 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > DIY wheel alignment/tracking |
 
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| grafty99 Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: North Devon Posts: 4786   
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In all honesty, I would pay someone to do it.
I think I payed £40 for a 4 wheel lazer alignment, it made quite a difference at the time (it was a while ago now  )
However if I was doing it myself I would probably remove the front wheels and clamp two straight edges to the hubs, then measure for parallel  2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton |
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19th May 2019 7:46am |
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| Roy5695 Member Since: 15 Feb 2014 Location: Cornwall Posts: 1123 
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I tried doing it myself with the measuring to the front and rear of the wheel rim. Got it close but sent it off for a proper check and it was out a little bit. The difference between many thousand miles on a set of tyres.
So in my opinion it’s much more sensible to pay someone to do it proper. Cost me £45 at an ATS place. Took them all of 15 minutes dudeto the brand new sumo bar and drag link I’d just put on. 2011 Defender DCPU 2.2 - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic30623.html Instagram - @r22oyp Roy |
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19th May 2019 8:01am |
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| Zed Member Since: 07 Oct 2017 Location: In the woods Posts: 3310 
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Cheers chaps. I hear you but my tracking is out now, which I'd like to sort and in a couple of weeks I'll be doing the Gwyn Lewis drop arm sumo jobbie. Plus I wouldn't mind knowing how to do it anyway.
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19th May 2019 8:06am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17441 
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The last time I did an emergency tracking job (on a S1 about 30 years ago) all I used was a metal extending tape measure and a helper to hold the end. As far as I know it has still never been readjusted so can't have been too far out!
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19th May 2019 8:16am |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2244 
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I use the string method, served me well for the last 25 years. It's quick, easy and accurate enough.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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19th May 2019 8:32am |
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| richcl Member Since: 25 Mar 2011 Location: tewkesbury Posts: 25
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I use the string method too.
Just remember the difference between front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and all wheel drive cars when carrying out this procedure. |
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19th May 2019 8:37am |
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| hank Member Since: 12 Sep 2016 Location: South Wales Posts: 2301 
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I'd like to give this a go too as I have been underwhelmed when having it done "professionally" - steering wheel off centre, vehicle tracking one side or the other, unequal number of turns left and right on the steering wheel etc.. > 110 XS Double Cab
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19th May 2019 8:45am |
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| mactheknife Member Since: 08 Jul 2016 Location: Somerset Posts: 51 
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I used two flat bars and a tape measure to get mine aligned after replacing all the track rods and ends. I got it as close to perfect as I could, but still took it to a shop to get it double checked as I had a wheel out of balance. They said I was still about 1mm out, the difference was noticeable.
The alignment check took 15 minutes and cost £15. |
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19th May 2019 10:19pm |
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| Mies Member Since: 07 Jan 2019 Location: Lithoijen Posts: 15 
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String method. Was conviced fancy laser type stuff must be better until I had a pit-pass for a WEC race at Spa......even Audi was using the string method.
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20th May 2019 12:51am |
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| v8bob Member Since: 14 Mar 2018 Location: Midlands Posts: 319 
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These are fairly useful to do the tracking with. A little limited on how much access you have but as long as you use the same height front and back will get it close.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/harris-trade-ex...gIl1_D_BwE When you buy one SWMBO will get excited and start choosing some paint colours. |
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20th May 2019 6:38am |
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| jfh Member Since: 08 Jan 2014 Location: West Coast Posts: 359  
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I use 2 aluminium pipes that fits snugly into each other. The biggest of the 2 has a diameter of about 8mm.
The inner pipe slide out telescopically and I mark on the inner pipe with permanent marker. I measure the distance between the front rims at the rear and front on the same height. Using a straightedge to determine height but a laser can also work. After adjusting alignment, I roll the vehicle back 2m and back to original position and remeasure. I work on a 1mm difference between front and rear, but can't remember if it was +1 or -1mm.. A while ago I had new tires fitted and alignment done, the guy doing the alignment said I was almost spot-on. |
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20th May 2019 6:56am |
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| v8bob Member Since: 14 Mar 2018 Location: Midlands Posts: 319
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Just walking past wilko and popped in to see one of these:
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-extending-pole-1-2m/p/0343127 Only 3 quid, not worth getting a hacksaw out to make one at that price. |
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20th May 2019 10:34am |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4216 
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Ive just seem all the British Touring Car Championship teams using the string method this weekend. If it’s good enough for them... 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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20th May 2019 10:37am |
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| diesel_jim Member Since: 13 Oct 2008 Location: hiding Posts: 6093 
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Must set mine up... never bothered in the last 9 years/65000 miles.... be interesting to see how far out it is... probably miles out, seeing as I built the axle from various sources
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20th May 2019 12:05pm |
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