Setting up your own alignment......

TrackJunkE · 01-13-2003, 01:12 PM

I am thinking of buying an ART Smart Camber and Caster Guage and a toe guage and attempting my own track alignment on my car, I have a A4. My only problem being I have no idea which bolts to loosen and tighten etc. Does anyone have a picture or something of which need to be adjusted for what? Also, I heard I need a special VAG tool to support the suspension to do alignments on audi's 4 link suspension, this info was from the dealer so it could be BS. Thanks.

Sharon · 01-13-2003, 03:08 PM

Your stock A4 does not have adjustments for camber or caster. If you want to be able to do this, you'll have to look into aftermarket control arms. And once you have those, you have to think through what settings you want for what driving you'll be doing (it's kinda of a blessing and a curse). Adjustments are with standard wrenches on the control arms in the wheel well.

You can adjust your toe settings on the car with the (PITA) eccentric bolts. However, your toe-plates will give you a measurement for your total toe per axle, but you won't know what it is at each wheel unless you string the car up. So you may be able to obtain, say, 0 toe upfront, but you may also inadvertantly thrust the alignment left or right. Stringing the car up isn't difficult, but is time consuming and rewards your patenince and if you are detail oriented. Toe plates are handy for making quick (but not 100%precise) adjustments at events if you can reasonably eye-ball where the toe is for each wheel, but it assumes that your starting alignment is somewhere in the ball park where you wanted it.

TrackJunkE · 01-13-2003, 03:16 PM

if there is no adjustment for camber how do they align the car? My car is lowered and I am getting inside tire wear on both front and rear so I am assuming from that, that I have negative camber. Can I even the camber out between sides?

Phil White · 01-13-2003, 03:20 PM

you'll need to have the adjustable upper links to change camber/caster beyond what minute adjustments can be made without them. If your car is lowered and you have too much negative camber, I think you'll need the links to fix it.

As for which adjustments do what... that's a complicated one to answer. You really have to adjust everything even if you only want to change camber. Once you start messing with stuff, you'll realize what's going on.

Oh, and make sure you do things in this order:
caster, camber, toe
otherwise you might be there for a while.

The first time I did this, it took me about 4 hours to do the front with all the trial and error involved. If I had to do it again, I could probably do it in less than 2.

Sharon · 01-13-2003, 03:21 PM

can be attributed to too much toe out too. You have an adjustment for that.

Simply lowering your car will give you more camber. We're not talking gobs here, probably a max of arround -1.25 degrees give or take (and obvouisly depending on how low).

The other method dealers use is if there is too much camber on one side, is to slide the subframe left or right. There's some slop in the attachments to do that.

Phil White · 01-13-2003, 03:27 PM

I'd love to see the current state of THWAP.

I'm going to try to do some ProSolos and Tours this year too, but planning a wedding is turning out to be somewhat time consuming, so we'll see.

Sharon · 01-13-2003, 03:34 PM

We've committed to a full autocross season this year. For us that means trying to hit all the national events west of the Rockies, and committing to one of the local series. We'll like opt for AAS if they can get a concrete site(Crow's Landing? Pretty please?). We may end up doing an occaisional SFR event, but doubt that we'll do their whole series.

I'll be at the first couple SFR events, but probably without THWAP (she's in peices and will be in more and more peices in the coming weeks).

Sharon · 01-13-2003, 03:39 PM

This new organization? Some folks splitting from the SCCA Solo2 scene.

We may try one of these out.

Precision Racing Organization

Phil White · 01-13-2003, 04:00 PM

and with substantial prize money too! I'll have to keep my eye on that and maybe give it a try as well.

TrackJunkE · 01-13-2003, 04:03 PM

Also, is it really necessary to get the rear toe links and sway bar link or are most people just running the adjustable fronts?

