Many of us like doing our own work.
Here are the tools, if you want to align your own car.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/

ALIGN-A-MATIC WHEEL ALIGNMENT GAUGE
Easy one-person operation for standard, radial and wide-belted tires.

$139.99

WHEEL ALIGNMENT GAUGE
For all front- and rear-wheel drive cars, trucks and buses.

$37.99

ADJUSTABLE CASTER/CAMBER GAUGE
Adjustable for all types of wheels, tires.

$59.95

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You could also use a piece of rope and a ruler.
But with today Highly sensitive cars why would you.
Nothing like a good computerized machine with a good TECH to run it.
The object is to move forward not backward.

If you can't afford a $240.00 alignment every three months, this is an effective alternative.

Some areas are that bad on the steering.

Where are you taking you car for alignment? $240 is crazy.
My Local MB dealer charges $95 and I thought that was high.
every three months and you car needs an alignment?
Sounds like something wrong if not I would move.:}

That is most important and very rare to find..

__________________

79 240D my current toy
42 years a Diesel addict

240D sold
250SE sold
220D sold
280C sold
280S sold
300D (2) sold
300CD sold
300DT sold
300SD sold
380SL sold

a friend in OEM outside sales, 8000 miles every month.
He bought the E300D on my advice.
His repair bill dropped 70% since he got it, and his spinal problems are gone.
He takes it to the stealership every three months.
Always has at least one bad steering component.
He keeps the parts and I drop by for an adult beverage, and look over the parts.
His average alignment is $240.00 every three months.
I am teaching him how to do steering repair and simple alignment.
He nailed one out of state stealership, trying to sell steering components not needed.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Here's an extensive writeup I did on do-it-yourself wheel alignment. I wrote this during my last incarnation in the online gearhead community. It was produced after a lot of frustration with "established" alignment companies. I have used these methods repeatedly with good results. It involves very simple tools and procedures:

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/suspension/alignment.html

__________________
'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut

Why in the world would your car need an alignment every three months? Do you have a teenager driving it through a corn fields or do your tires get scuffed by passing big rigs in the center devider? Help tell my why?

__________________
1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

Anybody ever try out this http://www.hitmanalignment.com/ ??? I was considering buying this tool as I have had bad experiences with alignment shops. Yes the new computerized equipment is great but its only as good as the chimp operating it. I have done complete front end rebuilds on 3 cars and had problems with finding a decent shop that knew what it was doing. The one decent shop I found, Bethke Brake on the East side in Austin,TX did fabulous work the old fashioned way, with a yardstick and some chalk. Had my truck done this way 80K ago and it is still in perfect alignment. RT

__________________
When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

While on the subject, sort of, are most dealer service departments still reliable for an alignment on an older model?

__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

A "guy" at the local gas station aligned my 240d for $35. I drove it four or five thousand miles before my brother scammed me into a trade for the 380SE. The tires did not wear poorly and it drove like a Mercedes. I hope my "guy," don't read this board. Liberty, SC.

Dan

Generic answer:
You really need to be a loose nut; to screw-up an alignment with today’s equipment.
Most loose nuts don’t last long as mechanics in any brand dealer, the service manager and business owner see to that.

Wannawagon, that's a GREAT writeup demystifying some basic concepts about wheel alignment. I've done some similar things through the years in aligning several ofr my cars myself, but your method looks much better with the bungee cords and the jackstands. Aluminum square tubing can be had like that at many hardware stores today, but one should take care to make sure the tubes are straight -usually the aluminum is 5052 and not highly tempered and easily bent by very rough handling before it gets to the store. Use the store's best level for sale to check pieces for straightness before you buy. Posts like yours are why I keep coming back here

So dealers are can still do a good alignment on one of these? What about balancing tires? Tirerack did the best balance job I have ever had, with most of the discount places the wheel is shaking over 80. Walmart, Firestone, Townfair, ect. have never been able to balance a tire. Maybe I need to find a good speed shop.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks, Pete!

I put a lot of thought into it, hoping it would help other people. Wheel alignment is not rocket science, and doing it myself has been really satisfying. Alignment settings have a big effect on handling performance, and trying to get a wrench jockey at a shop to do what you want is near impossible. So sometimes it's worth it to do it yourself.

__________________
'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut