Saw this online today, very useful hack for checking your own alignment after a pothole impact or just a regular check up. I will be doing this after spending a large chunk of change on new tires since my bad alignment wore out the old set in 10k miles.
1: park on flat ground, wheels straight.
2: stick a straight pin slightly into the back side of each front tire, below the ground clearance height.
3: throw a tape measure under the car and measure the distance between the two pins as accurately as you can (best to have a helper)
4: roll car forward until the pins are on the front of the tires, below ground clearance again
5: measure the distance again, the difference between the two measurements should be as close to zero as possible, and if its not, get an alignment before you burn off your tires!
DIY alignment check up
You can just use the same place on the tread pattern and avoid the pins and rolling time.
With most tires having circumferential grooves these days, it's especially easy.
Also, the distance should NOT be zero, there should be some small amount of toe in.
You can also check camber, the other tire wear aspect of alignment by using a framing square on the ground and measuring to the bottom and top of the rim.
I've done my own alignment a number of times on the truck after taking things apart. I have found these days that you have to have the alignment close of the alignment machine operators (note I did NOT say alignment technicians) at most shops won't be able to get it right. So long as it's close and they don't have to deal with the interaction between major adjustments of camber, caster, and toe, they can do a decent job.
With most tires having circumferential grooves these days, it's especially easy.
Also, the distance should NOT be zero, there should be some small amount of toe in.
You can also check camber, the other tire wear aspect of alignment by using a framing square on the ground and measuring to the bottom and top of the rim.
I've done my own alignment a number of times on the truck after taking things apart. I have found these days that you have to have the alignment close of the alignment machine operators (note I did NOT say alignment technicians) at most shops won't be able to get it right. So long as it's close and they don't have to deal with the interaction between major adjustments of camber, caster, and toe, they can do a decent job.
2011 Sport SLS with nav Black Pearl Metallic
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11zukizashi
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:03 am
I'm not sure if i would trust the dimensional tolerance of the rubber tread from one side to the other after its been worn down to be as accurate as a tiny pin that you know should be rotating on a plane perpendicular to the axle
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11zukizashi
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:03 am
Who said I was trying to set the alignment? I posted a way to check if its in or out. I wouldnt try to set it unless my wheels were pointing 90 degrees to each other...