Front end alignment at home
I can't answer to the home alignment kit, but you did mention wasting $100 at shops. Piece of advice when dealing with alignment shops. Try to find a more independent place, not some tire shop filled with 18 year olds that only know how to deal with computer specs (as someone else mentioned on here). Here's a pic of specs assuming you have stock or mostly stock front end suspension.
What they really need to do is set the ride height, align it, then take it for a drive for at least a few blocks
Put the car back on the rack and check again. It will most likely have moved. It takes a drive to settle after adjusting ride height.
I know it can be difficult to tell a shop what to do. The way I usually approach it is say you've been screwed over by a few shops not doing it right, and "im sure you can do it right, but would you mind driving and double-checking after?". They should be receptive to that (hopefully).
I will add that caster is key. With stock components I would shoot for as much as you can. That's why aftermarket UCAs are nice, you can get more caster out of them.
I can't answer to the home alignment kit, but you did mention wasting $100 at shops. Piece of advice when dealing with alignment shops. Try to find a more independent place, not some tire shop filled with 18 year olds that only know how to deal with computer specs (as someone else mentioned on here). Here's a pic of specs assuming you have stock or mostly stock front end suspension.
What they really need to do is set the ride height, align it, then take it for a drive for at least a few blocks
Put the car back on the rack and check again. It will most likely have moved. It takes a drive to settle after adjusting ride height.
I know it can be difficult to tell a shop what to do. The way I usually approach it is say you've been screwed over by a few shops not doing it right, and "im sure you can do it right, but would you mind driving and double-checking after?". They should be receptive to that (hopefully).
I will add that caster is key. With stock components I would shoot for as much as you can. That's why aftermarket UCAs are nice, you can get more caster out of them.
