turbogrill Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 Hi, Has anyone tried the $600 Smartstrings vs the more traditional approach with jackstands, PVC pipe and some fishing pipe? Is it just that much easier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEE DEE Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 Check out Quick Trick Pro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Bill Strong Posted April 30 Administrators Report Share Posted April 30 I have the smart strings. Loved them. But have also used parts of the smart string kit with jack stands. If I were to do it again with what I know: 4x jack stands 2x Xebco 404 reels 2x 6' conduit tubes 1" Machinist ruler, 12" Tape measure Magnetic bubble or digital camber gauge Tape measure with mm and inch Magnetic angle finder for Caster 4x turn plates (find really good old-school versions from old alignment shops) Wheel stands to elevate the car so you can make adjustments A portable lift. Unlike other jacking systems, I like and abuse the EZLift car jack as it takes the car straight up and down. Air bag to make camber adjustment really easy This is basically what's in my shop and in my trailer. The Smart String assemble has just been put away. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbogrill Posted April 30 Author Report Share Posted April 30 I go back and fort between PAco Hub stands and smartstrings w/ smartcamber. WHAT SHOULD I GET!?!?!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMiskoe Posted May 1 Report Share Posted May 1 Using strings on jackstands is better at measuring your patience than your car's alignment. Using strings hanging from the car where the strings are on fixed length bars that move with the car is the way to go. Some 1" square tubing, 1/2" EMT, some nuts and bolts from the local box store and you can make your own Smart String plan. You need a welder too. It doesn't have to be pretty and if you only have one car that you typically work on, you can custom fab some hangers. I just took the EMT tubing and bent it into hooks that hang over the trunk and engine bay. On another car we put nut-certs into the bumper cover to hang the bars with the strings. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbogrill Posted May 1 Author Report Share Posted May 1 4 hours ago, MMiskoe said: Using strings on jackstands is better at measuring your patience than your car's alignment. Using strings hanging from the car where the strings are on fixed length bars that move with the car is the way to go. Some 1" square tubing, 1/2" EMT, some nuts and bolts from the local box store and you can make your own Smart String plan. You need a welder too. It doesn't have to be pretty and if you only have one car that you typically work on, you can custom fab some hangers. I just took the EMT tubing and bent it into hooks that hang over the trunk and engine bay. On another car we put nut-certs into the bumper cover to hang the bars with the strings. I like the idea of having some permanent fastener in the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvumtnbkr Posted May 1 Report Share Posted May 1 (edited) I LOVE the Paco hubstands. Best money I ever spent on the racecar. Sooo easy to get a reliable / repeatable alignment. They also work great for storing the car in the garage. You can just nudge the car away from the toolbench, or put it in the corner. Must have fairly smooth, non cracked concrete. https://flyinmiata.com/products/paco-motorsports-hub-stands-version-5 Edited May 1 by wvumtnbkr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbogrill Posted May 1 Author Report Share Posted May 1 18 minutes ago, wvumtnbkr said: I LOVE the Paco hubstands. Best money I ever spent on the racecar. Sooo easy to get a reliable / repeatable alignment. They also work great for storing the car in the garage. You can just nudge the car away from the toolbench, or put it in the corner. Must have fairly smooth, non cracked concrete. https://flyinmiata.com/products/paco-motorsports-hub-stands-version-5 What about on the asphalt at the track that is leaning? Could I use a set of thick metal plates under the stands? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Bill Strong Posted May 1 Administrators Report Share Posted May 1 If your car gets tweaked Smart String's rig may not go back on well. That's what happened to me. The chassis was straight up to the radiator, but forward of that, it wasn't straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMiskoe Posted May 1 Report Share Posted May 1 2 hours ago, Bill Strong said: If your car gets tweaked Smart String's rig may not go back on well. That's what happened to me. The chassis was straight up to the radiator, but forward of that, it wasn't straight. My Yellow car got 3 trips to the frame shop in its first 4 seasons of Champcar (after decade of SCCA spec Miata that were incident free). There is nothing that is straight or true ahead or behind the suspension pick up points. The string set up I use doesn't rely on the chassis to be straight, it just hangs on the trunk and radiator supports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvumtnbkr Posted May 1 Report Share Posted May 1 3 hours ago, turbogrill said: What about on the asphalt at the track that is leaning? Could I use a set of thick metal plates under the stands? Maybe. But why take it to the track? I just take toe plates with me to check / make small adjustments at the track. If I'm changing camber, I don't really care what the number is. I just want to make the tire temps happy. The hubstands are for a good baseline setup. If you are adjusting after an incident, then a garage floor at the track should work. Asphalt with big aggregate in it will not allow the ball transfers to roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbogrill Posted May 1 Author Report Share Posted May 1 2 hours ago, wvumtnbkr said: Maybe. But why take it to the track? I just take toe plates with me to check / make small adjustments at the track. If I'm changing camber, I don't really care what the number is. I just want to make the tire temps happy. The hubstands are for a good baseline setup. If you are adjusting after an incident, then a garage floor at the track should work. Asphalt with big aggregate in it will not allow the ball transfers to roll. Cool thanks, I lots of wrenching on "test and tune" days (more "build the car" days) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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