Wheel alignment specs for 1991 Bonneville SE
#1
Junior Member
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Thread Starter
Wheel alignment specs for 1991 Bonneville SE
I'm located in Germany and have a 1991 Pontiac Bonneville. Yesterday I installed a new steering rack and now I'm looking for the factory wheel alignment specs.
Here in Germany I don't find any information at the tire shops, because these cars are really rare in Germany and where never exported by GM to Europe.
It would be great if some have the wheel alignment specs and would give it to me.
The car is not modified, it is the 1991 Bonneville SE with 3.8 V6, automatic transmission, and factory 16" rims and tires w/o any level control at the rear end.
Many thanks.
Here in Germany I don't find any information at the tire shops, because these cars are really rare in Germany and where never exported by GM to Europe.
It would be great if some have the wheel alignment specs and would give it to me.
The car is not modified, it is the 1991 Bonneville SE with 3.8 V6, automatic transmission, and factory 16" rims and tires w/o any level control at the rear end.
Many thanks.
#2
Senior Member
Why do you need the specs?
In this day and age, a garage should be able to easily get them.....anywhere in the world....
If you did the work yourself, next time, measure, measure, measure......
I have always done this, and must admit, it'* pretty darn close, because all we are dealing with is toe in/out........take measurement from end to end of the tie rod ends, and at least one measurement of a tie rod end, to a specific part of the rack.......then when I transfer the tie rods, I create the same measurement.....putting it back into the vehicle, naturally the steering wheel will be off slightly(because there is play in the mounts), so you do equal turns of the tie rods to get to center.....yes, this is laborious, but if you don't have an alignment machine, and are doing this on your own, it will get you back, pretty close to what you had before.....
Of course, if your "toe" was way off before this, you are putting it back into the same error you had before....
In this day and age, a garage should be able to easily get them.....anywhere in the world....
If you did the work yourself, next time, measure, measure, measure......
I have always done this, and must admit, it'* pretty darn close, because all we are dealing with is toe in/out........take measurement from end to end of the tie rod ends, and at least one measurement of a tie rod end, to a specific part of the rack.......then when I transfer the tie rods, I create the same measurement.....putting it back into the vehicle, naturally the steering wheel will be off slightly(because there is play in the mounts), so you do equal turns of the tie rods to get to center.....yes, this is laborious, but if you don't have an alignment machine, and are doing this on your own, it will get you back, pretty close to what you had before.....
Of course, if your "toe" was way off before this, you are putting it back into the same error you had before....
#3
Retired
Pay the $80 for an alignment. Most shops are so good at it because they do so many, they can spot common issues from a mile away. Plus you will have the satisfaction it was done right.
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2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
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2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
#5
Junior Member
Posts like a Ricer Type-R
Thread Starter
Hello Tech II, many thanks for your response. Yes, the alignment was not 100 percent correct, before I started to change the steering rack. The front tires where hardly worn on the outside. I recognized that long time before. Now, after the the replacement of the steering rack, I have to replace the front tires and then a fresh wheel alignment makes sense.
Belive it or not, if a US car was not built for the european market, 99 percent of the tire shops and also the regiular garages will not help you with your car. They are all scared to work on it.
F.e. your tail lamp bulb is not working and you give it to a local garage, they can fix it because the bulbs in european cars are most time the same, than in cars from the US, which means they all have the bulb. But if the mechanic works on the tail light and is careless and the tail light housing falls to the ground and cracks, you will not find a new one in Germany, but they are responsible for everything they damage on the customers cars. They do not know the American parts shops like RockAuto and Autozone and the regiular shipping time from the US to Germany is up to 2 weeks. They have to rent a car for the customer to get you back on the road until the problem is solved.
So the only way to drive an "exotic US car" on german roads is to help yourself.
I visited 17 tire shops in my local area and 12 shops told me I should disappear from their properties with this "ugly car" and the other 5 want to help me with the alignment, when I give the alignment specs to them.
So if you have a Chilton or any other way to give the wheel alignment specs for 1990/1991 Bonneville to me, I would appreciate.
The price for the alignment at a german tire shop is between $120,- to $140,-. Life in Germany is much more expensive than in the US, because we have 19 percent VAT on everything we buy, just food has 7 percent VAT.
Belive it or not, if a US car was not built for the european market, 99 percent of the tire shops and also the regiular garages will not help you with your car. They are all scared to work on it.
F.e. your tail lamp bulb is not working and you give it to a local garage, they can fix it because the bulbs in european cars are most time the same, than in cars from the US, which means they all have the bulb. But if the mechanic works on the tail light and is careless and the tail light housing falls to the ground and cracks, you will not find a new one in Germany, but they are responsible for everything they damage on the customers cars. They do not know the American parts shops like RockAuto and Autozone and the regiular shipping time from the US to Germany is up to 2 weeks. They have to rent a car for the customer to get you back on the road until the problem is solved.
So the only way to drive an "exotic US car" on german roads is to help yourself.
I visited 17 tire shops in my local area and 12 shops told me I should disappear from their properties with this "ugly car" and the other 5 want to help me with the alignment, when I give the alignment specs to them.
So if you have a Chilton or any other way to give the wheel alignment specs for 1990/1991 Bonneville to me, I would appreciate.
The price for the alignment at a german tire shop is between $120,- to $140,-. Life in Germany is much more expensive than in the US, because we have 19 percent VAT on everything we buy, just food has 7 percent VAT.
#6
Senior Member
True Car Nut
The Google tells me that $80.00 American is 68.40 Euros . . .
. . . which makes me say "WOW!" to these prices.
Sorry you have to live with that Bonnilover . . . although I have to admit I'm a bit jealous when it occurs to me that you can drive your Bonneville with its expensive alignment on the Autobahn.
Sorry you have to live with that Bonnilover . . . although I have to admit I'm a bit jealous when it occurs to me that you can drive your Bonneville with its expensive alignment on the Autobahn.
#8
Senior Member
True Car Nut
I went to the tire shop, and I got this:
Pay attention only to the specs, as they do not apply to the vehicle that was actually on the rack.
Pay attention only to the specs, as they do not apply to the vehicle that was actually on the rack.
The following 3 users liked this post by rjolly87:
#9
Senior Member
True Car Nut
#10
Senior Member
True Car Nut