Alignment issues

[genVer]

I just had my GTS aligned to the TA specs last night; now need some advice and/or education. After researching alignments on our cars I came to the conclusion that the TA alignment would improve stability but I am seeing the opposite effect. The car feels extremely twitchy, both around curves and in a straight line above 120mph. My first mistake was probably choosing to have it done at a shop other than the dealership. Am I safe to assume that something is wrong with the alignment?

[XSnake]

Not necessarily, aggressive track alignments often seem very twitchy on the street. Put it on the track and it will feel great.

[BLUETA#1]

Not necessarily, aggressive track alignments often seem very twitchy on the street. Put it on the track and it will feel great.

Exactly!

[bluesrt]

Did they mess with rear caber cams?

[genVer]

I left a part of the story out but it may have some bearing. He attempted to tweak it once he was finished to get it exactly on spec. There was a loud clunk and then it was totally out of alignment and it took him over 2 hours to get it back again. I was quietly watching while he worked and saw that he was adjusting the lower control arm. I'm no expert but I don't think what he was doing was part of the standard alignment. In the end I verified on the screen that it was very close to TA spec but after today's test drive I was concerned there was a problem. I'm getting the Arrow PCM installed next Monday so I'll have them make sure there is nothing out of whack then.

Not necessarily, aggressive track alignments often seem very twitchy on the street. Put it on the track and it will feel great.

So, assuming the dealer says nothing is wrong, I can be confident to take it to MPH for Viper Rendezvous in a few weeks with the alignment as it is you think?

Did they mess with rear caber cams?

These are the specs I asked him to use but I'm unsure of what adjustments he actually made.


Camber: front -2.5
Camber: rear -1.5
Caster: front 6.3
Caster: rear 0.7
Total toe: front 0.14
Total toe: rear 0.24

[XSnake]

So, assuming the dealer says nothing is wrong, I can be confident to take it to MPH for Viper Rendezvous in a few weeks with the alignment as it is you think?

As long as everything was tightened back up to spec you shouldn't worry about anything mechanically. You said you verified what he did on the screen so they have done what you asked. That being said that is a lot of toe for a non track only car (I don't think I have that much in my X) and probably the cause of what you are feeling.

[bluesrt]

I left a part of the story out but it may have some bearing. He attempted to tweak it once he was finished to get it exactly on spec. There was a loud clunk and then it was totally out of alignment and it took him over 2 hours to get it back again. I was quietly watching while he worked and saw that he was adjusting the lower control arm. I'm no expert but I don't think what he was doing was part of the standard alignment. In the end I verified on the screen that it was very close to TA spec but after today's test drive I was concerned there was a problem. I'm getting the Arrow PCM installed next Monday so I'll have them make sure there is nothing out of whack then.



So, assuming the dealer says nothing is wrong, I can be confident to take it to MPH for Viper Rendezvous in a few weeks with the alignment as it is you think? did the tech give you a print out of before and after?




These are the specs I asked him to use but I'm unsure of what adjustments he actually made.


Camber: front -2.5
Camber: rear -1.5
Caster: front 6.3
Caster: rear 0.7
Total toe: front 0.14
Total toe: rear 0.24

did the tech give you a before and after printout?

[viper04]

Interesting on the TA Alignment.

[Rapidrezults]

My car feels somewhat twitchy on the street at lower speeds..but once you get it on the track it transforms into the most amazing, stable track beast i've ever driven.

[darbgnik]

I have the TA alignment on mine from the dealer, I would not call it twitchy or nervous, but I would say it is very direct.

Also noticed zero tramlining, but not sure if any of the new Vipers did this or not, my old Viper did......

[mjorgensen]

If it was not a dealer then they had no way to check or set the rear caster, the clunk you heard was likely the entire lower rear arm slipping, effectively changing all the caster specs and if he was not adjusting both rear lower eccentrics the same amount to achieve camber specs he did change the caster which is not a good idea, even more so if it is now different from side to side. As for the front toe, we do not run that much and have never had a nervous complaint.

[genVer]

If it was not a dealer then they had no way to check or set the rear caster, the clunk you heard was likely the entire lower rear arm slipping, effectively changing all the caster specs and if he was not adjusting both rear lower eccentrics the same amount to achieve camber specs he did change the caster which is not a good idea, even more so if it is now different from side to side. As for the front toe, we do not run that much and have never had a nervous complaint.

Thanks for the info Mark; now I'm definitely going to have the dealer check the alignment. Lesson learned.

As long as everything was tightened back up to spec you shouldn't worry about anything mechanically. You said you verified what he did on the screen so they have done what you asked. That being said that is a lot of toe for a non track only car (I don't think I have that much in my X) and probably the cause of what you are feeling.

I had them use the specs listed in this document http://media.chrysler.com/dcxms/asse...iperGTS_SP.pdf so no additional toe from the GTS alignment. Just decreasing the front/rear camber and slight decrease in front caster.

did the tech give you a before and after printout?

No, I've always gotten them when I've had my vette's aligned in the past but forgot to ask for one this time. After 3 hours in the shop (an hour past the shops closing) my brain was fried.

[mjorgensen]

Thanks for the info Mark; now I'm definitely going to have the dealer check the alignment. Lesson learned.

Anytime, you guys can always reach me if you need me.