Front end alignment question

[zman]

My 79` was always a little off on the front end camber so when I removed the Bilstein`s and installed a set of stock assemblies my toe in changed.
I have been messing with the passenger side alone to try and get it right. My wheels are level but here is the problem.
If I get the steering wheel strait it pulls to the right, then when I get the pull to the right out the steering wheel is cock-eyed to the right.
Naturally what I am thinking is if I get it back to where my steering wheel is strait should I then adjust my (left) drivers side joint?
I would normally just take it to an alignment shop and have it done but I want to go through the front end and replace bushing ect. in the near future but I still want to drive it awhile until then.
Nothing particularly bad in the front...I just want to rebuild it later on.
thanks for any help.

[FineFrank]

You can get your alignment very close to where it needs to be using a level floor, a carpenter's square, and a tape measure. The links below are a good start:

http://www.elantragtclub.com/id554.html
http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=597192
http://www.allpar.com/fix/alignment.html
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive ... 00874.html

And my favorite,
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techart ... toe_in.htm

The only reason to take your car to a shop is to repair crash damage; If you're willing to spend a little time learning how to do it yourself, it's no harder than adjusting the valves.
Shops will go to great length to tell you how important their super duper double whammy whizbang laser alignment rack is; always remember that they've invested tens of thousands in it and need a return on their investment. You can do any alignment they can if you're willing to learn ho to do it.
After all, what do you think they did before there were alignment racks?
If you guessed "used a tape measure", you'd be right.

Have fun.

[rsxsr]

If both L and R tie rods are adjustable, you can set the toe using either side and drive the vehicle. If the steering wheel is off to the left or right, you can lengthen one rod a 1/4 of a turn and shorten the other one an equal amount. This maintains your total toe, but will change the steering wheel position. I can never remember which way to go. If only one tie rod is adjustable, your only option is to pull the steering wheel and recenter it on the splines. Sometimes you are still off. Most roads crown to the right, so given the option, I will have the wheel off center to the right so that when I am adjusting against the road crown the wheel appears centered.

Later VW's had an adapter that added more splines to the shaft to give you more adjustment. Good luck. The Samba has a good DIY alignment write up as well. Search author Loogy and DIY Alignment.

[zman]

Thanks Guys. Great links and information. I`ll try and get it close as I can till I get all the work done. I don't mind paying a shop on this ..Just not twice or more.

[Fatmobile]

I like to turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, then the left.

To make sure it's centered.

[demon]

I just corrected my camber 2 days ago, by jacking up the wheels, removing the wheels, sticking a magnetic 1 foot level vertically to the rotor and working the adjustment bolt till the bubble read plumb. Worked like a charm for now. My tires are shot, so as soon as I get a new set of shoes on her all balanced up I'll check the toe also. Worked easier than using the carpenters square on the floor because my garage floor is far from level...cracked up/settled concrete/with small chunks missing.