More of the do-it-yourself alignment questions

[sciroccos at earthlink.net (Jim Ruffi)]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: scirocco-l-bounces+sciroccos=earthlink.net@scirocco.org
>[mailto:scirocco-l-bounces+sciroccos=earthlink.net@scirocco.org]On
>Behalf Of GGehrke
>Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 4:32 PM
>To: Scirocco list
>Subject: More of the do-it-yourself alignment questions
>
>
>So I had been told that the auto hobby shop on the naval base here had
>an alignment rack, turns out they dont.
>I think I've archived all the stuff about alignments that we've
>discussed recently, but here's a question:
>
>My suspension is shot.  I remember Dan Bubb mentioned at one point
>that I really don't even need to bother doing an alignment because of
>that.  After my recent mishap, though, I think I've got a pretty bad
>toe problem (car is really jumpy, steering wheel isn't straight, and
>my drivers side tire squeals on every turn, no matter how slow I'm
>moving or how small the turn is - think: highway lane changes, tire
>squeals).  Am I going to be ABLE to do an alignment on it or would I
>just mess things up more?  Suspension shot means that my shocks might
>as well not even be there and all my bushings are old and tired.  Tie
>rods might be damaged but  I don't even want to begin to think about
>that possibility right now.  I'm not even really worried about camber
>and such, but does anyone have any suggestions of what to do and what
>not to do or what not to worry about?
>
>At the moment I'm swinging more toward the hate side of the classic
>love/hate relationship with this stupid car :(
>
>-Grant-
>

If the car is jumpy when you hit bumps, expansion cracks, etc. around turns,
then the balljoints are probably shot.  If you can get any play by working
them with a crowbar or big screwdriver, they'll need to be replaced.
They're not too expensive.  Tie rods will result in all kinds of play in the
steering and wheels that can be turned a little without movement in the
steering.

All of the above making proper alignment tr?s difficile.

Jim