[Vwdiesel] Wheel alignment

[MWoodland at Dentsply.com]

On 4/25, Sandy Cameron said:

Don't use string to check toe, use a steel tape or wire that won't stretch.

Sandy, here's the method I dreamed up.. I wrap a string around the front of
the front tire at the mid point, and extend past the rear of the car, and
tie to a bucket handle.
Move the bucket until the string just touches the rear half of the front
tire. We now have a straight line extending the full wheelbase of the car,
showing the toe-in of the front wheel, in relation to the rear wheel.
This is assuming that the rears have the same track width, and are
centered.. (possibly a rash assumption.)
By measuring the wheelbase, and plugging that into the radius variable,
Pi times the diameter (Radius X 2) gives you the circumference of the
'circle', divided by 360, you get the number of inches per degree.
Its all ballpark, and I measure the distance from the string to the edge of
the rear tire. 1/2 a degree on each side is a place to start.

Irrespective of stretch.

I read your write up on alignment, and followed the link you gave.. many
thanks!
I set my Jetta up yesterday, and its much improved.
The steering wheel is slightly off center, but it no longer pulls, and I
went 2-3 tenths of a mile without touching the wheel, or moving from my
lane at 60 mph..
Tires are overinflated to 38 psi to accentuate any errors..

Glad to hear you are improving.
All the best,
Mark


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