Alignment info

[dphunky]

Mark B and I agree the IPMA seems to auto recalibrate. I've had my alignment done 3 times, once by Ford but I haven't seen any errors or warnings from anything. I just looked at my rear tires and after putting about 1000 miles on them at ~ -3 degrees camber they're starting to wear the inner. Good reminder to actually get this done.

did you ever adjust your rear camber? I just came back from the alignment shop and they could only get it down to -3ish. I think @markboris mentioned there was an adjustable bolt that could help in another thread.

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[azerik]

Mine is stil right around -2.0 -2.1 I havn't gotten under the car and have been having little luck finding an offset bolt because I'd have to buy a new factory bolt or pull mine out to meassure.

The guy I watched was having a tough time forcing the bolt out far enough. He had a bar and was pushing it out while trying to tighten it. But now That I think about it he probably wasn't accomplishing much.

 

[markboris]

did you ever adjust your rear camber? I just came back from the alignment shop and they could only get it down to -3ish. I think @markboris mentioned there was an adjustable bolt that could help in another thread.

There is some confusion here. You are talking about your REAR camber is around -3, correct? The rear camber is adjustable from the factory without any modifications. The FRONT camber is not adjustable without installing an adjustable camber bolt.

 

[Wallie]

Time for an alignment for me. I havn't talked to the dealer yet but Discount told me there are camera alignments that need to happen with these so they wont touch it other than to read the current alignment.
Does the dealer normally have post alignment calibrations?
What's the reasonable 4 wheel alignment price for an AWD MME?

10~15 dollars a wheel ?

 

[markboris]

Mine is stil right around -2.0 -2.1 I havn't gotten under the car and have been having little luck finding an offset bolt because I'd have to buy a new factory bolt or pull mine out to meassure.

The guy I watched was having a tough time forcing the bolt out far enough. He had a bar and was pushing it out while trying to tighten it. But now That I think about it he probably wasn't accomplishing much.

Erik, I assume you are also talking about your rear camber is -2.0 or so. Again, the camber in the rear is adjustable from the factory. No bolts are needed or even can be used to further adjust rear camber. The front camber is not factory adjustable unless you remove one of the splined bolts attaching the strut to the wheel knuckle and replace it with an adjustable bolt. OR you can just replace both bolts with normal non-splined bolts that will allow camber adjustments however it is much more difficult to get a precise camber adjustment that way (take the alignment buy longer). Somewhere in one of the suspension threads I have the size of these bolts. I have some spares at home I can measure but I am out of town until tomorrow afternoon so can't give you the measurements until then.

 

[azerik]

-3 degrees was about where my rear camber was before I took it for the alignment. The shop was able to get to -2. That's about as far as the rear bolt will go. If trying to go closer to 1 or zero it'll require the bolt that none of us have found yet.
The front's were almost 0 before lowering. and about -.75 after the springs. The front bolts don't have to be done as spec is +/- 2. but if you'd like it to be closer to the -2 on the rear adding the front camber bolts and putting it around -1.5 is good. (which is where I'm still at)
I'm trying to get to zero all around to see if the tire ride improves. if it does it'll probably be minimal anyway.

 

[dphunky]

There is some confusion here. You are talking about your REAR camber is around -3, correct? The rear camber is adjustable from the factory without any modifications. The FRONT camber is not adjustable without installing an adjustable camber bolt.

Oh damn my alignment shop must of not been that good then. They were able to get the rears to only -3.3 -2.3 and the fronts to -1.3 -1.1. This is when eibach lower springs and koni shocks installed with new Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 (225/55R-19). Annoyed by this shop too since they upcharged me from their online quoted price since it's an EV.

Can Les Schwab redo just the rears for me or do they need to redo and look at all 4 wheels as a whole?

 

[azerik]

They can do the rear only. Then if you want you can take the paperwork back to the old shop and ask for some money back.

 

[markboris]

As Erik said they can do the rears only. Have them keep the fronts the same.

 

[dphunky]

As Erik said they can do the rears only. Have them keep the fronts the same.

