Laser Alignment

[bodymanpainter]

Finally got the laser alignment done to my 2014 RTS and Wow what a difference it made. Many thanks to
Doc Riverside in Folkston, Ga. for taking his time and doing a great job.

Toby

[POD KonB GA]

I'll be hitting Doc up soon for some work. He's a great guy, and so willing to help others.

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[james36il2000]

Does dealers do laser alignment? I live in southern Illinois does anybody do laser alignments in my area or do I have to take my rt limited to some one special? Thanks

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[Trbayth]

Does dealers do laser alignment? I live in southern Illinois does anybody do laser alignments in my area or do I have to take my rt limited to some one special? Thanks

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spydercomfort.com will let you search for places to get a laser alignment near you.

[Pampurrs]

Finally got the laser alignment done to my 2014 RTS and Wow what a difference it made. Many thanks to
Doc Riverside in Folkston, Ga. for taking his time and doing a great job.

Toby

That's great! Was your Spyder pulling one way or the other before you got the laser alignment?

Pam

[bodymanpainter]

That's great! Was your Spyder pulling one way or the other before you got the laser alignment?

Pam

Yes, it had a little pull to the right and would wander from side to side some but not real bad.
but the alignment stopped all of that and it is like riding a different bike now!
Toby

[Pampurrs]

Yes, it had a little pull to the right and would wander from side to side some but not real bad.
but the alignment stopped all of that and it is like riding a different bike now!
Toby

That's good that the laser alignment was able to stop that. It sucks though
that they let your Spyder out of the factory without aligning it properly.

Pam

[bobgeorge]

Question...I have just put 200 miles on my RT. Is it too early for a laser alignment? Should I wait until the 600 mile checkup?

[kngfsh27]

Question...I have just put 200 miles on my RT. Is it too early for a laser alignment? Should I wait until the 600 mile checkup?

You have the 1330 engine, it is a 3000 mile first check-up. You can a laser alignment anytime.

[SailnDive]

Just curious, what can they align other than toe? I've read several positive reports on laser alignment so they must be able to make several corrective adjustments.

[Gray Ghost]

Just curious, what can they align other than toe? I've read several positive reports on laser alignment so they must be able to make several corrective adjustments.

The laser alignment only adjusts toe. The great majority (as in almost all) of all Spyders do not have toe set correctly.

[RTJERRY]

Does dealers do laser alignment? I live in southern Illinois does anybody do laser alignments in my area or do I have to take my rt limited to some one special? Thanks

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Take a ride to Pitbull in Springfield, MO. They do a great job.

[ARtraveler]

Most people who have had a laser alignment performed will tell you that the overall ride on the is improved after the alignment. I found that to be the case on both my 's.

We are also told by a few of the alignment people that most of the coming out of the box from the factory, could use the alignment because they are not perfectly on spec. Some more than others. I guess it depends on which day of the week they were built.

There are also some dealers that will tell you up front, if your is in spec--they will not charge you for the alignment.

I watched them perform the alignment on both of mine and the mis-alignment was very clear on both vehicles.

I was a skeptic early on and I waited a couple years before I jumped on the band wagon. My dealer performed one the old way on my 2011 at the end of last season and it was really, really, off. After the alignments, both 's track better than when they were new.

[SpyderAnn01]

Question...I have just put 200 miles on my RT. Is it too early for a laser alignment? Should I wait until the 600 mile checkup?

We have done around 400 alignments and have only had 3 that were within specification so chances are pretty good that yours is out of alignment. Waiting will not change that at all.

[hillybillyheaven]

Finally got the laser alignment done to my 2014 RTS and Wow what a difference it made. Many thanks to
Doc Riverside in Folkston, Ga. for taking his time and doing a great job.

Toby

does Doc have the True Laser Track laser system and a bud to reset ?

[Doc - Riverside]

does Doc have the True Laser Track laser system and a bud to reset ?

That would be a YES. I believe if your are going to do a job do it the right way do it with the right equipment.

[SailnDive]

That would be a YES. I believe if your are going to do a job do it the right way with the right equipment.

If only toe can be adjusted, then it should be fairly easy to get that right without laser equipment. Maybe there is a difficulty getting the front wheels aligned with the rear wheel also that I'm missing. In my late 20s and 30s, I designed, built and raced tube frame formula cars. The suspensions were fully adjustable, front and rear, for caster, camber, toe, dive, squat, swing arm radius, bump steer, roll resistance, etc. We used string and protractor levels to accurately set all of these variables. I'm sure that I could perform the same on the spider using similar techniques. But if the computer has to be reset with a special tool after the alignment...all would be for naught. I need to learn a lot more about how the computer interfaces with the suspension on the Spyder. Where do I read up on that? I should add that it would take 2 or 3 of us HOURS to check and setup everything ( on our cars) using that method. Change one thing and it would require adjusting many other things.

