Jdog35

Ok, maybe the question isn't that long, but I'm sure the answers will be.

To those of you who remember my post a bunch of months ago, I learned the hardway about dropping a subframe without marking the original position whie installing my H&R coilovers/sways/etc. Because of this, my camber was all out of whack (like -3.3 on the left-rear, and -2.3 on the right-rear). It got aligned, but the camber is still pretty steep, and I'm sure the subframe isn't perfect yet. So the KMACs are going in soon (hopefully I won't need the tie-bars too...lot's of money for me to do both).

The question: how difficult is it to do a subframe/camber/wheel alignment on your own? I have a full lift in my garage, as well as every tool on the planet (the joys of a father who used to work as an electrical engineer/contractor. Is it possible to do this at home? I've had various shops tell me they can do it, but the "guess and check" method is all they can give me for the subframe alignment, which at $50-80 an hour, I can't even phathom affording.

Any input from you guys on this would be great. I'm pretty good with tools, and I have a good support group of friends (one of whom is a professional installer of all sorts of performance mods) to help out if need be. If it isn't possible, maybe some suggestions or avenues I haven't thought of would be helpful too.

Thanks all.

TTschwing

If the rear is only off a degree from side to side I wouldn't worry too much about it. You can correct out with Kmacs or tie bars. If you really want it Properly centered, then index the rear wheels with a digital camber gauge and just center so degrees match side to side (before adding any correction parts). Lock everythng down and proceed from there...

I'm confused as to why you dropped the rear subframe to begin with...

Jdog35

Schwing, if we had an Audiworld-Idol, you'd be my vote every time. Thank you. I assume I can check your Fotki for some pics/comments about doing this? I'm pretty sure my shop buddy can loan me a camber gauge, or at least get his hands on one for a day. When you say "inde the rear wheels..." you are saying take a baseline reading before hand correct? Then add the KMACS and adjust from there correct? I'm not familiar with the KMAC components themselves first hand, but I assume the adjustments are rather straight forward. Thank you again Idol.

TTschwing

I'm not sure about the idol thing but.......
I don't know of anyone who's done this on the rear, but I have on the front and the concept is similar. By indexing, I took a reading of both wheels at full droop and shifted the subframe until the numbers were similar left and right. The actual camber measured this way is not important....Just the L and R reference. Once centered, I used the cars adustments to come up with my suspension alignment numbers after it was back on it's wheels. Since there is no adjustment currently on the back, this should be fairly simple to get your centering baseline. Check my Fotki for some pics of the Kmac install...There are also some tips in the FAQ on how to adjust Kmacs..(you'll need the full kit BTW..)

<img src="http://images104.fotki.com/v479/photos/7/7305/1232358/DSC02586-vi.jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://public.fotki.com/ttschwing/kmac_suspension_install/">Kmac install photos...</a></li></ul>

marksk1

Jesus! All this stuff makes me not want to lower!! **Nervous**

Basttion

Just don't drop your subframe!

marksk1

hehe, ill make sure to tell them that when they install my H&amp;R coilovers, if i ever buy them

Jdog35

that you have to drop the subframe. It's the sway bars. There's no way around it to get it in without dropping the frame. So if you're just doing coilovers you can get away with it. But I also did full sways too at the same time, hence the droppage.

Basttion

You don't have to drop the subframe to put on a rear sway bar either

Jdog35

And it was just too damned annoying to get the bar in without doing so.