Alignment Help

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2003 11:35 am

Seems we have a wheel bearing that needs replacing on the Talon. To do this the spindles have to be removed from the car and have the new bearings pressed in place. Of course that throws off the alignment. :roll:

We have a camber gauge (bubble-type) so I think we can get the camber set back fairly close. :brow:

The question is how to set the toe? :whoknows:

I've heard of the "string method" but that about it....I've *heard* about it.

I know this is a Hummer, but look at this link........

http://www.humvee.net/hid/susp/string.html

Is this the way to do it? Can the tie-rod ends be easily adjusted with the car on the ground? Seems like a lot of friction that way to me. However since I've never done this I really don't know.

Can someone give me some guidelines here? Pictures? Written methods?

Kevin Hoff · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2003 11:47 am

That method will work, but is more complicated than necessary. I don't understand why they don't just keep the string away from the tires, measure both sides, and do a bit of math to figure out the actual toe reading.

Doing it on the ground works fine, just make sure to roll the car around a bit by hand to settle the suspension every time you set it down from the jack.

When I attended the string alignment howto day at Krause & England several years back he was using strong fishing line as his string -- it doesn't stretch much and is easy to get a precise reading on.

Make sure your garage floor is level.

--Kevin H.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2003 3:02 pm

Quote:

I don't understand why they don't just keep the string away from the tires

I've found a length ot string tied between a couple jackstands works well.

Kevin Hoff · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2003 6:11 pm

Yes, exactly. :lol:

I've been having trouble communicating clearly today.

--Kevin H.

Ron Spencer · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2003 6:16 pm

I just helped a buddy do a garage alignment. What we did was stretch a string along the side of the car BUT move it in slowly at the wheel to be aligned. Say its the front. The string should be touching both lips (front and rear) ofthe back tire. It will also, at that time, touch one of the lips of the front tire. If its the front, you are toed out. If the rear, toed in. You can also make a slip plate from two pieces of wood or flat metal plate or whatever. Jut grease the bottom one up and put the other plate on top. Then both under the front wheel. That way when you change the tie rod length the wheel will move easily.

Hope this helps.

ron

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2003 8:22 pm

I borrowed a set of toe plates at my last race weekend. Big flat pieces of steel, with slots cut into them for a tape measure. I've been told you can get these plates for under $100, and they do work well.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Ron Spencer wrote:

I just helped a buddy do a garage alignment. What we did was stretch a string along the side of the car BUT move it in slowly at the wheel to be aligned. Say its the front. The string should be touching both lips (front and rear) ofthe back tire. It will also, at that time, touch one of the lips of the front tire. If its the front, you are toed out. If the rear, toed in. You can also make a slip plate from two pieces of wood or flat metal plate or whatever. Jut grease the bottom one up and put the other plate on top. Then both under the front wheel. That way when you change the tie rod length the wheel will move easily.

Hope this helps.

ron

This will NOT work unless your track is identical front and rear - and I don't think such a car exists.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

About the last dozen or so times I have set toe I have used a tape measure - requires treaded tires.

Measure tread to tread in the back, then tread to tread in the front.

Not terribly accurate, but I can tell with certainty if I have a little toe out, a lot of toe out, a little toe in, or a lot of toe in.

If you're worried about accuracy, roll the car around, take 3 measurements, and average the 3.

I have alos found that there is plenty of compliance in the tires to make changes with the car on the ground. I can see 1/16" changes on the tape pretty easy. Slip plates seem to be most useful if you're jacking the car up and down.

One of these days I will take my tape-measure alignments to a shop and see how close I have actually been getting. The last string alignment took a good long time, and this way is EASY. Plus, ignorance is bliss.

Patrick Wellenius · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2003 1:18 am

I was talking to Adam L.about garage alignments (long story). He brought up the point that the tape measure won't be too accurate since the wheels may be parallel (0 degrees cross-toe). This would lead you to think you have 0 toe, but may have some toe out on one side and toe in on the other. Never done it, but makes sense...

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2003 7:13 am

Patrick Wellenius wrote:

I was talking to Adam L.about garage alignments (long story). He brought up the point that the tape measure won't be too accurate since the wheels may be parallel (0 degrees cross-toe). This would lead you to think you have 0 toe, but may have some toe out on one side and toe in on the other. Never done it, but makes sense...

Wouldn't you know as soon as you drove the car and the steering wheel was off center.

Patrick Wellenius · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2003 6:51 pm

yeah...guess i just like to argue

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