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TR6 TR6 Front wheel alignment

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tr6web

tr6web

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Anyone have an instructions on how to align the front end without taking it to a shop? I've searched the forum and nothing really stands out. The Bentley says to check it with alignment equipment but obviously I don't have any. I'm not even sure what toe-in is.

Any help would be great. I just added new tie rods and gaiters. Thanks.
 
If I were you, I would give more thought to having a shop do it, particularly if you are not up on the fundamentals of suspension geometry and cause and affect of different settings. Remember, this is what controls your handling and steering response so safety is a big part of this work.
 
Thanks. I haven't messed with any other parts of the steering except the tie rods. I know someone had a simple way of doing it and I thought it was from this forum. Any help out there?
 
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Thanks. I haven't messed with any other parts of the steering except the tie rods. I know someone had a simple way of doing it and I thought it was from this forum...

[/ QUOTE ]

Might have been me. Here's a selection from "The Best of Geo":

"...You may want to get a professional alignment but there is no reason not to try to get them close at home first.

"With the car in the garage I select a point on the fat part of the tire -- 3:00 on the drivers side, 9:00 on passengers side. Using a spirit level vertically (plumb) I mark a point on the floor directly below the point on the tire (use masking tape n the floor for easy to remove marks -- label the tape 'R' for this measurement).

"Then push the car backwards one half turn of the tires so that point on the fat part is now forward (9:00 d/s, 3:00 p/s) and make 2 more points on the floor (label the tape 'F' for this measurement).

"Roll the car out of the way and measure the distance between the points for the front and the points for the rear. A 6' folding carpenters rule works well but you can also use 2 yardsticks. Note that the 'front' points will be farther back than the 'rear' points. Taking the difference will give you the toe-in/toe-out at that point on the tire. A little thinking may now be required to slightly adjust this to toe-in at the tire tread. A lot of thinking will be required if your spec is in degrees rather than inches.

"Time consuming the first time you do it but take lots of notes -- especially how much you have to turn a tierod to change toe-in by 1/16" and eventually it will become quick and easy.

"Oh, be sure tire pressure is equal and correct and roll the car into position, do not lower it from a jack and start this process.

"This method has always got my tires aligned well enough for good handling and even wear."

Note -- you may find that when you're all done the steering wheel is turned a bit when you are driving straight. A couple of ways to fix this but since you have been messing with the tie-rods the easiest thing to do is to adjust both sides one more time equally (i.e. lengthen one and shorten the other) to re-center the wheel.
 
Yes, it must have been you because it is what I remember. I really appreciate you posting this again. I will give it a shot. Thank you!
 
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