to align or not align

[cardogman1]

Is it always necessary to align after new sruts go in. I'm presently installing tokicos in the 240 and if the car drives straight after I'm done I'd rather not realign. Any feedaback would be appreciated.

Burt

[ZmeFly]

under normal driving conditions then by all means drive on.

as long as it isnt pulling or darting id go along with it and forget the alignment.

where i used to work we would take cars in for struts and the like and do an alignment check on the car after we were done. if it wasnt needed none was performed and the owner only paid for the check of the alignment which was usually 19.99

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by cardogman1

Is it always necessary to align after new sruts go in. I'm presently installing tokicos in the 240 and if the car drives straight after I'm done I'd rather not realign. Any feedaback would be appreciated.

Burt

Hi Burt:

The potential for the alignment to change is certainly there, when changing the strut cartridges out. I would never do such work without having the alignment checked afterwards. (how much do you value the new tires you just bought?) With todays "computer" alignment racks, it doesn't take long for your tire shop to check it out for you, and provide a printout. If you do your work cleanly enough, you might be able to just take the car to them without mentioning what you've done and tell them that the the car "feels funny" and ask for them to check it out. Of course you have to be able to trust the shop to not feed you a line of BS to generate income for themselves.

You only need the front-end checked as the rear wheel alignment cannot be adjusted on a stock 240Z.

Good Luck!

Carl

[cardogman1]

Thanks Carl and Zmefly got your response you guys have been a very valuable resource I hope I can be of help to you sometime. Let me know if you know anybody who wants to part with some slotted wheels.

I'll speak to you later

Burt

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by cardogman1

Thanks Carl and Zmefly got your response you guys have been a very valuable resource I hope I can be of help to you sometime.

I'm sure you'll be able to help many of us as time goes on. You've already helped me with the bumper rubbers!

Regards, Carl

[cardogman1]

You are a good man

Burt

[Gav240z]

Ok recently I replaced my front control arm bushes which involved removing the control arms.

Should I also get an alignment? I was going to replace the rear ones with urethane but could not obtain those easily here in aus it's a future plan. I had the stock rubber ones from Nissan but the monkey's gave me 4 of the same ones for the inner bushes and I couldn't even get the lower outer ones. Long story but you say the rear will not need alignment???

Because I did take the rear control arms off also....

Thanks.

PS: If it is out of alignment will it feel alot better to drive afterwards???

[2ManyZs]

Replacing the bushings and/or struts cartridges should bring your suspension settings back to stock if anything. There are no adjustments available for camber or caster in a stock suspension so if you replace worn out components it should not adversely affect the suspension, only return it to the factory settings.

The only way to adjust the camber is to replace the stock type bushings with the adjustable control arm bushings or using camber plates.

It might have a slight effect on your toe-in if the toe-in was set while the suspension was out of spec due to the worn out parts that you just replaced. Getting the toe checked is a fairly simple and inexpensive check at an alignment shop.

[cardogman1]

got the message 2many I understand as for Gav 240 I think he was asking me but I'm not sure. There is no alignment for the rear end of a 240 or any z car for that matter am I correct 2many?

I recently changed the front bushings and used oem rubber. I know a lot about polyethylene we use it in the hip and knee joints that I distribute. Poly is a very hard material and can crack or wear rapidly depending on the quality. I was afraid that I would get to hard a ride so I stuck with what the car was born with. However not to concern Gav or anyone else poly bushings may be fine and behave differently on a car then in a human being.

Regards

Burt:sick:

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by cardogman1

I know a lot about polyethylene we use it in the hip and knee joints that I distribute. Poly is a very hard material and can crack or wear rapidly depending on the quality. I was afraid that I would get to hard a ride so I stuck with what the car was born with. However not to concern Gav or anyone else poly bushings may be fine and behave differently on a car then in a human being.

Just thought I'd mention that Polyethylene, and Polyurethane are two different (though probably related) substances. Now I DO NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM, nor do I know anything about either of them, except that I'm fairly pleased with the ride and handling of my car with the Polyurethane bushings. Of course the previous 240Z that I owned was built as an autocross special with solid aluminum/delrin bushings, and THOSE puppies really gave a harsh ride I can tell you. The ones on my current Z are "night and day" different from those aluminum/delrin jaw-breakers. I'd describe the polyurethane ones as very firm.

Not trying to talk anyone into anything, just mentoning the *slight* difference in materials mentioned above.

[cardogman1]

I don't doubt you carl. Delrin is even harder and more brittle we us that material the handles of the instruments to put the Joint replacements in and for the trial or dummy polyethylene sizers. The poly bushings are very popular so they must be good.

Regards

Burt