Toe Alignment

[Moparfiend]

Gents I am having an issue setting up for toe alignment. I am for the first time trying to use two sheet metal plates with grease sandwiched. BUT ON TWO SLOW ROLL ON APPROACHES MY FRONT TIRES SLIDE.
I don’t want to lift the front end to put the car down on them obviously the springs won’t be correctly loaded.
Anyone use the grease plates and if so how do you get the car on them?

 

[Charged440]

Push it

 

[pnora]

I jacked mine up and put the plates under the tires. Then let it down and bounced the suspension up and down to settle it. No problems.

 

[gkent]

Go ahead and lift the car - when you lower it the greased plates will allow the wheels to slide outwards and find their comfort zone.

FWIW I did my rough alignment with the wheels dangling, a couple 2x4's and a laser level. And the car drives like a dream. So much so I haven't bothered to take it in for an actual alighment yet !!

 

[Moparfiend]

Thanks guys. So glad for everyone here as I work alone. Merry Christmas almost!

 

[RJ Squirrel]

Two pieces of 10 mil visqueen with grease between them works too- easy to roll the car on

 

[Bird 426]

You shouldn't even need grease plates to set toe in. At least, I don't. I just back the car up a few feet, pull forward and measure. Repeat till you are happy.

 

[Kern Dog]

This topic covers just about everything you'd need to do an alignment at home:

Alignment at home and aftermarket UCAS too.

 

[Moparfiend]

Two pieces of 10 mil visqueen with grease between them works too- easy to roll the car on

I actually started with garbage bags with grease in it. Worked until the grease reacted with the plastic having a sticking effect rendering useless. I haven’t worked with Visqeeen and will need to see what that stuff is.

 

[Moparfiend]

While were on the subject I just noticed the front wheels do not hang any where near level. The passenger side comes up first way sooner. I am lifting in the center if the K frame.

Is this normal?

 

[Kern Dog]

From left to right, there could be some differences to cause that.
* Improperly matched shocks, left to right.
* Bent or damaged shock on one side.
* Bent parts....UCA, LCA, strut rod or bad strut rod bushings.
* UCA mounts tightened on one side with car in the air, other side with car on ground.
* Worn out UCA bushings on one side.
* Missing upper bumpstop on drivers side.

 

[AR67GTX]

I have turn plates but unless I’m doing more than toe I don’t mess with them. For toe I make an adjustment, roll the car back and then roll it back forward and re-measure. If I need to lift the front a little to get to the tie rods, I make an adjustment, drop the car back down, bounce the front a couple times, roll it back and then roll it back forward to re-measure.

 

[dadsbee]

..and I'd guess the PASSENGER side lifted first there !

 

[Moparfiend]

..and I'd guess the PASSENGER side lifted first there !

Yup

 

[R413]

It looks like the pass side suspension does not hang down. Disconnect the shock and try again.

You can adjust the toe on dry ground. Just roll the car back and forth a few feet so tires relax

 

[Moparfiend]

Simple question does toe adjustment on the left effect right and visa versa?

 

[Moparfiend]

Because it is on mine which I assume is how the armature works.

 

[Moparfiend]

From left to right, there could be some differences to cause that.
* Improperly matched shocks, left to right.
* Bent or damaged shock on one side.
* Bent parts....UCA, LCA, strut rod or bad strut rod bushings.
* UCA mounts tightened on one side with car in the air, other side with car on ground.
* Worn out UCA bushings on one side.
* Missing upper bumpstop on drivers side.

Thanks for being so detailed here KD. I did a complete front end rebuild. Everything is new. I know this doesn’t necessarily mean everything new is good especially these days.
I will need to debug this from easy to difficult. It was just suggested that I remove the shocks which is easy enough.

 

[Kern Dog]

Pay attention to the upper control arm cam bolts.
If the right side was tightened with the car on the ground and the left was in done in the air, it would make a difference in theory.

 

[Moparfiend]

Pay attention to the upper control arm cam bolts.
If the right side was tightened with the car on the ground and the left was in done in the air, it would make a difference in theory.

I can’t adjust toe movement out on the driver side. So there is something wrong.

If indeed its the UCA not tightened correctly I believe I would need to reset them again just to make sure thats not the issue.?.