Best Home Alignment Tools? (Race Quality)

[Irid]

I moved, so I no longer have access to the four-post lift and Hunter alignment machine a friend ran. I'd like to continue to perform my own alignments, but I haven't heard much about the various equipment options for performing at home (or at the track) alignments.

Does anyone have experience with any of the products below, or can you recommend something else? I'm looking for a dead-nuts setup...

(SmartStrings - and other products from Smart Racing)
http://www.smartracingproducts.com/ProdCat/AlSuTool/alsutools.htm

(Longacre's front end setup, they also make good scales and turnplates, etc.)
http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/catlist.asp?catid=5

(ART's laser alignment tools)
http://www.advancedracing.com/products2.php?prod=string2

(Tru-Line laser alignment - never heard of them...)
http://www.tru-line.net/html/tl_tr-12.htm

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Bumping this because I'd like to know what folks think too.

 

[Janni]

Here's what we have now -

Intercomp Race Scale Platforms - easy to roll on and off to adjust and then settle the car.

Scales - we have a set of Rebco, but Intercomp are probably preferred

Caster/Camber gauge - Intercomp Digital

Slide plates - 2 pieces of 1/8" steel with grease between them.

String, a tape measure and jack stands

We've set and adjusted ride height, camber, toe, thrust angle, etc. Not really good on caster yet - still have some learning.

I really believe that it's not the equipment, it's the skill and experience - just watch Russ at Archers - he really doesn't have fancy equipment at the track, but he can align a car amazingly well.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Janni, is it this...
pn #100005 with magnetic adapter?

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[Janni]

yup - magnetic adapter doesn't really work on Aluminum wheels, but we use a flat piece of carbon fiber to center on the rim.

Purchased from a place called "Car shop" in Moline, IL - cheapest pricing found - no one really discounts Intercomp - they were god on shipping, too.

http://www.carshopinc.com/index.php/manufacturers_id/263137

One other thing we did that is helpful is ditched the eccentrics on the lower control arms and went with the Comp Coupe shim kit from Dodge - you can change the camber +/- in .2 degree increments for on the fly adjustments.

Still learning - still taking lots of tire temps, etc., but learning more and more about car setup.

 

[Joel]

I use a smart camber gauge, laser level, laser toe in/out gauge, string, and a homemade "false wheel" on casters, so as I can get at the adjusters with the car on the ground. Works quite well, but takes an age to do.

 

[Irid]

Janni, can you post a part number for the comp coupe eccentric shims? Heck if someone has a parts list for comp coupe parts I'd love to see what the bits are...

 

[GTS Dean]

You can get them thru Woodhouse. Nice pieces!