Suspension & Alignment Tools

What Suspension And Alignment Tools Do You Need At Home?

At minimum, you need a camber gauge, a way to measure toe and the right pullers for the parts you're replacing. That short list covers most front-end jobs, whether you're refreshing a street car or prepping a bracket racer. Our DIY front-end alignment tools guide walks through a full home setup.

Most home alignment tools fall into three groups:

• Camber and caster gauges to read wheel angles
• Toe plates or toe kits to compare spacing at the front and rear of the tires
• Pullers, pickle forks and presses to separate and install steering joints

Add corner weight scales and coilover wrenches once you start tuning ride height and weight balance. If your readings point to worn or bent parts, install new alignment components before you set final angles. You'll find more garage gear in our full line of automotive specialty tools.

How Do Caster Camber Gauges And Toe Plates Measure Alignment?

A caster camber gauge mounts to the wheel or hub and reads tilt, while toe plates sit against the tire sidewalls to measure toe. Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the tire, and caster is the forward or rearward tilt of the steering axis. For a deeper look at what caster and camber are, see our tech article.

The Longacre Racing Caster Camber Gauge reads camber from +9 to -9 degrees. Its Digital Caster/Camber Gauge measures to 0.1 degree, and Longacre Racing Toe-In Plates come with 2 measuring tapes.

SPC sizes its FasTrax system by wheel diameter. The 91000K2 FasTrax Alignment Kit fits 13 in. to 17 in. wheels, and the 91010 FasTrax Camber/Caster Gauge fits 17" to 22" wheels. Add the 91100 FasTrax Toe Kit to take toe readings from the same gauge, or pick up the 91030 FasTrax No Lip Adapter.

Why Use Corner Weight Scales For Chassis Setup?

Corner weight scales show how much weight each tire carries, so you can balance the car for consistent handling and launches. You adjust spring preload or ride height at each corner, then re-weigh until the numbers hit your target. Accurate readings start with a level surface under every pad.

Intercomp offers the E-Z Weigh Scale System SW500 with 4 billet pads, plus the MicroFlex Scale System. The Intercomp Scale Leveler with Roll-Off fits 15" x 15" pads with 2.5" thickness. It lets you roll the car onto the pads at a level height.

If you'd rather skip the cables, Proform offers the 67644 Slim Wireless Vehicle Scale System with 7,000 lb. capacity. Karting teams can step down to the Proform 67640 Go Kart Wireless Vehicle Weighing System, rated at 1,200 lb. capacity.

Which Coilover Spanner Wrench And Shock Tools Do You Need?

You need a coilover spanner wrench that fits your adjuster collars, plus any service tools your shocks call for. A spanner hooks into the notches on the spring collar, so you can raise or lower ride height without chewing up the threads. Adjustable designs fit more than one collar size, which helps if you run mixed shocks.

The AFCO Adjustable Spanner Wrench handles collar adjustments. The AFCO C/O Travel Indicator Kit shows how far your coilover compresses during a run. That travel data helps you choose spring rates and confirm the shock isn't bottoming out.

Our range also includes brand-specific shock wrenches and shock inflation tool adapters, so you can handle routine service in your own garage. When worn parts need replacing, shop our shocks, struts and springs to match your setup.

When Do You Need A Pitman Arm Puller Or Ball Joint Press?

You need these tools when you replace worn steering or front suspension parts. A pitman arm puller removes the arm from the steering box shaft, while a ball joint press pushes pressed-in joints in or out. The right tool keeps you from damaging the box, the arm or the threads.

SPC offers the 73130 Low-Profile Pitman Arm Puller and the 91860 S-Cam Bushing tool. To separate tie rod ends and joints, the Lisle Tools 6-in-one Stepped Pickle Fork Kit gives you several fork sizes.

We also carry press adapter tubes and large upper ball joint sockets for specific installs. Read our ball joints vs. tie rods guide, then match replacement ball joints to your vehicle. Browse the full selection above to find the right puller, press or pickle fork for your job.