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Proper alignment, or off the deep end?

Old Mar 17, 2003 | 10:00 PM
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slaponte's Avatar
slaponte
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From: Gainesville, Florida
Question Proper alignment, or off the deep end?

So here is my question. When I look at the alignment report it has the degrees, which left and right seem pretty even, right?

But I drive the car by myself most of the time. That is 200lbs of weight on the one side.

Shouldn't the car be aligned with a 200lbs weight on the driver seat?? Or are they going to think I fell off the looney wagon??
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Old Mar 19, 2003 | 09:54 PM
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bfleming
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From: South Jersey
Default weight distribution and alignment

Weight distribution shouldn't have anything to do with wheel alignment IMO. I'll check the service manual to see if they say anything about it. Alignment adjusts the wheel angles (caster and camber) and consequently tire track and affects handling and tire wear.
I suppose if you put a heavy weight on one side of the car and drove around it would affect handling and you might be able to compensate by adjusting alignment. Adjusting the tire pressure would make more sense to compensate for the unequal load distribution.
However, your 200 lbs is so small a differnce between the two sides that it wouldn't make sense to make the tire pressure adjustment. You'd have to readjust pressure when you add a passenger too. Suspension dampening and tires handle this weight difference IMO.
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