Took the car to my local Les Schwab in Martinez and after 2 hours they came back and said they weren’t able to adjust the rear camber any better than the -3 ?‍. They recommended me to bring it in to the dealer…

Which Les Schwabs did you bring to? I may just have to bite the bullet and bring it to the dealer in Walnut Creek.

 

[rhougey]

Took the car to my local Les Schwab in Martinez and after 2 hours they came back and said they weren’t able to adjust the rear camber any better than the -3 ?‍. They recommended me to bring it in to the dealer…

Which Les Schwabs did you bring to? I may just have to bite the bullet and bring it to the dealer in Walnut Creek.

Just thought I would add 2cents.
My car is ‘21 prem RWD with no mods.
I got my alignment done at an independent shop right after I put new tires on. I only use alignment shops that will allow me to collaborate in real time. I used Concord Auto Service. They were willing to work on it (first MachE they had done), and I was willing to pay for their time. We worked it out together under the car. The initial angles made sense in light of the tire wear on the original tires. The final numbers we arrived at were closer to Ford’s “ideal” specs than when I brought it in. I was fine paying $150 for their time, 1-1/2 technicians, their equipment and experience. Tire wear is really good so far (14,000 miles).

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Just thought I would add 2cents.
My car is prem RWD with no mods.
I got my alignment done at an independent shop right after I put new tires on. I only use alignment shops that will allow me to collaborate in real time. I used Concord Auto Service. They were willing to work on it (first MachE they had done), and I was willing to pay for their time. We worked it out together under the car. The initial angles made sense in light of the tire wear on the original tires. The final numbers we arrived at were closer to Ford’s “ideal” specs than when I brought it in. I was fine paying $150 for their time, 1-1/2 technicians, their equipment and experience. Tire wear is really good so far (14,000 miles).

We need shops like that everywhere. That’s my ideal scenario.

 

[Teslaeata]

Just thought I would add 2cents.
My car is prem RWD with no mods.
I got my alignment done at an independent shop right after I put new tires on. I only use alignment shops that will allow me to collaborate in real time. I used Concord Auto Service. They were willing to work on it (first MachE they had done), and I was willing to pay for their time. We worked it out together under the car. The initial angles made sense in light of the tire wear on the original tires. The final numbers we arrived at were closer to Ford’s “ideal” specs than when I brought it in. I was fine paying $150 for their time, 1-1/2 technicians, their equipment and experience. Tire wear is really good so far (14,000 miles).

I got a shop like that, Nottingham Alignment for those in UK.

As Stangy’s fully loaded we adjusted rear cambers at the positive end of the specified range and the front toe/tracking to alleviate inner tyre shoulder wear.

Great to be able to work with somebody who really understands alignment?

 

[tuminatr]

Hi Erik,

In the Minneapolis / St Paul area, 4-wheel alignments cost between $129 and $149. The Ford dealer where my warranty work is done charges $179.

I found a guy who does race car & exotic setups that is more of an alignment/suspension shop. He does some suspension mods & race setups too he charges $129 for the alignment and has a newer Hunter mirror-type rack. He is my guy from now on

 

[markboris]

Took the car to my local Les Schwab in Martinez and after 2 hours they came back and said they weren’t able to adjust the rear camber any better than the -3 ?‍. They recommended me to bring it in to the dealer…

Which Les Schwabs did you bring to? I may just have to bite the bullet and bring it to the dealer in Walnut Creek.

I have taken 6 Mach-E's including my 2 to Les Schwab here in Sonora. I deal with Justin only who will align the car to my specs. It takes him close to 2 hours. He does and initial alignment then pulls it off the rack, takes it out on the freeway (one mile away) then brings it back and on the rack for a second alignment then pulls it off and back on for a third time to make sure it is good to go. Three times he sets it up. They charge me $129 and I always give him a good tip.

There is no reason for you to bring it 2 hours away from you up here to have this done. If your Les Schwab cannot align it properly I would take it to a place that can. Maybe there is actually something wrong with your suspension? -3 rear camber is way too much. Is your car lowered? I lowered my '21 GTPE and he set up the rear to -1.5 for me. Below was the third and final time he had it on the rack. I had this done just before I traded the car in a week later.

By the way, my nickname there is Mark-E because I have brought quite a few Mach-E's in to have them aligned after I have lowered (and raised) them.

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