01-13-2003, 03:08 PM	#2
Sharon Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 5,848	I'm not sure you know what you're getting yourself into Your stock A4 does not have adjustments for camber or caster. If you want to be able to do this, you'll have to look into aftermarket control arms. And once you have those, you have to think through what settings you want for what driving you'll be doing (it's kinda of a blessing and a curse). Adjustments are with standard wrenches on the control arms in the wheel well. You can adjust your toe settings on the car with the (PITA) eccentric bolts. However, your toe-plates will give you a measurement for your total toe per axle, but you won't know what it is at each wheel unless you string the car up. So you may be able to obtain, say, 0 toe upfront, but you may also inadvertantly thrust the alignment left or right. Stringing the car up isn't difficult, but is time consuming and rewards your patenince and if you are detail oriented. Toe plates are handy for making quick (but not 100%precise) adjustments at events if you can reasonably eye-ball where the toe is for each wheel, but it assumes that your starting alignment is somewhere in the ball park where you wanted it. __________________ Sharon

01-13-2003, 03:16 PM	#3
TrackJunkE New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 106	I am not worried about the work involved.... if there is no adjustment for camber how do they align the car? My car is lowered and I am getting inside tire wear on both front and rear so I am assuming from that, that I have negative camber. Can I even the camber out between sides?

01-13-2003, 03:20 PM	#4
Phil White New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 292	Like Sharon said... you'll need to have the adjustable upper links to change camber/caster beyond what minute adjustments can be made without them. If your car is lowered and you have too much negative camber, I think you'll need the links to fix it. As for which adjustments do what... that's a complicated one to answer. You really have to adjust everything even if you only want to change camber. Once you start messing with stuff, you'll realize what's going on. Oh, and make sure you do things in this order: caster, camber, toe otherwise you might be there for a while. The first time I did this, it took me about 4 hours to do the front with all the trial and error involved. If I had to do it again, I could probably do it in less than 2. __________________ 2001.5 S4 - Nogaro Blue (sold) 2004 350Z Track South SF Bay Area

01-13-2003, 03:21 PM	#5
Sharon Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 5,848	inside tire wear can be attributed to too much toe out too. You have an adjustment for that. Simply lowering your car will give you more camber. We're not talking gobs here, probably a max of arround -1.25 degrees give or take (and obvouisly depending on how low). The other method dealers use is if there is too much camber on one side, is to slide the subframe left or right. There's some slop in the attachments to do that. __________________ Sharon

01-13-2003, 03:27 PM	#6
Phil White New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 292	OT: you doing any local autocrosses this year? I'd love to see the current state of THWAP. I'm going to try to do some ProSolos and Tours this year too, but planning a wedding is turning out to be somewhat time consuming, so we'll see. __________________ 2001.5 S4 - Nogaro Blue (sold) 2004 350Z Track South SF Bay Area

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01-13-2003, 03:34 PM	#7
Sharon Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 5,848	Yes We've committed to a full autocross season this year. For us that means trying to hit all the national events west of the Rockies, and committing to one of the local series. We'll like opt for AAS if they can get a concrete site(Crow's Landing? Pretty please?). We may end up doing an occaisional SFR event, but doubt that we'll do their whole series. I'll be at the first couple SFR events, but probably without THWAP (she's in peices and will be in more and more peices in the coming weeks). __________________ Sharon

01-13-2003, 03:39 PM	#8
Sharon Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 5,848	BTW (OT, OT) Have you seen This new organization? Some folks splitting from the SCCA Solo2 scene. We may try one of these out. Precision Racing Organization __________________ Sharon

01-13-2003, 04:00 PM	#9
Phil White New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 292	cool! and with substantial prize money too! I'll have to keep my eye on that and maybe give it a try as well. __________________ 2001.5 S4 - Nogaro Blue (sold) 2004 350Z Track South SF Bay Area

01-13-2003, 04:03 PM	#10
TrackJunkE New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 106	Is camber adjustable in the rear??? Also, is it really necessary to get the rear toe links and sway bar link or are most people just running the adjustable fronts?

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