[Doc - Riverside]

If only toe can be adjusted, then it should be fairly easy to get that right without laser equipment. Maybe there is a difficulty getting the front wheels aligned with the rear wheel also that I'm missing. In my late 20s and 30s, I designed, built and raced tube frame formula cars. The suspensions were fully adjustable, front and rear, for caster, camber, toe, dive, squat, swing arm radius, bump steer, roll resistance, etc. We used string and protractor levels to accurately set all of these variables. I'm sure that I could perform the same on the spider using similar techniques. But if the computer has to be reset with a special tool after the alignment...all would be for naught. I need to learn a lot more about how the computer interfaces with the suspension on the Spyder. Where do I read up on that? I should add that it would take 2 or 3 of us HOURS to check and setup everything using that method. Change one thing and it would require adjusting many other things.

Using the TRUE Track Laser system the alignment can be done in less than an hour. Buds is needed to reset the steering angle sensor after you are done. If you don't and the change was big the computer will start to toss codes.

[Gonenuts]

Once an alignment is done how often is it recommended?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Once an alignment is done how often is it recommended?

I'd say there is no proper recheck time. It all depends on what kind of conditions you encounter. In my case the alignment was done in June 2014. The DPS crapped out about 3 months later and had to be replaced. This involved disconnecting the steering linkages. Either the tech did get them all back exactly as before, or I encountered some rough road conditions, but when I had the alignment checked at Spyderfest in May it was off a bit. The reason I had it checked was because the handlebar just didn't seem to be square with tracking.

If it seems that something is not quite right, then it's time to have the alignment rechecked.

[wiredgeorge]

If only toe can be adjusted, then it should be fairly easy to get that right without laser equipment. Maybe there is a difficulty getting the front wheels aligned with the rear wheel also that I'm missing. In my late 20s and 30s, I designed, built and raced tube frame formula cars. The suspensions were fully adjustable, front and rear, for caster, camber, toe, dive, squat, swing arm radius, bump steer, roll resistance, etc. We used string and protractor levels to accurately set all of these variables. I'm sure that I could perform the same on the spider using similar techniques. But if the computer has to be reset with a special tool after the alignment...all would be for naught. I need to learn a lot more about how the computer interfaces with the suspension on the Spyder. Where do I read up on that? I should add that it would take 2 or 3 of us HOURS to check and setup everything ( on our cars) using that method. Change one thing and it would require adjusting many other things.

I have a 2010 RT and Can-Am adjusted mine at the factory.... rear and front wheels where set going in the same direction. At the time mine were done, they didn't use a laser system. They set the on-board computer to thinking that my RT was now going forward properly with the wheels all aligned. Problem was, the way they did the alignment was not correct. Having seen the laser alignment in action, I couild probably get my front wheels pionted ahead OK with strings and such after properly aligning the handlebars... problem with that would be that i could not reset the on-board computer so it re-oriented itself to the correct direction of travel. If the original on-board computer setting stays in the computer, the vehicle will still pull to one side or the other. The BUDS interface and software is critical to any alignment and I think doing an alignment without the laser set up would be very time consuming and frustrating (if it couild be done that way). The alignment I got from Cliff Fargason was the single most improvement in handling I have experienced and was a lot less expensive than the Elka shocks, new Elka springs and Bajaron anit-sway bar and metal Heim links.

[wiredgeorge]

Once an alignment is done how often is it recommended?

My alignment specialist told me to bring it back in if I messed with the rear wheel (changed tires, etc) and he would do another check/alignment free for a year. I hope I can wear out the rear tire within a year but I can't seem to find enough riding time with my business pulling me back into the shop.

[TNFIREFIGHTER]

I asked my dealer if they could do a laser alignment on my new rt before I drive it home, I was told that they didn't do the true laser alignment but they could do there form of the laser alignment and get it really close! I am not sure if I should let them do it or just wait and take it to somewhere that does the true alignment. Any thoughts from all you guys?

[exwinger]

I've had the laser alignment done and had "supposedly " a new steering sensor installed.Is there anything that needs redone with the new sensor other than just installing it ? I just want to be certain that the dealer didn't skip a step and cause problems .No , I don't trust the work from the dealer doing the work but in this case I have no choice .Laser alignment was done by a good dealer.

[kbwitt]

I asked my dealer if they could do a laser alignment on my new rt before I drive it home, I was told that they didn't do the true laser alignment but they could do there form of the laser alignment and get it really close! I am not sure if I should let them do it or just wait and take it to somewhere that does the true alignment. Any thoughts from all you guys?

Look at your invoice was there a set up charge, if so your deal sucks if now wants to charge you for alignment. Getting it close scares me.