[Vwdiesel] DIY alignment tips? Miser's method

[Mark Shepherd]

Shawn
Is it not possible to take a straight edge say 10 ft long with a 'plumb
line' at one end and with an assistant hold the straight edge horizontally
along the wheel centreline and mark the floor . Do it both sides  at some
distance in front of the car say 8ft and then shorten protrusion to say 3ft
and repeat marking.
Then  measure distance between farthest points.
 Next measure distance between points nearer car.
 Half the difference between these 2 values. This enables you to draw (in
effect) 2 'averaged' triangles with the sharpest point farthest away from
the car, being the angle you are looking for for 'toe-in' ...

###Remember the mantra SOH-CAH-TOA...####
SOH means 'sine' of an angle = opposite /hypotenuse :o)

The halved  small length is the 'opposite' length  of the angle you are
trying to find.
The distance you selected between each of the nearest and furthest points
is the 'hypotenuse'
So divide small length by long length and using a scientific calculator do
an inverse sine of this figure:

 (ie) press small number  divided by large number . Then press '=' then
press  'shift then press 'sine'

Its just struck me that you don't need a scientific calculator if I give
you the 'ratio'

For 1 degree of toe-in you are looking for a small number /large number
figure of 0.01571
or easier on the eye... large length /small length of 63.7

Math-Miser