Alignment Explained (+ DIY Guide)

Ever since we bought the Miata, it’s needed an alignment. Then we lowered it, and it needed one even more. Come along as Zach explains what an alignment is, why it matters, and even how to do one in the garage! It’s easier than you might think!

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These are all the tools you'll need to perform your very own alignment!

String

Calipers

Camber/Caster/Toe plates

Camber bubble gauge

Digital camber caster gauge that we did not use but i mentioned at some point in outro

Wrenches

Sockets and ratchet

[coptericecream]

Ma boi talking about caster
Background sound : [quacking intensified]

[Coreybase]

These online classes are getting pretty fun

[iamstd]

Some things to add:
- aligning worn out loose parts doesn't do anything. Refresh your suspension/steering before you do this. Sometimes that alone will correct your alignment.
- make sure all tires are aired up the same and ride height is the same at least left/right, if not front/back
- too much caster can make the steering really heavy and in extreme cases wear out your pump and ball joints
- too little caster will make the car twitchy and cause bump steer
- toe is the biggest factor in tire wear. I wouldn't recommend excess of 1° either direction on a road car where tire life matters.
- rear toe does the same thing as the front but in reverse. You can make combinations to get your desired effect without sacrificing tires
- make sure you bounce the car after each adjustment to remove any bind and give you a more accurate reading
- you can often feel the tire tread with your hand to feel how the alignment is effecting the tire effectiveness after a few thousand miles

[Rlyeh_The_Dead]

This video taught me that paying $75 bucks to get the car aligned professionally is a steal and I will continue doing it that way.

[PuridaMedia]

Zach is like a really good professor:
He can explain things at the highest level but he also knows how to simplify things so that other people who don't know jack shit about this stuff (like me) can understand.

[TheCarPassionChannel]

The Miata community needed this. Thank you for your service 💂 🔧

[shaunmeldrum]

Zach: it's actually easy

Us: * watches the sun go down as Zach works into the night.

[ormondjosh]

There's a moment in every garage alignment where you start adopting the, "Let's go with that" compromise.

[Mazrin]

Just in case y'all need:
- Caster 10:30
- Camber 12:20
- Toe 15:30

[JHMBB]

Damn damn damn! This was so impressive. I’ve done so many alignments as a tech at the dealership with the rack, but seeing this done "by hand" was super impressive. Nice work!

[ChickenShackIRL]

I love this series. Straightforward, simple, to the point, and beneficial for anyone with their own vehicle. Good job Donut. Mo instructionals, babeh!

[FDB]

Me: I'm going to align my car!
Me after watching this video: Ok where's the nearest shop

[mkfoxtrot]

Couple of tips left out of the video:

1. Make sure the steering wheel is perfectly level when taking your measurements and when adjusting all aspects of your alignment, not just toe. (You can use a "leveler" tool from your local hardware store, usually under $10)

2. Alignment adjustment hardware usually gets pretty rusty and stuck in place, you can combat this by:
A) Stacking wrenches like seen in this video at 12:17 - 12:21
B) Using penetrating fluid on all adjustment hardware everyday for 1 week before the alignment takes place
C) Purchasing an inexpensive butane torch from, once again, your local hardware store to help heat up nuts, or the area around bolts, to help them break free easier. (Under $30)

3. Always always always take into account that when locking down hardware to set in place your adjustments, the adjustments tend to move around when doing so. Try and keep the adjustment from moving by keeping the tool that is holding on to the adjustment perfectly still, this can be done with the "leveler" tool once again.

Love you Donut, keep up these awesome vids

PS
If you ever take your car to a shop, make sure they actually do the alignment by making paint marks on your eccentric bolts where they are located before the alignment, and counting the amount of threads visible on your toe adjustment, also remember to take pictures. Once the alignment is done, ask the technician if the alignment was off, then ask what aspects they adjusted. If they say they adjusted everything, but clearly your precautions beforehand say otherwise, you know not to go to that shop anymore. One of the shops that I used to work at would just spray all the adjustments with penetrating fluid and then take the car for a ride, if it drove straight, they wouldn't do the alignment but still charge for it. If you ever find that a shop charged you for a service that was never done, always take the necessary steps to report the shop for fraudulent business practices.

[jonahchambers]

This dude has some seriously good hosting talent and knows a thing or two about diy cat builds. Becoming my favorite series very quickly🤙🏻

[devinwhitlock]

Honestly this whole series is what every beginner in tuning/mechanics need to watch. Great series just to watch and enjoy for more experienced watchers too which speaks volumes for the entertainment aspect. Thanks guys

[DB-whtw]

>Watches 20 minute video about how to align your wheels
>still takes car to the mechanic
At least I know what my mechanic is doing now

[ethanbelnap]

“Only about 200 dollars”...I was fully expecting him to say 30

[muhammedq]

* Me get fresh alignment
Pothole* I’m about to end this mans whole career

[rpm]

This is an outstanding video. No verbal diarrhea, just entertaining delivery and I appreciate that you stay accurate with technical terms: you don't dumb it down, you bring us up. More videos please!

[bdm]

Before I watched this I had no clue how to do an alignment. Now after watching... I still have no clue, but I learned some new vocab words.