My car is a bit too low for my taste right now, I'm looking to raise it up a bit before I head out for a road trip. I had my new tires installed last month and tire alignment done as well. If I'm going to raise my car up with the coilovers I have on by about .5". Will I need to get the alignment again? I don't really mind spending the money again to get it right since the first shop forgot to put the key lock back on. Another question is that, what is the most precise way to make sure the car will sit at identical height at every corner? I used a digital caliper last time but it seems like it's low at one corner compare to the other 3; then it would change corner again. I lock the coilovers tight so I know it wouldn't shift. Help please?
Daniel Ward
Yes the alignment will change, raising the car will cause the wheel to gain positive camber and it will toe out. You may still feel the car going straight if you do it evenly because the toe will be fairly close from side to side still. But it will wear your tires and cause erratic handling with the severe toe out. Depending on your car it shouldn't cost much to align it If you can't afford to keep doing it make up your mind about your ride height As for adjusting it, solely depends on the design of your coilover. Whether it threads into itself and gets shorter/longer or height changes from preload.
Carter Parker
Yea I'll change the height this time and I'll be done. I drive on the freeway more and more and I scrape everywhere at 70mph. Car is S2000 with Koni yellow and Ground Control coilovers.
How do I precisely keep the height equal at all corners though?
Noah Hall
You want the height equal from side to side more so than front to back A flat surface for starters Take measurements of a common point from both sides to the ground Also take measurements of common points on your coilovers side to side before adjusting. Consider leaving the left side slightly higher to accommodate for your weight Keeping height equal is pretty self explanatory with the numbers in front of you.
Dominic Rogers
Yea the ground is level. So you're saying try to get it as close as possible but there's no precise way to get it. And a tinny minute difference in car height at one corner will not eat through the tires as fast as camber/toe right?
Andrew Cook
You're in Socal? What shop do you go to or recommend?
Caleb Barnes
I'm on the same boat where I have to drive up to Washington from SoCal. My car's exhaust has like an inch of clearance from the ground and scrapes on dips etc. I'm getting new coilovers today and will be raising it some.
I've only ever did the alignments myself using string. How much do alignments usually cost and would it be worth it?
Levi Sanchez
The precise way is by measuring using common points idk how else to explain it... kind of common sense man lol As long as with you in the car you're within 1/8th of an inch from side to side it'll be fine
Yeah, that alignment rack is mine lol
Depends on the car Standard toe alignment on all 4 corners will run you 60-100
Easton Cox
>stancefag in charge of alignment
Sebastian Campbell
>alignment expert >camber is 10 degrees out >his car spun out driving straight on a suburban road
