String alignment

R

ronald b. kazi

New member
Aug 6, 1999
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My mechanic pulled a fast one on me. Installed drivers upper control arm
bushing then told me he did not have time to do the alignment.

Where is the procedure for the infamous string alignment and can I use
it to set Caster and Camber?

HELP!

Ron and Julie
 
http://www.web-access.net/~bmassey/ click on 'Odds and Ends", then 'Front
End Alignment".

bdub

>My mechanic pulled a fast one on me. Installed drivers upper control arm
>bushing then told me he did not have time to do the alignment.
>
>Where is the procedure for the infamous string alignment and can I use
>it to set Caster and Camber?
>
>HELP!
>
>Ron and Julie
 
>My mechanic pulled a fast one on me. Installed drivers upper control arm
>bushing then told me he did not have time to do the alignment.
>
>Where is the procedure for the infamous string alignment and can I use
>it to set Caster and Camber?
>
>HELP!
>
>Ron and Julie

Ron - the string method is on Gene Fisher's site
http://www.california.com/~eagle/

I don't think that you can do the caster and camber with this method.
I just replaced a torn CV boot last week and found that the front
upper arm bolt was worn and the upper arm could move in and out about
1/8". I removed the arm and went to AutoZone and found new Tornado
bushings for about $7 each. I brought them to a machine shop which
had a press and they took out the old ones and pressed in the new
ones for $14. I could not find a cam bolt for the upper control arm.
GM said the part number is no longer valid (discontinued about 10
years ago) and none of the auto parts shops or alignment shops had
one, so I bought a 1/2" x 20 thread grade 8 bolt and carefully
ground down a flat along its length so that it would fit the two
cams. Its back together but now I've got to find a shop that will
check the camber and caster. There are good instructions in the
Maintenance manual but I believe that you've got to have the machine
to do it. One alignment shop wouldn't do it because they said to do
it properly it should be put onto a rack and the GMC was too long for
theirs. I'm looking for someplace to do it right now.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
>In a message dated 05/26/2000 2:57:43 PM Central Daylight Time,

>
>> One alignment shop wouldn't do it because they said to do
>> it properly it should be put onto a rack and the GMC was too long for
>> theirs. I'm looking for someplace to do it right now.
>>
>Emery
>
>I think my alignment gnome did a good job. It drives much better.
>He put me on the floor with turntables under each wheel. Yeah he
>had to borrow two of them. He even told me that it would be as
>accurate as being on the rack---he also said he would bet that
>the tires would die of sidewall rot before I wore them out. My experience
>with my SOB says he is right. Find somebody who wants to work
>with you. Just my thoughts.
>
>Take Care
>Arch

Thanks Arch. I'll keep looking. Hard to find anyone here in Santa
Fe. I might have to drive it to Albuquerque.

Emery
 
"My mechanic pulled a fast one on me. Installed drivers
upper control arm bushing then told me he did not have
time to do the alignment.

Where is the procedure for the infamous string alignment
and can I use it to set Caster and Camber?"


The alignment shops that drive the vehicle onto a rack
usually cannot accomidate the GMC however if they use
a pit they can probably do the job.

The alignment machine uses a level to measure Camber.

The commonly available carpenters level is not very
accurate however a plumb bob is and if the vehicle is on a
level surface Camber can be measured using one.

Without an alignment machine it would be difficult to measure
Caster, however you could adjust the front control arm
bushing out as far as it will permit and then use the rear control
arm bushing to set the wheel to the correct camber. This would
provide the maximum Caster available. To date I have not heard
of anyone with a GMC with too much Caster.

Ron having said all of the above, it would probably be much
faster to find an alignment shop with their rack in a pit.

Good luck

Regards

Gary Zingle
1973 GMC 26 foot
 
We would if we lived closer. Just to far from Idaho to Florida.
Marlene Meineken

- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 10:32 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: String alignment

> Hey All, There's a place called the Coopmotors in Orland that has a
machine
> to align the wheels All 6 . Try it you might like it.
>
> Carol
>
 
>Hey All, There's a place called the Coopmotors in Orland that has a machine
>to align the wheels All 6 . Try it you might like it.
>
>Carol

Do you mean Jim Bounds at GMCCoop in Orlando, Florida?
http://www.gmccoop.com . If so, Jim is a frequent contributor to
this site and many of us have used his services. He does great
interior remodeling and exterior painting as well. Jim did a 6 wheel
alignment for me in Feb. which solved my rear end tire wear problem.
But with my latest problem with having to get the right front
realigned after replacing the upper control arm bushings on the right
side last week, a 4000 mile round trip drive is just too far for me
to go back right now even though Jim does great work!

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
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