When is a Car "Level" - Home Front End Alignment
I stand corrected! I looked up the Barracuda specific measurement in my '68 Plymouth service manual. Sure enough, it's 1 3/8". Pretty interesting, not sure why the factory would spec different ride heights given that all of these cars used the exact same suspension components. I get the 4 door being different, likely from a load standpoint. But the Barracuda vs a 2 door hard top? Maybe the 108" vs the 111" wheelbase? But then the Duster should be different as well. Gotta love Ma Mopar. The 2 1/8" spec is for 4 doors, the 2 door spec was 1 7/8", Barracuda's were 1 3/8".
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It's pretty much impossible. Most modern shops will put the car in their computer and get the factory alignment specs, which should NOT be used with radial tires. Then they'll give you some BS about liability when you tell them you want to use the skosh chart instead. Which is hilarious, because the car will handle and steer like crap with bias ply alignment numbers and radial tires. But they don't get that. And yeah, even if you find someone that will use the skosh chart they may not have any idea how to work on one of these cars.
I align mine at home, and when I buy new tires I have it checked on the machine at the tire shop, then tell them not to touch anything. Which is usually fine by them, since they don't want to deal with my adjustable UCA's and strut rods.
I stand corrected! I looked up the Barracuda specific measurement in my '68 Plymouth service manual. Sure enough, it's 1 3/8". Pretty interesting, not sure why the factory would spec different ride heights given that all of these cars used the exact same suspension components. I get the 4 door being different, likely from a load standpoint. But the Barracuda vs a 2 door hard top? Maybe the 108" vs the 111" wheelbase? But then the Duster should be different as well. Gotta love Ma Mopar. The 2 1/8" spec is for 4 doors, the 2 door spec was 1 7/8", Barracuda's were 1 3/8".
It's pretty much impossible. Most modern shops will put the car in their computer and get the factory alignment specs, which should NOT be used with radial tires. Then they'll give you some BS about liability when you tell them you want to use the skosh chart instead. Which is hilarious, because the car will handle and steer like crap with bias ply alignment numbers and radial tires. But they don't get that. And yeah, even if you find someone that will use the skosh chart they may not have any idea how to work on one of these cars.
I align mine at home, and when I buy new tires I have it checked on the machine at the tire shop, then tell them not to touch anything. Which is usually fine by them, since they don't want to deal with my adjustable UCA's and strut rods.
