[Vwdiesel] Strut bearing R&R

[Val Christian]

The starting point for alignments, at least when I do them, is 
zero camber, and zero toe-in.  Use your framing square and level.
You can buy a trackguage, which is a spring loaded tube, with points
to stick on the tire/rim, and chains to guage the height from the 
surface.  There's also a pointer to read the toe-in displacement.

You may need a calculator to figure out angles.

Generally, the car should ride OK, and steer OK,a nd have minimal
wear with a neutral camber/toe set.  After getting that established,
I then crank in the camber desired, and then reset the toe.  Add or
subtract toe symmetrically, so that the steering wheel remains centered.

70s through early 90's VWs have a reasonable caster.  The TDI models 
have more caster, to make them "responsive", which also means they
feel unstable.


Val

> 
> Sandy,
> Could you possibly help us out with your hillbilly alignment?
> I set the toe-in on my '91 Jetta, (with a long piece of string..) and its
> 'better', but the front tires are still wearing on the outside edges, and
> it pulls to the right.
> I just had the thought to check the camber with a framing square, and seem
> to have (quite a) few degrees of positive camber on both sides, with the
> left side being worse..
> I haven't done the calculations to measure it, but I'm thinking quite a few
> degrees out of spec.
> What are the correct specs for alignment, and how did you align yours?
> Best regards,
> Mark
> 
> 
> 
> 
>                                                                            
>              vwdiesel-request@                                             
>              vwfans.com                                                    
>              Sent by:                                                   To 
>              vwdiesel-bounces@         vwdiesel at vwfans.com                 
>              vwfans.com                                                 cc 
>                                                                            
>                                                                    Subject 
>              04/25/2007 12:00          Vwdiesel Digest, Vol 42, Issue 25   
>              PM                                                            
>                                                                            
>                                                                            
>              Please respond to                                             
>              vwdiesel at vwfans.c                                             
>                     om                                                     
>                                                                            
>                                                                            
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Se
> 
>    1. Re: Strut bearing R&R (Sandy Cameron)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:09:51 -0400
> From: Sandy Cameron <scameron at compmore.net>
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Strut bearing R&R
> To: vwdiesel at audifans.com
> Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.20070425140951.009d44fc at pop3.compmore.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> A few years ago, (4 or 5) I had alignment issues with goldie, even after it
> came back from the "alignment Doctors".
> 
> Snce this car has never been "bent", One could accept that caster has never
> changed, and only toe and camber needed a tweak.
> 
> I found some good info on front end alignment on the web and applied it in
> small increments, and the result is better than any shop job I ever had.
> Long tire life and perfect handling. An ancient diesel jetta that
> driveslike
> a ferrari
> Good matched tires help a lot too.
> 
> Always check ball  joints before diddlng anything else.
> 
> Often replacing them will cure deteriorating alignment.
> 
> Use the suggested white paint trick to re-locate the new one, or better,
> make a precicsion measurement from the knuckle to a mark onthe wishbone.
> I dont trust the outline of the ball joint casting for locating, I would
> make the measurement from the center of one of the 3 mounting bolts to a
> mark on the wishbone.
> 
> This may not get you to zero if the old joint was badly worn to begin with,
> but will get you back in the ball park.
> 
> I will try to find the info and post it here.
> 
> Hillbilly tuning?  ( Echos of the past )
> 
> Sandy
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> 
> 
> End of Vwdiesel Digest, Vol 42, Issue 25
> ****************************************
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> 
> This message contains confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above and may contain information that is legally privileged.
>  If you are not the addressee, or the person responsible for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that reading, disseminating, distributing or copying this message is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this message by mistake, please immediately notify us by replying to the message and delete the original message immediately thereafter.
> Thank you.
> 
> Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority, states them to be the views of DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC..
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
>