Good points Michael.  I also offer to pay the cost for an alignment done to
tighter standards, rather than accepting the usual rough approximation to
the numbers provided in the machine's software.

It makes a huge difference in steering feel and gas mileage as well as tire
wear.

On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 6:41 AM, Michael Snow <slowmachine82@gmail.com>wrote:

> On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 7:45 AM, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:
> > But, but...The name of this thread is "adjusting rear camber".  I'm
> > still hoping to hear from someone who has actually done it.  I have no
> > problem measuring it, my problem is changing it.
> >
> > hopefully,
> > Larry A.
> >
>
> I have had the rear camber and toe adjusted on several vans, both 2WD
> and Syncro.  I was lucky enough to find a shop that would use the
> Bentley procedure and let me inside the shop to observe and assist.
> They used large pry-bars.  It can require several attempts to get it
> right, as the control arm anchor point tends to move when
> tightening/torquing the nut.  On one occasion (when they were very
> busy and short-handed) I had to pay them for actual shop time instead
> of their normal flat rate, resulting in an extra ten dollars (or so)
> additional charge.  The Bentley procedure works, and IMHO is worth the
> trouble in tire wear alone.  If your rear springs are sagging too
> much, it is impossible to adjust the rear camber to the Bentley specs.
>
> FWIW, the shop seems to have a more difficult time with the front
> alignment than the rear.  They want to shorten the radius rods too
> much, which makes them chase their tails trying to get both caster and
> camber within the spec at the same time.  Providing the Bentley and
> warning them of this common mistake in advance seems to make the
> process smoother.  The techs always do a better job when they are not
> frustrated and hurrying to finish within the shop owner's timeline.
>
> --
> Michael Snow
> 1987 Syncro TiiCo
> 1982 Westfalia 1.9TD
> http://slowmachine82.blogspot.com/
>

--
Jake

1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"

Crescent Beach, BC

www.thebassspa.com
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27