Thread: DIY wheel alignment

With rigid axle Landrovers, the only adjustment is to toe in (or out for later models). Easiest way to check this is to use a rigid wooden or metal bar longer than the track, with two pointers attached to it long enough to reach from the concrete to the axle centre. One needs to be adjustable, and both need to be rigid. I have used a piece of 50x50 RHS with pointers from 40x40x4mm angle, tek screwed for one, and clamped for the other.

Set it to an identifiable point on the front of the tyres, move to the back and measure the difference. To remove the possibility of a slightly bent wheel, it may be worth putting the front on stands, spinning each wheel and marking the tread with chalk as it spins to give a reference line.

When checking it the wheels must be in the straight ahead position.

You are wasting your time if there is any play at all in the tie rod ends, the wheel bearings, or the swivels. These should have the correct preload to ensure there isw no free play.

John

Yeah that's what I was referring to John , toe in and centering adjustment.
I had thought of some kind of tool like you describe.
Tie rods were all replaced this year and swivel /hub bearing adjustment was done yesterday but I feel the toe in isn't set correctly.

Pretty easy just to use a tape measure
Done all my rovers this way

Problem with using a tape measure is that you need two people - and you can't quite get the tape straight between the mid point of the tyres at the back. (but you can get pretty close)

Another check that can be done (I'd use this for a check only) is to get a straight edge such as a length of RHS long enough to go from the back of the back tyre to the front of the front tyre. Adjust the steering until it touches front and back sides of both the wheels on one side, then, without touching the steering, move to the other side - with the straight edge against the back wheel it will touch either the front or back of the front tyre, and the gap to the other side of the front tyre is an approximation of the toe in (gap at front) or toe out (gap at back).

I would use this to check whether alignment is needed rather than to actually do it - it will be affected by bent wheels, bent chassis, suspension problems etc as well as front axle alignment.

John

I've always used a stringline,, easy to wrap it around all 4 wheels and check either from the tyre if all are the same, (pressure type, etc) or then measure to the rim if your not into the "eyesight" part of it.
I've always had good tracking on all road surfaces with this method.

Originally Posted by rangieman

Pretty easy just to use a tape measure
Done all my rovers this way

Do you use a metric one for the D2 and a yard stick for the series stuff?
Video tutorial available?

Tape measure, hook on tyre lug, use same part of lug opposite side, one man job

String line works on leaf Spring, but not ideal on pan hard as axle moves left/right and does not have true track

Oh i use a paint pen to mark tyres so you measure from and to the same spot
Yes as Rovercare said hook the tape measure on a lug or if your stressed get someone else to hold the end no big deal and takes no time.