Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2003 10:18:14 -0600
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject: Re: Checking toe-in on a Vanagon at home
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
jbclem wrote:
>
> I have a toe-in bar(spring loaded) that I've used checking toe-in on earlier
> buses and bugs where you could place the toe-in bar points on the metal
> brake drum and have a solid place to measure from. My Vanagon has a backing
> plate that gets in the way and is not solid(inflexible) enough anyway.
> Does anyone have a way to do this without going to a drive on alignment
> rack?
>
> John
Hi:
I measure to the rim; the flat part just inside the very edge.
I lay a 2" x 8" board on flat pavement tight against the front or back
of the tire. Then I set the large flat edge of a combination square on
the wood and let the blade come straight up. By clamping a needle nose
vise grips to the blade of the square I have a probe that extends to
contact the rim. I mark the wood at the corner of the square and then
go to the other side. Repeat behind the wheel and compare.
I hope this makes sense; kind of hard to describe in words.
Be sure there isn't too much slop in the suspension. If your ball
joints, etc. are bad enough your alignment won't be accurate.
Larry A.
BTW I found the "Alignment Gauge" sold by Eastman to be completely
useless.
|
Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives
@ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c)
1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the
express written permission of the list administrators.
Posting messages to this mailing list grants
a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce
the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic.
All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess
proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively
towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing
list and vanagon mailing list web site.