For a basic home front end alignment, considering the front end is in
semi decent condition, you can do this at home with string, a tape
measure, and/or a metal straight edge.
First, make sure the tie rod ends are close to centered. If you do not
know, remove them but count how many full turns each takes to remove.
It should be 15 give or take 1/2 a turn.
Screw them on 15 turns but leave the lock nut loose. set the car on the
ground, drive it around the block to settle the front end. Park it
straight. Measure the distance behind the wheels from outside to
outside. write it down. Now measure across the front, it should 1/8"
LESS then the back measurement. 1/16 is OK too. Anything else means your
toe-in is off. And this will wear tires.
I use a tape measure hooked in the outtermost tire tread across the back
and again across the front. For me, it's close enough. I just replaced
my tires not due to wear but due to being on the car too long and
getting hard and age cracked. Lots of tread left and no noticable wear
patterns.
Now if I was driving 20,000 miles a year, I might go to a shop if I
could find one where the car fits the machine and have them laser align
it but for my few thousand miles a year, it works for me.
I am finding that the tires are ageing out before they are wearing out.
Don't forget to tighten up the lock nuts on the rod ends once you set
the toe in.
--
Frank Clarici
Toms River, NJ
Back up to too many sprites again.
http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut/
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