Date:         Fri, 21 Oct 2005 08:40:56 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: ps rack install tips?
In-Reply-To:  <4358D4A8.8070809@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Well, I've done it twice now on two different cars with new/newish
tires, with no adjustments since and no tire wear from misalignment. If
you measure carefully, the results are exact. If the results are exact,
it's equal to the previous state, which is the same as not changing it
at all. Measure carefully.

Jim


On Oct 21, 2005, at 6:44 AM, Ken Wilford wrote:

> I agree with George, I always measure the tie rods too and set it as
> close to original as possible.  However this is just so that I don't
> have problems on the way to get it aligned at a four wheel,
> computerized
> alignment shop.  Typical price is around $60.  Well worth the money
> when
> you think about the price of tires and the wear and tear on front end
> components.
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>
> George Goff wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 10/20/05 6:40:23 PM, felder@KNOLOGY.NET writes:
>>
>> << Also, a big time and money saver: I measured the distance from the
>> center
>> of the tie rod ends to a known spot (the innermost thread, for
>> instance) on
>> the rod ends out of the rack. Reinstall to the same measurement and
>> you want
>> need an alignment, assuming you didn't need one before. >>
>>
>> I've done a form of this also, at times using some very precise means
>> to
>> reestablish the toe in.  The results can be very close to the spec,
>> but you need
>> luck to be spot on.  The problem is that you might not realize the
>> alignment is
>> off until you see an odd wear pattern on the tire 10 Kmi. down the
>> road.  If
>> your tires are fairly new, it is worth the cost to have an alignment
>> done.
>>
>> George
>>
>>
>>
>