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07-12-2009, 03:25 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Middle Of Nowhere,
USA
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA 428 FE 4-speed CR "TL" heavy spline
Posts: 3,907
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Not Ranked
Tire Alignment/Balancing
I just put Goodyear Billboards on my ERA - it's #91, so an older one built in the late 1980's.
It's sort of bouncing around a little - possibly either tire alignment or balancing issue - if it needs alignment, what sort of information do I need to provide relating to the people doing the work - the front end is what, in other words? Sorry, I'm complete lost when it comes to fixing anything. Also, the tires were balanced off the car - should they be balanced on the tire for a better result?
One additional item - it's strange, in that there is a slight vibration now when I first drive the car - like the tires are really out of balance, but after a few miles the vibration disappears - is that normal.
Any input will be appreciated.
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07-12-2009, 03:45 PM
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Half-Ass Member
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,897
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by cobra de capell
- if it needs alignment, what sort of information do I need to provide relating to the people doing the work - the front end is what, in other words?
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Straight from the manual:
Camber 0 deg. +/- 1/4
Caster 4 1/2 deg. +/- 1/2
Toe-in: 1/16"-1/8" (0.1-0.2 deg/side)
But if your car seemed to track and drive nicely with the old tires then it's probably not an alignment issue.
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07-12-2009, 04:28 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New Britain,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Size 10 Feet
Posts: 2,993
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Not Ranked
Lately it seems that front end people are required to know next to nothing about how to do their job. They punch in a car model and the electronic alignment machine tells them how many shims to add or subtract in the designated place. I'm not even sure whether the alignment machine tells them the actual readout!
The upper control arm mounting is similar to the 1976 Camaro but I haven't yet located the Camaro specs. Once I do, I'll be able to "translate" the alignment shop's instructions to something more appropriate to the ERA.
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07-12-2009, 05:14 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Manteca,
Ca.
Cobra Make, Engine: None, sold it
Posts: 2,439
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Not Ranked
CDC,
The Billboards will vibrate/shake for the first couple of miles. That is just a by-product of the Billboards. They kind of flat-spot while setting and then round out after a few miles. That could be what you are feeling.
Terry
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07-12-2009, 05:27 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Williamsport,
PA
Cobra Make, Engine: Kellison Stallion 468 FE
Posts: 2,703
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Not Ranked
the tires themselves could be out of round. jack up one tire just so it clears the ground, just an RCH, spin it watch some stationary point inside the wheel well as you spin.
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07-12-2009, 06:30 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Cobra Make, Engine: CSX 4000; Shelby aluminum FE with 58mm IDAs
Posts: 1,116
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by cobra de capell
One additional item - it's strange, in that there is a slight vibration now when I first drive the car - like the tires are really out of balance, but after a few miles the vibration disappears - is that normal.
Any input will be appreciated.
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Yep, after sitting for a few days the Billboards will flat spot. After a few miles the shaking and vibration will stop (this is one of the downsides of the tires).
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07-13-2009, 09:18 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Middle Of Nowhere,
USA
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA 428 FE 4-speed CR "TL" heavy spline
Posts: 3,907
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Not Ranked
Thanks for all the input - interesting, I was out for a ride Saturday and again on Sunday - the "flat spotting" or "vibration" was way less on Sunday after sitting for a day versus Saturday after sitting for a week - therefore, that's a huge part of the problem - not really a problem - just the way it is.
As for alignment - I'll try to find someone out there that knows what they are doing.
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07-13-2009, 11:03 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Yorba Linda,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF w/392CI stroker
Posts: 3,293
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Not Ranked
The contact patch on a bias ply, in motion, will move toward the back of the car (versus the same contact patch on a radial). This is why my caster is now off and the car pulls to the right (didn't have this problem before the Billboards). So moving to BB's necessitates a mandatory re-alignment (IMHO).
-Dean
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07-13-2009, 11:11 AM
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Half-Ass Member
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,897
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by RedBarchetta
The contact patch on a bias ply, in motion, will move toward the back of the car (versus the same contact patch on a radial). This is why my caster is now off and the car pulls to the right (didn't have this problem before the Billboards). So moving to BB's necessitates a mandatory re-alignment (IMHO).
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Right, and if you ever peruse the early Camaro forums the standard advice for First Gen Camaros is not to use the factory alignment specs for their car, but rather use the Second Gen specs because of the bias versus radial difference (that's assuming the reader was upgrading to radial tires). I don't see why a Cobra would be any different. It would seem that alignment specs for one type of tire are probably not suitable for the other.
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07-16-2009, 10:02 AM
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Half-Ass Member
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,897
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Not Ranked
OK Bob, Translate Away...
Quote:
Originally Posted by strictlypersonl
The upper control arm mounting is similar to the 1976 Camaro but I haven't yet located the Camaro specs. Once I do, I'll be able to "translate" the alignment shop's instructions to something more appropriate to the ERA.
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07-16-2009, 10:34 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New Britain,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Size 10 Feet
Posts: 2,993
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Not Ranked
Thanks a lot! Now I have more work to do!
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