Thread: wheel allignments

Originally posted by rovercare+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rovercare)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Originally posted by rovercare@
<!--QuoteBegin-rick130

or if you're feeling really sophisticated, set up a couple of parallel string lines down either side of the car at hub height and measure to the rim and/or the tyre sidewall. This is how virtually every open wheeler race car in the country is aligned for toe

That method does not work for the panhard rod suspension setup as when the front diff housing travels it also moves

Sorry got cut short, was at work and the plant broke down, the housing moves sideways under travel and varies depending on lift etc. This method works great with a leave sprung vehicle IF the track is correct i.e. not a bent chassis causing the vehicle to crab, or any sedan without panhard rod rear susp. including watts linkage[/b][/quote]

well, all the NASCARS and V8's are all out of alignment then (all panhard rod rear ends).....

If the vehicle is sitting at normal ride height, how can it be incorrect ?
If you square the stringline off the vehicles centreline, it will be fine. It will also tell you if the axle has moved sideways and also if the rear axle is bent.

'Zook, yes, factory settings are 0-2mm toe out

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><snip>so your telling me all nascars and V8 supercars, more money than i'll ever have worth of R&D are all strung aligned front ends????[/b][/quote]

when I was around that scene ten years ago, yep. Some people used Dunlop guages, but all the cars I was involved with (Formula Fords, some sedans) and all the cars my first race engineer looked after (various NASCARS, Group A Commodores, and a short spell at Gibson Motorsport on the GTR's) used string lines. I was gobsmacked when he told me that's how the Yanks did it as well. (he works for the Petty organisation now.)
We used to make bars up that either bolted or pip pinned into place front and rear with notches where the string went. It was so quick and easy to do we could do it at the track in the event of a bingle. The floor didn't need to be leveled and it was literally done in minutes.

With what you said this morning really made me question what I've done for the last so many years, but after thinking and sketching, I really can't see a problem, even if the front and rear tracks are offset after a lift (or sag). If you set your parallelogram up off the hub centres, I think that may cause an error, but if it's squared up off the centre line of the chassis I honestly can't see any problem, and it will show you how far off your axles are, so that arms can be straightened or adjustable panhards can be fitted.

If you'd like to PM me showing me the error of my ways, that's OK, cause I think we'll bore the pants off everyone else if we continue this on here.