 | Home > Wheels & Tyres > Adjusting the tracking |
 
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| SiWhite Member Since: 19 Jan 2010 Location: North Hampshire Posts: 455   
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I've always used the long-bit-of-string method. Cheap too.
Landy up on jacks / stands so the tyres are just off the ground. Loosen the clamps on the track rod (bar that runs from swivel to swivel behind the axle). Get a ball of string and wrap it around the car, with the string touching all four tyre sidewalls halfway up the tyre when viewed from the side. Tie a knot so the string is nice and tight, but not mega tight. Explain to the neighbour exactly what you're doing. Stand in front of the vehicle, bend down so you are looking along the line of the string as it passes the tyres from front to back. It should be touching both tyre sidewalls of the rear tyre, and either one or both sidewalls of the front tyre. Check both sides in case there is a bit of steering lock on. You are aiming to get the string as straight as possible - toe in will show as the string will go from the front sidewall of the front tyre, bend at the rear sidewall of the front tyre and continue to the rear tyre. Toe out will show as the string will not touch the rear sidewall of the front tyre. Adjust tracking by twisting the track rod (maybe with pliers if it's still tight) and watch the sidewall of the tyre move relative to the string. When it's as good as possible, tighten the clamps on the track rod, throw the string away, drink some tea and enjoy the £20 you've saved. My blog - www.anacreinhampshire.blogspot.co.uk 110 TD5 BuildHERE - sold! 110 Tdci Build HERE - sold! Passat Alltrack - 4x4, auto, 45mpg, gloriously comfortable - but not a Defender! |
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17th Mar 2010 8:29pm |
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| discocuzzy Member Since: 16 Jul 2008 Location: surrey Posts: 1200 
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 i am a muppett when it comes to anything mechanical...would a land dealer do anything more scientific? You cannot teach stupid people to do clever things |
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17th Mar 2010 8:52pm |
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| SiWhite Member Since: 19 Jan 2010 Location: North Hampshire Posts: 455
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They'd clamp brackets with lasers to the rims, which point forwards to a wall or similar. When the rear laser point lines up with the front laser point they're done. They could adjust more accurately if a car needed 2 degrees of toe in for instance, but I think a LR does nicely with the wheels pointing in the same direction
MUCH more satisfying to have done it yourself I think - good experience and a few quid saved. You can forgo the axle stands, but it's more time consuming as you need to drive a bit after each adjustment, requiring removal of the string. My blog - www.anacreinhampshire.blogspot.co.uk 110 TD5 BuildHERE - sold! 110 Tdci Build HERE - sold! Passat Alltrack - 4x4, auto, 45mpg, gloriously comfortable - but not a Defender! |
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17th Mar 2010 9:22pm |
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| mse Member Since: 06 Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5038 
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Around here it can cost anything from £15 - £30 for tracking and adjustment.
Many will check for free and charge to adjust. Mike |
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17th Mar 2010 10:48pm |
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