Camber Measurement Device

[PPX]

Hello Forum members, please give some input and suggestions on how to implement a self leveling device to measure wheel camber accurately. The device will be self made.

[stugray]

I use a craftsman 3 foot digital level.

It has magnets on it to hang on things.
I used those magnets to hold on steel 1/4" X 14" bars that I threaded some small bolts into.
The bolts stick out from the side of the level just enough for me to touch the rim on top & bottom.
It seems accurate to 1/10 degree.

Here's my son measuring

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by stugray

I use a craftsman 3 foot digital level.

That looks freakin' fantastic.
Ummm.... what car is that?

[wparsons]

Nothing against Stugray's suggestion, but for that (or anything else) to be accurate you need a totally level floor for the car to rest on. If you can't get that first, don't bother looking further.

[fstlane]

Here's the one a made a while back that has served me well. It's also self leveling so just place it on the floor in front of behind the tire and press the zero button prior to taking the camber measurement.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...25&postcount=1

[stugray]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

That looks freakin' fantastic.
Ummm.... what car is that?

It's my other 2.0L boxer engined track car (Porsche 914)

Originally Posted by wparsons

Nothing against Stugray's suggestion, but for that (or anything else) to be accurate you need a totally level floor for the car to rest on. If you can't get that first, don't bother looking further.

- OR you can use the same level to check the floor/car first and record the degrees out of level.

Originally Posted by fstlane

Here's the one a made a while back that has served me well. It's also self leveling so just place it on the floor in front of behind the tire and press the zero button prior to taking the camber measurement.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...25&postcount=1

Nice! Great minds think alike....

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by stugray

- OR you can use the same level to check the floor/car first and record the degrees out of level.

That'll get you close, but with enough slope, the suspension will load differently than flat ground and will throw the measurements off slightly.

Now, it'll have to be more than a couple degree slope to do that, so if the ground is reasonably flat you can make it work.

[Wayno]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Nothing against Stugray's suggestion, but for that (or anything else) to be accurate you need a totally level floor for the car to rest on. If you can't get that first, don't bother looking further.

This! I gave up using levels and got the clearance from tire to strut equal.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by wparsons

That'll get you close, but with enough slope, the suspension will load differently than flat ground and will throw the measurements off slightly.

Now, it'll have to be more than a couple degree slope to do that, so if the ground is reasonably flat you can make it work.

While we are on the subject of DIY alignment:
I always make sure to roll the car onto the slab and then make the measurements.
You dont want to try it after jacking the car up and setting it back down.
That will throw off your measurements.

[Thorpedo]

Take measurement, mark where tires are, turn car around, measure again. If you get the same measurement on all 4 corners I think you must be fairly close.

[wparsons]

^^ That works too!

I took measurements using my phone and a simple angle app in my garage after driving home from an alignment, and they were within 0.1* at all four corners. Close enough for me

It's also close enough for me to check very so often to make sure nothing has slipped, and takes no time at all.

[mav1178]

One way of "fixing" a floor that isn't flat is to use these:

http://www.bbxracing.com/

You can measure the stand locations and offset them just enough to get a "flat" floor for the car to be set on.

I've been drooling over these since 10 years ago or so when I first saw the top ALMS teams using these at the track. They set up the jig to compensate for a non-flat paddock.

-alex

[wparsons]

*drooool* I would love a set of those, but there's no way I can justify the costs!

I could pay for like 15 proper alignments before breaking even.