Alignment!

This update covers alignment is done.

Related notes live on the Factory Five Cobra build hub.

alignment is done: Basic alignment for go-kart miles

When you first set up the car, you need a basic alignment. Otherwise new tires can chew up fast. So a shop setup is usually good enough for go-kart testing. You can buy a kit and do it yourself. However, for a one-off setup I chose a local shop. As a result, I spent less than a full DIY kit.

Shop hunt until Big-O got it right

First shop said no for $800

First I took the car about a mile from home. They put it on the rack and took basic measurements. Then they hesitated and asked for $800. They wanted to tear out the front suspension and redo it. So we pulled the car off and drove home.

Big-O Tires in El Dorado Hills

Next I asked my local FFR group for ideas. Therefore they pointed me to Big-O Tires in El Dorado Hills. Chris and the team have worked on dozens of these cars. Likewise, they set the car up in about 1.5 hours. Ultimately the bill was only $129.

How the car feels after alignment

I have to say the car feels like a different beast now. Expansion joints and potholes no longer toss it around. Also, it tracks perfectly. Well done, Big-O!

One more note from Jeff Kleiner. For example, he suggests 22–23 lbs of air in the tires. Because the car is so light, 30 psi rides on the tire centers. In other words, you lose full contact. The more you know!