IF went to a shop to get my car aligned, what exactly would the shop be doing? Specifically on the suspension in my 73 scamp. I'm not actually doing this. I havent changed anything or adjusted nothing... yet

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BOOSH!!!

Karasik, please get those books on order as quickly as you can, eh? They contain a lot of info you need (and want), and posting questions here on the board is really not a good or fair substitute for having the appropriate manuals for the car you're working on.

An alignment consists of measuring and adjusting the angles of the wheels relative to lateral vertical (camber), relative to planar vertical (caster), and relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis (toe). Settings are made by adjusting eccentric discs called "cams" which bear on the control arms' mount points, and via the strut rods. It is absolutely necessary that the ride height be set correctly via the torsion bar adjustors as the first step, or whatever checks and adjustments are made will be inaccurate.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

thanks . I always mean to order the books, but life keeps getting in the way

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What's that fuzzy blue thing being hurled this way?
::stick::
BOOSH!!!

Basically what Dan said except I've ususally done toe-in adjustments via the tie rod sleeves.

Taken as a whole, an alignment affects how the car steers, turns, and brakes. It also affects front tire wear. An alignment should also include checks of the bushings and joints in the front end. If any are worn excessively, no amount of wrench turning is going to make it right.

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You can't fix stupid. - Ron White