In article <dbafbce1.0311012025.22476713@posting.google.com >,
garbage@nc.rr.com (Mr. Speck) wrote:

> Are wheel alignment and wheel balancing the same thing?
> Is it at all possible to do these on your own? I know you need all
> this crazy equipment, but there's gotta be a way to do it on the
> cheap?
> I don't like giving my car to mechanics (I've managed to keep this car
> from a mechanic for its entire life (5 years) and I don't wanna break
> my record)
> I have issues with trust when it comes to my car (and issues with
> money)
> -mr speck
> '95 civic DX (that pulls to the left)

You could do them on your own but it would be hard to beat the $39
usually charged.

Alignment is getting the wheels to pointing straight ahead. If the
front wheels are aimed inwards, the car jumps side to side and
over-reacts. If they're aimed outwards, the car feals unresponsive and
it drifts. The manual way to do this is to mark two points on the back
of the tire, measure the distance, roll the car so the points are in
front, and measure the distance again. It can be done by driving feel
too. Often other angles are tested to see if there is suspension damage.

Balancing the wheels is getting the center of gravity exactly on axis.
Doing it manually requires an expensive contraption having a clamp and
ball bearing spindle that you don't want to buy. Tire shop balance
machines spin the tire while sensing the amplitude and phase of its
wobble.

Some tire shops sell lifetime alignment and balancing. If they screw it
up, you just keep bringing it back until it's right.