Weird Alignment Changes? (Page 1/4)
Additivewalnut JUN 14, 01:02 PM
Question for anyone who does alignments for a living or generally has access to a machine.

I align my car to have 1/16 front tow in, I go autocross it, I leave autocross with 3/32 tow out on both front tires. How does that work? I have poly bushings, new ball joints, and the outer tie rods look fine. No play anywhere. Is that an inner tie rod problem? Steering rack? The fiero just wants to have tow out for maximum race car-age?
gregr75 JUN 14, 04:10 PM
im no help here but just curious how you measure your before and after? do you have access to an alignment machine?
Additivewalnut JUN 14, 05:27 PM
I do, I work at an alignment shop
theogre JUN 15, 12:44 AM
Simple, autocross & some other racing "beats the hell" out of suspension & why racing & other driving Voids most Warranties. Racing, ride share, etc Can be problems w/ Car Insurance too.

You have Polly in control arms etc that have problems no to super few vendors will admit.
Like Center core can "chew" thru the polly for little or no lube &/or high load.
Polly can deform under high load &/or higher Heat add to core "eating."

May have Rod ends & other problems for steering even ignore that.

May also have wheel bearing problems too. They hate preload when installed wrong but Autox etc puts huge load often does same thing & bearing often Fail.
Sealed Hubs like Fiero rear axles have will have same problem.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

Yellow-88 JUN 22, 12:17 PM
Poly bushings do "crush". They may stabilize at some point but I've never tested it.

Does your toe look different every time you get back from the track?
Additivewalnut JUN 22, 12:28 PM

quote
Originally posted by Yellow-88:

Poly bushings do "crush". They may stabilize at some point but I've never tested it.

Does your toe look different every time you get back from the track?



That last two times have been about 3/32 out, I'm sure it would vary if I kept running it hard after noticing the change
Yellow-88 JUN 22, 12:48 PM
Personally, I don't see poly bushings as a serious up grade for competition style driving. I think they gained such popularity because they are so easy to "market". They look cool and the work required to install them makes one assume that there is an improvement. In competition, you should consider rod ends or some other form of solid bearing. Yellow uses UHMW polyethylene on bronze oilite for inboard control points. So far, no measurable toe change for 70,000 miles. Note, that with solid control points you need to run zero toe.
Additivewalnut JUN 22, 01:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by Yellow-88:

Personally, I don't see poly bushings as a serious up grade for competition style driving. I think they gained such popularity because they are so easy to "market". They look cool and the work required to install them makes one assume that there is an improvement. In competition, you should consider rod ends or some other form of solid bearing. Yellow uses UHMW polyethylene on bronze oilite for inboard control points. So far, no measurable toe change for 70,000 miles. Note, that with solid control points you need to run zero toe.



Where could I track a set down?
Yellow-88 JUN 22, 01:24 PM
Solid control points require at least some machining and fabrication. It also completely voids any warrantees and leaves you legally naked if anything "happens". Competition prepped cars must accept that. Also be aware that solid control points transmit a lot of road noise, not at all pleasant for normal driving. That's why Yellow has both cradles isolation mounted. McMaster Carr is where I get most of my materials.
Additivewalnut JUN 22, 03:30 PM

quote
Originally posted by Yellow-88:

Solid control points require at least some machining and fabrication. It also completely voids any warrantees and leaves you legally naked if anything "happens". Competition prepped cars must accept that. Also be aware that solid control points transmit a lot of road noise, not at all pleasant for normal driving. That's why Yellow has both cradles isolation mounted. McMaster Carr is where I get most of my materials.



This car hasn't had a warranty since 1989 LOL. My car is on it's way to being trailered to the track anyway since I'm starting to do stuff to get it prepped for road courses. I figure what you had were off the shelf parts since you were saying it's that much better than poly. I don't really have the facilities to be making custom control arm mounts or whatever is involved with it.