RE: [ihc] Factory Toe-In Spec, Anyone?

[David Raistrick <keen@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 9 Nov 2004, Tom Harais wrote:

> Tell us your toe setting technique?  Are you using stick pins into the
> tire tread and measuring the distance change when rolled back?  Did you
> create a measuring device of some sort?

I usually use a set of sliding rods for this task, though I haven't done
it to the IHC.  Rabbits, Sciroccos, bugs and buses aplenty, even a fox a
dozen times.  A lot harder on the 944s though. :)

They're just 2 pieces of alum. electrical conduit, one smaller then the
other, that nest tightly.

Mark the tires, set the rod in place, mark, roll, mark, measure, clean of
the marks and start again.


> Has anyone ever tried those relatively cheap alignment platters from JC
> Whitney that you can use to set toe and camber but not caster?

I have their drive-over unit that measures from one tire.  I never
trusted it, and it really requires 2 people (camber is read /while/ the
car is on it, toe after it's rolled off) to do.  PITA.

But every time I've used it, it matched what the sticks read, and later
matched what the computerized rack found at the alignment shop, both
camber and toe.



> wheels because of interference from the frame, exhaust, etc.  And, by the
> time I made up a measuring device like the ones I've seen in a couple of
> suspension books I have, I may as well go pay an alignment shop the $50 and
> have it set by laser.

If you can't go straight across, adding a pair of 90degree elbows to the
ends of the conduit could help, too.  And the second time you use the tool
you've more then made up for it...:)

(and, of course, at least with old VWs, and I suspect IHCs, most shops
with alignment racks won't touch'm..."they're not in the computer any
more"...even if you offer the specs.  Sometimes you can find a tech
willing to work with you, and those guys are gold... Mom recently had
trouble with her '84 Jetta, even.)


> And, I've never heard it said that when you set toe by measurement, do you
> use the outer edge of the rim, the tread surface of the tire, etc.
> Obviously, where you measure that 1/16th of an inch differnece is going to
> make a difference based on the distance from the center of the wheel.

Actually, 1/16" is 1/16", as long as you read it from the same place on
each wheel, front and rear.    I'll often just drop a square on the floor
and measure up X inches, whatever clears the suspension, front and rear,
and measure those points.  I try to use the rim edge when possible, but


I'm having a brain-lockup trying to explain it better, today, though. :)

Though it's harder to measure pressed toe on the shop floor...not that any
run of the mill shop measures it either. ;)


...david

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        David Raistrick    http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html
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