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06-22-2020, 05:47 PM | #12762 |
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PCA had a really good photographer (compared to what's normally at my local track) last weekend! Look at that stock suspension roll! Lol
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06-22-2020, 06:01 PM | #12763 | |
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At least you missed it. Back in March, I had an errant exhaust hanger fly up and chip my headlamp lens, gouge the fender (went right through the clear bra), and chip the windshield.
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06-22-2020, 06:07 PM | #12764 | ||
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06-22-2020, 06:33 PM | #12765 | |
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Oh when I saw it coming I knew it would be bad. I was doing 110 in traffic, was not about to swerve to avoid it...$2000 in paintwork is a lot less than $20000 in frame damage (or a totalled car).
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06-22-2020, 06:42 PM | #12766 |
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One of my buddies was following a car who spun in the Esses at Road Atlanta, the rocks that kicked up went straight through his windshield and fender
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06-23-2020, 12:41 AM | #12767 |
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Crazy thing is all the cars seen in the cover pic of the photo, we're all friends. It fell off that 997 GT3 RS with heavy mods, bounced and hit the yellow S2000, then that kicked it towards me lol
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06-23-2020, 04:43 PM | #12768 |
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I feel stupid for asking this, but would you guys trust a shop that "does alignments by hand" and doesn't use a rack? I understand that a rack is (A) expensive and (B) uses up valuable floor space, but how good are those jigs I see for manual alignments?
My gut tells me that a good operator on a rack with lasers will always be the better choice. As I look into the future of getting a coilover conversion kit, I realized my shop does NOT have a rack and prides themselves on doing alignments by hand. I'm extremely skeptical of this attitude. I have a separate shop that I use almost exclusively for alignments because their guy is really fucking good and they have a fully-optioned rack.
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06-23-2020, 05:11 PM | #12769 | |
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06-23-2020, 05:23 PM | #12770 | |
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YES! I was struggling to articulate it, but that's how I feel. I'm spending money because I don't have the time, know-how, or equipment to do it myself.
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06-23-2020, 05:50 PM | #12772 |
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A large majority of professional race teams, including F1, use string systems for alignments.
Like ThunderMoose I also use a string setup for aligning my car and have been happy with it. I wouldn't be worried about a shop using a string system at all - very accurate method. |
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06-23-2020, 06:04 PM | #12773 | |
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Okay, good info. Thanks. Maybe I should ask it a different way: given the option, would you rather have reputable shop A string it or reputable shop B get it on a laser rack? I'd almost be curious to have the coilovers installed, let them string it, then drive straight to the other shop with the laser rack and see the numbers.
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06-23-2020, 07:38 PM | #12774 |
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i like this idea. have the first shop write down all the numbers and then explain to the second shop you just want a reading and print out. might be less money if they don't have to turn wrenches.
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06-23-2020, 07:50 PM | #12775 | |
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A few years ago I probably would of said laser rack. Now after doing a bunch of string alignments myself and seeing first hand it's accuracy I would probably lean that direction. That being said, if it's they are a reputable shop I would feel comfortable with whatever system they use. |
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06-23-2020, 09:11 PM | #12776 | |
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06-23-2020, 10:59 PM | #12777 | |
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06-24-2020, 07:52 AM | #12778 | |
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At the end of the day the lasers are computerized and have to be calibrated etc. You can take a car straight off a rack with a fresh alignment, rerack it, and it’s possible to end up with different numbers just by virtue of how the rack is. Strings being mechanical there’s significantly less margin for error IMO. I get my car aligned at a laser rack cause it’s convenient but if there was a person who was skilled in string-setup convenient to me, I would use them. There’s a reason tons of race teams mainly use this method too. In my mind the only reason a shop has a rack is because it’s faster and they can get through more cars quicker than with strings.
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06-24-2020, 09:25 AM | #12779 | |
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If they're cleaning up arthritis, you get up to 1 year with excuses like "surgeon must have left some tools in there because my knee stopped working for a second" If it's a partial knee replacement, you get up to 2 years with excuses such as "Can I borrow a 10 mm socket and wrench later? These screws in my knee aren't properly torqued. I should have had pressed in studs, but insurance wouldn't cover it" For a total knee replacement, you can blame anything from grounding wires, power lines, strong magnets, to antennas. If you're having issues with one or two corners in particular, just say your knee is picking up the local AM radio station in turns X and Y. |
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06-24-2020, 10:25 AM | #12780 | |
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I'd say either can be screwed up though but I would think most folks that use strings use them because they want that specific method and they know what they are doing and want to get that last bit of precision. Like I said though, either way can be screwed up... |
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06-24-2020, 10:47 AM | #12781 | |
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Also a good excuse as to why I drive a DCT
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06-24-2020, 11:55 AM | #12782 | |
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I worked at a shop that started out with strings and ended up with a laser rack. I much prefer working with lasers, especially on a double a-arm car where the camber adjuster changes caster and toe at the same time. Its really helpful to have a live readout as you do this and saves a TON of time. Having a skilled tech makes a huge difference with either system. The really trick setup is having the corner scales built into the alignment rack, so that you can do ride heights, corner balance, and alignment all at the same time. Strings are also portable which is a great advantage if someone is doing their own alignments. This is also why race teams basically always use strings - its consistent from the shop to the track since they're using the same methods and setup pad.
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