I own a '85 Buick Lesabre and wanted to know if I could perform my own front wheel allignments?

Question

What tools would I need other than the laser wheel mounter things...lol.

Answer 1

Nah...you would just make things worse...unless you have the stuff to adjust caster and camber etc...this needs to be done by pros..;-}

Answer 2

As the other people have said: After proper caster and camber is checked an adjusted you'll need a set of Longacre toe plates to adjust toe. This is only a shop floor quick adjustment thats done with tape measures on race cars.


A professional Hunter Laser alignment machine lets the front wheels float on special plates to assure the suspension fully influences caster, camber and toe while being read. While on these plates it's easy to determine of lower ball joints and or tie rods are loose. Suspension height can be checked also.
You have no way of adjusting anything but toe anyway without wheel hub caster and camber guage. Special aftermarket camber plates must be properly fitted to your strut towers if any amount of caster or camber is warrented.
Your Buick has independent suspension. If necessary adjustments are made there also. The lower control arms have camber adjusters inside the center attaching point. Toe is adjusted with the lower strut / spindle arm that points forward.

Answer 3

The only thing you can do in the drive way is measure the distance from side to side of the tires. You would do it at the front of the tires and the rear of the tires. This would get you close but not close enough to prevent tire wear.

Answer 4

Unless you have the proper equipment such as a camber / caster gauge and turn plates, I would say don't do it. It's not that easy on your car.

Answer 5

you need to have the proper tools to do this with ,without it you wont be able to align it,you may make it worse than it is now if you attempt to do this,good luck .