|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
03-04-2021, 11:07 AM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 61
|
Front end alignment question
I’m in the process of aligning the front end of my 31 CCPU. I’m using a toe in gauge, basically a spring loaded bar that wedges between the tires. After positioning and zeroing the gauge, I pull the truck forward the gauge moves to a toe out reading at the lowest point then moves to a toe in reading at the rear most position. Is that normal?
|
03-04-2021, 11:42 AM | #2 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Aldergrove B.C. Canada
Posts: 16
|
Re: Front end alignment question
Hey Magoo2, here is a youtube video from Paul Shinn. He explains what needs to be done. Did mine like he said, work out great.
Good luck, PaulB https://youtu.be/LdNb-NU9vf0 |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
03-04-2021, 11:48 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,741
|
Re: Front end alignment question
It is normal because of the camber, the wheels are out at the top
and in at the bottom. |
03-04-2021, 11:54 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 934
|
Re: Front end alignment question
Sounds like you ae trying to compare apples and oranges. Toe in/out is a horizontal reading i.e., front to back at the same distance off the floor. Toe in the front reading is less than the rear reading.
The tires have a slight inward vertical angle from top to bottom. This is fixed i.e., King pin, there is no way to change this except to bend the axel. Sounds like you are trying to compare a vertical reading to a horizontal reading. Should be read at the front most position compare to the rear most position. |
03-04-2021, 12:51 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: brentwood, ca
Posts: 4,233
|
Re: Front end alignment question
Paul Schinn makes it simple.
|
03-04-2021, 01:16 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
|
Re: Front end alignment question
|
03-05-2021, 01:34 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 114
|
Re: Front end alignment question
Use a tape measure, get it close and take it for a drive. Adjust as necessary. You can measure the distance between two similar points on the tires and get it as close as it needs to be without a "toe-in gauge".
|
03-05-2021, 07:29 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,893
|
Re: Front end alignment question
If you change the caster by repairing or adjusting the ball at the end of the front wishbone, you will change the toe in. If you do any changes to the front end, the toe in should be checked last.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
03-05-2021, 09:54 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Fall Creek, WI
Posts: 213
|
Re: Front end alignment question
An old mechanic taught me that after you get toe in where you want it to roll the vehicle forward and backwards a good distance so the front end will settle in. It can make a difference. Or, as a previous post, drive it and check again.
|
03-05-2021, 10:40 AM | #10 |
Junior Member
|
Re: Front end alignment question
We use to use a string for the Jeep’s in the army to adjust the toe .
|
03-05-2021, 10:48 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 879
|
Re: Front end alignment question
Please explain, what did he do right or wrong?
__________________
The Master Cylinder Enjoying life at the beach in SoCal... |
03-05-2021, 12:02 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,042
|
Re: Front end alignment question
As the fronts of the wheels tend to push apart when the car is going forward, always check the toe-in after the vehicle has been moved forwards, never after the vehicle has been moved to the rear.
When checking toe-in I like to push the fronts of the wheels apart before measuring.
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! |
03-06-2021, 11:37 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,844
|
Re: Front end alignment question
|
11-27-2023, 08:00 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 490
|
Re: Front end alignment question
I've been using the same tool as Paul. Our car goes straight down the road if not upset by common bumps, slopes and winds. Tire wear is even across the tread.
One thing not mentioned here yet: Make certain your wheel bearings are not loose. I'm thinking that a wheel alignment on a modern vehicle with modern tools also aligns the front and rear wheels to each other, or at least checks it??? Our coupe had a shallow bend in a rear radius rod. When the rear end was disassembled for a cracked axle along the key way, the axle housing on the same side had a bent flange in one area of several degrees. I was told this happens when the car hits something like a curb with a major force. I could just barely see that the rear wheels were out of alignment all along, but didn't catch on until removing working on the rear end.
__________________
"It ain't what you know for certain that gets ya in trouble. It's what ya know for certain that just ain't so!" |
12-01-2023, 09:25 AM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,093
|
Re: Front end alignment question
This is an old thread but thats ok, people can still learn from it.
I have been doing my alignments the exact same way that Paul showed in his video and that has always worked out well for me. |
12-01-2023, 08:16 PM | #16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,042
|
Re: Front end alignment question
Quote:
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! |
|
12-01-2023, 09:32 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: San Antonio Texas
Posts: 219
|
Re: Front end alignment question
I was surprised to learn that the Model A’s front suspension is set with positive camber. That is, the tops of the wheels are farther apart than the bottoms. I understand this was done to reduce steering effort. Perhaps this was common practice at the time.
All modern cars use negative camber to enhance cornering grip. Power-assisted steering is ubiquitous so steering effort is a non-issue anyway.
__________________
David in San Antonio 1930 ('31?) Deluxe "Wretched Roadster" Restored 1957 Alamo A’s Club |
12-02-2023, 02:22 PM | #18 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Everett, Wa
Posts: 84
|
Re: Front end alignment question
My homemade tape measure front end alignment tool.
|
12-02-2023, 09:25 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,042
|
Re: Front end alignment question
Home made toe boards.
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|