Date:         Mon, 18 Nov 2002 08:52:08 -0800
Reply-To:     Timothy Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Timothy Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: New Ball Joints feel like I am driving on ice. Home-made toe
              gauge
In-Reply-To:  <3DD9121D.5090903@eoni.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

For a quick home-made toe gauge, get a piece of
all-thread, about 5' long and a coupling nut in the
same thread size. You should be able to find this
stuff at any hardware/home improvement store, if not,
check an electrical supply house.

Cut the all-thread so it will fit between the inside
of the front rims as high up on the rim as the chassis
will allow. On my van, it will reach the vertical
center of the wheel on both the front and backside of
the front axle.

Hold the all-thread up so it touches the inside front
of the rim at the most forward point that you can
touch. Adjust the coupling nut outward until it
touches the inside edge of the opposite wheel. I use
another nut to lock this setting.

Move the rod to the rear of the axle repeat the
process. Count the number of turns it takes to get the
coupling nut to touch the wheel. A typical 3/8"
all-thread will have 8 turns per inch, so if the
difference between the front and rear measurement is
two full turns, that would equal 1/4" of toe-in. If
there is no difference, you have 0 toe, if you have to
turn the coupler in, the front end is toed out.

You can also measure the rod after each measurement
with a tape measure and subtract one reading from the
other if you prefer.

Good luck,

Tim


--- Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM> wrote:
> Take it to your local alignment shop.  The toe-in is
> toed-out.
>
> Jim


=====
Tim Hannink
Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
Winter Park, Florida
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink [Vanagon] Album

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site
http://webhosting.yahoo.com