon in the same car/class, that will be more surprising.

Time to go get my butt whipped by some different people. I considered finishing out the season in STX, but I'm pretty much destined for a third place for the season regardless, so I might as well get some seat time in the new car.

Fair enough. I highly enjoyed competing with you this season in STX. You brought your A game at the last Rockingham, and you pulled out what appeared to be a first, so I think you have a chance.

Regardless, you gave me something to shoot for and some stiff competition. I appreciate you making STX a great class for this season and being apart of that.

Good luck in your other class, and if you ever com eback to STX, you can see me finishing 2nd place for the rest of the year to Keith. I am going to try to get more than 10% prepared next season, so if he stays in STX, I hope to give him some competition then!

Good luck!

- brian

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