Orange County, CA : wheel alignment recommendations

[achang84]

Hi, I have a Manx buggy knockoff based on a 59 beetle (as far as I can tell and per the title). I just fixed up a few suspension items on including new tie rods and suspension settings. Are there any shops you guys recommend in Orange County or nearby to take a buggy to for a street alignment?

Thanks!

[dustymojave]

Ask MrBill. He has a Manx type buggy and a Class 11 off road Bug. He also is some sort of mechanic or something in OC.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet.

[Mickey bitsko]

Pardon my ignorance, is there a difference between "off road" and street alignment, if so, can someone explain?

[achang84]

Mickey I’m not sure either, but I’m guessing different amounts of toe in and camber are used as typical for street cars. I know that I cut the coils off the coil over shocks from the previous owner so now the car sits a few inches lower at rest. I also changed out the tie rods. I matched them to equal length as previous but I’m not so sure the previous setting was good for toe in anyways.

[dustymojave]

No difference between alignment for street or for dirt.

Changing the ride height will change the alignment front and rear.

You don't need fancy machinery or special skills to align a link pin VW front end.

- Camber is not adjustable. Some will tell you that they adjusted the camber with the link pin shims. That tells you that they were messing things up and don't know what they are doing. If you have stock spindles, you should have very close to zero camber. If it's not zero, something is bent.

- Caster is adjusted by adding shims behind the lower tube of the beam.

- Toe should be 1/16" to 1/4" IN at the tread of the tire. You measure that with a tape measure. Not rocket science. Be sure you start by centering the steering wheel. If the steering wheel is centered and the wheels aren't pointing straight then adjust the tie rods until the steering wheel is straight and so are the tires.

- Before you start checking alignment, check for loose tie rod ends, loose wheel bearings, steering slop, worn link pin bushings or king pin bushings.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet.

[King_vw61]

Lee and sons in Fullerton on harbor Blvd. old school shop and they know what they are doing.

[achang84]

Thanks guys. I’ll check the alignment but it’s good to know a good so around here!

[mr_bill]