[Vwdiesel] DIY alignment tips?

[Val Christian]

On my 84, I simply went 0 camber.

For toe, you can use a trackguage which is spring loaded to sit in the
tire/wheel grove, and with little chains to get it level and a fixed 
distance off the ground on each side.  If you don't have one, use a 
light weight chain, and a helper.  Put chalk marks on the tire so you
can hit the same spots the same height off the ground.  

You can get pretty close with this method.  On the road, I've used string.
I was 16 at the time, and a family car hit a sheet of plywood falling
off a dumptruck.  One 8 yo brother had to ride with me, because the 
family station wagon was full.  It was a Sat night, so I did the align
readjustment in a parking lot while little brother ate.  The wheels were
pretty straight, but the caster was way off.  The car was down for the 
entire vacation while parts were ordered.  (We traveled with two, needed
for eight kids.)

BTW you have the right way to get the camber, but I use a calculator and 
do it off the wheel, and use a magnetic torpedo level, with shims.  
For shims, I've used the sheet magnets which everyone hands out.  Lift,
adjust, tighten, set down, roll car back and forth, and test.  Repeat
at least twice.  Usually more.  Oh, your 0.24" sounds like quite a bit 
too much.  

Having said all this, you can get it close, but here I pay about $35 or 
$40 for a four wheel laser alignment.  I do it in the shop at home, and
when I'm all done, and everything has been tested, I run it to a shop with
the laser system.  It's worth it in terms of longterm wear on the tires, 
etc.

Good luck.  

Val


> 
> Just installed front & rear struts/shocks (ended up with KYB, as Bilstein are 
> just way too much) on the '85 Jetta. Since they were complete new front 
> struts, I wasn't able to save the alignment from before (just done last 
> year...)
> I've calculated the 1 deg negative camber (I think that's the spec, don't 
> have my Bentley right now) is about 1/4" difference between the top & 
> bottom, if measured from the lip of a 14" wheel. (2x14x3.14 /360 = 0.24"). 
> So I place a level and hold it vertical againt the wheel (on ground), and 
> check the distance from level to top of wheel is 1/4" more than from level 
> to bottom of wheel lip. Sound ok?
> 
> But what about the toe? Measuring from front & back of one wheel to the 
> other is difficult when the car is on the ground. I don't have a 6' caliper 
> handy... Any tricks, so I can avoid spending $60 on an alignment again?
> 
> ThanksShawn Wright
> http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
> '85 Jetta D 
> '88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
>  (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
> '82 Diesel Westy
> 
> 
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