Ford Gt alignment
- Thread starter nid4spd
- Start date
Semperfi3069
Active member
Can anyone give me an accurate answer on stacking alignment shims on the front lower control arms or adding shims to the rear lower control arms to obtain desired camber ? Thanks
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Hello Marine! 
Are you an owner? I have sent a pm to Alex to answer you.
God Bless America,
daniel
Are you an owner? I have sent a pm to Alex to answer you.
God Bless America,
daniel
Semperfi3069
Active member
Not an owner. Just have 33 of these fine cars that I take care of here. Guess people like the care, attention to detail and respect I have for this automobile.
Thank you for the quick response.
Semper Fi,
God, Family, Country, Corps and the GT
Thank you for the quick response.
Semper Fi,
God, Family, Country, Corps and the GT
“Not a popular Answer”
This is a common question, with a not-so popular answer.
In a perfect world one could simply look at what you want your alignment to be.
And tell you the shim size to install for the desired result.
But this will seldom be the case with this car. Sorry
The fact that we have a non-liner, negative camber curve geometry on the FGT.
(A good thing when it comes to the cars handling)
It becomes difficult to accurately predict shims required to make a change.
Where your starting point in this aggressive camber curve. Is affected by ride height,
Tire size and component tolerance stack-up.
Short story- Even the best alignment man will have his patients tested. When setting-up the FGT. And will most likely need to make a change, measure that change. And repeat the process until the target camber is found.
The GT Guys do more FGT performance alignments than any other.
And based on experience they will hit the target most of the time within 1 or 2 attempts.
But this is not usually the case. I have, at times had to repeat the shim dance 6 or 7 times.
When making big changes to ride height and camber on just one axle set.
Now PLEASE do not call Dennis or Rich and ask them “what shims do I need”.
As the chance of getting an accurate answer will be less than 10%. And you will be wasting your time. And you will not be happy with the results.
In the long run, it will be quicker to buy a selection of alignment shims.
Get your hands dirty and take pride in a job well done.
Or take the car to a trusted Performance Alignment guy.
Otherwise you will be running around in circles comparing Alignment Rack calibration.
Kind of like racing engine Dynos.
Any 2 alignment racks and operators will never read the same, just a fact of life.
Like I said – “Not a popular Answer”
This is a common question, with a not-so popular answer.
In a perfect world one could simply look at what you want your alignment to be.
And tell you the shim size to install for the desired result.
But this will seldom be the case with this car. Sorry
The fact that we have a non-liner, negative camber curve geometry on the FGT.
(A good thing when it comes to the cars handling)
It becomes difficult to accurately predict shims required to make a change.
Where your starting point in this aggressive camber curve. Is affected by ride height,
Tire size and component tolerance stack-up.
Short story- Even the best alignment man will have his patients tested. When setting-up the FGT. And will most likely need to make a change, measure that change. And repeat the process until the target camber is found.
The GT Guys do more FGT performance alignments than any other.
And based on experience they will hit the target most of the time within 1 or 2 attempts.
But this is not usually the case. I have, at times had to repeat the shim dance 6 or 7 times.
When making big changes to ride height and camber on just one axle set.
Now PLEASE do not call Dennis or Rich and ask them “what shims do I need”.
As the chance of getting an accurate answer will be less than 10%. And you will be wasting your time. And you will not be happy with the results.
In the long run, it will be quicker to buy a selection of alignment shims.
Get your hands dirty and take pride in a job well done.
Or take the car to a trusted Performance Alignment guy.
Otherwise you will be running around in circles comparing Alignment Rack calibration.
Kind of like racing engine Dynos.
Any 2 alignment racks and operators will never read the same, just a fact of life.
Like I said – “Not a popular Answer”
Semperfi3069
Active member
I question that I am asking, is it OK two use mutiple shims or"stack" the shims to gain the necessary camber ? And is it OK to shim the rear lower control arms ? Normally I would not shim the rear lower control arms. I need to add 6mm on the front lower control arms and 4mm on the rear lower control arms. Please advise.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
As long as you use the factory shim washers so everything seats nice and flat.
(I would not try to use shims to adjust Caster)
And still retain the appropriate amount of thread engagement. There should be no problem stacking shims.
For the rear – Inserting shims under the rear lower arm has been done.
To gain more negative camber than could be had by removing all the shims on top.
But use caution, the system was not designed to do that. Just be sure there is plenty of thread engagement for the bolts threaded into the frame.
