First DIY front alignment.

[RickB]

After a couple recent engine & tranny R&R's my front end was kind of skittish out on the freeway.

I did some measuring and found the front to be 1/2" toed in.
The steering wheel was also cocked off to the left about 15 degrees, it used to be centered.

I looked in the book, thought it seemed simple enough and went ahead and adjusted the drivers side until there was just 1/8" toe in and the steering wheel was once again centered. The drivers side actually looked off when viewing the car from the front, that's why I suspected something there.

Then I tested it out, the car is sticking to the road much better now! :wink:

 

[RickB]

Ok - here are the questions that bubbled up while thinking this over...

What would cause the drivers side wheel to toe in so much?
Why did that seem to cause the steering wheel to turn to the left?

It used to be exactly centered, after setting the toe in to 1/8 inch it was centered again.

<...scratching head, worried about wearing a bald spot...>

 

[spritenut]

"What would cause the drivers side wheel to toe in so much?"

The other driver smacked the curb and never told you.

 

[RickB]

Wasn't like that before we R&R the motor last time, but was like that when we were done.

We did push it off the jack a couple times onto the ARB however.

 

[Billm]

We reset one of the A-arm bushings during one of the R&R's, may have been the cause--
BillM

 

[RickB]

Yes we did - I forgot about that!