As a side note:
I like to avoid air tools around those fasteners.
And first time working in that area. I remove the bolts, and flush out the threaded holes in the aluminum frame. It is amazing the amount of chips and cuttings that were left in the holes at assembly. That could foul up the threads.
Use a blow gun and cleaning solvent to get the crud out.
(Be carful with brake clean. The good stuff may soften the paint on the frame).
Than add a bit of anti-seize to the inspected bolt and hole.
Use only hand tools and look up the torque specks in advance.
As it would be sad to use a Heli-coil repair in this way cool Frame.
(I would not try to use shims to adjust Caster)
And still retain the appropriate amount of thread engagement. There should be no problem stacking shims.
For the rear – Inserting shims under the rear lower arm has been done.
To gain more negative camber than could be had by removing all the shims on top.
But use caution, the system was not designed to do that. Just be sure there is plenty of thread engagement for the bolts threaded into the frame.
As a side note:
I like to avoid air tools around those fasteners.
And first time working in that area. I remove the bolts, and flush out the threaded holes in the aluminum frame. It is amazing the amount of chips and cuttings that were left in the holes at assembly. That could foul up the threads.
Use a blow gun and cleaning solvent to get the crud out.
(Be carful with brake clean. The good stuff may soften the paint on the frame).
Than add a bit of anti-seize to the inspected bolt and hole.
Use only hand tools and look up the torque specks in advance.
As it would be sad to use a Heli-coil repair in this way cool Frame.
Semperfi3069
Active member
Thanks for the advice and cautions. I have never used air tools on any of the GT's that I have worked on, the car doesn't deserve that abuse. Also, thanks for the quick response time.
:thumbsup
:thumbsup
MAD IN NC
Proud Owner/ BOD blah bla
Been there, tried that - even called Shadowman! When I did the alignment it was as Alex stated, a learning experience with no ryhme or reason of shim thickness.
I was told there is actually a "Ford" repair kit for a Heli-coil for the Control Arms...
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Started the thread but havent been here in a while. I live in south florida does anyone know where i can take it to get alligned properly since i took it to an alignment shop an he said that to start he didnt have the shims
It’s a funny thing.
An exceptional auto technician. Would not just send you way with.
I don’t have the shims.
He would treat this as a challenge.
And would reschedule your alignment after locating the proper parts.
And why not, a GT owner is influential in the auto community.
Taking care of him, will pay off in the long run.
Anyone can service run of the mill cars.
But it requires a true craftsman to care for the FGT.
It is not a simple car to work on.
But the best things in life are never easy or simple!
An exceptional auto technician is quite rare.
So when you finally find him. Be prepared to pay him for all the extra steps.
Trust me This Guy is worth 3 times the price of a just plain good Mechanic.
A wheel alignment for your Wife’s Mustang should be $65.
But a FGT performance alignment. That requires readjusting Camber and tow.
Will go over $200 and will be worth every cent.
An exceptional auto technician. Would not just send you way with.
I don’t have the shims.
He would treat this as a challenge.
And would reschedule your alignment after locating the proper parts.
And why not, a GT owner is influential in the auto community.
Taking care of him, will pay off in the long run.
Anyone can service run of the mill cars.
But it requires a true craftsman to care for the FGT.
It is not a simple car to work on.
But the best things in life are never easy or simple!
An exceptional auto technician is quite rare.
So when you finally find him. Be prepared to pay him for all the extra steps.
Trust me This Guy is worth 3 times the price of a just plain good Mechanic.
A wheel alignment for your Wife’s Mustang should be $65.
But a FGT performance alignment. That requires readjusting Camber and tow.
Will go over $200 and will be worth every cent.
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2112
Blue/white 06'
Exceptional. The word says it all. Simply most people dont put pride and passion into what they do, and then they look for excuses as to why thyre not where they feel they should be in life. My friends let me tellyou something you should allready know. There are no shortcuts in life. if you know what youre worth, go out and get it. I took my car to The Alignment Factory in Mia Fl. Ive taken other of my cars there too based on his reputation and he even left a wheel loose on one of them. An arrogant attitude is what you get instead of what you went in for. Sounds familiar?
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MAD IN NC
Proud Owner/ BOD blah bla
Here is a classic to the arrogance and response many of us see......! Lug Nut day!
[video=youtube;itoEIFm4y5A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itoEIFm4y5A&feature=player_embedded[/video]
[video=youtube;itoEIFm4y5A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itoEIFm4y5A&feature=player_embedded[/video]