alignment trial

[bipolaroller]

i just replaced my front beam to a narrower one.ive read some info on different methods of aligning,but im haveing a hard time understanding how you guys do it running string lines and stuff.do the lines run off of the chassis parallel to its center frnt to rear,or just lines parellel to each other close as possible to chassis parallels??my idea was, set my steering box on center and square off the front beam and align the tires that way.in theory the tires should be 90 degrees of the beam.anyone tried this?see any pros or cons??it will get a proper alignment down at my local shop,but u guys think this will be close enough to get it 9 miles into town?
_________________
"im triing to finish,but forgot what i have done"
"yes,I used the search button"

[hsosa1]

good topic. always wondered how the slammed crowd align there rides.
_________________
Just Cruzin Sur Califas VW Car Club est♤1998

[ladybug89]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=259397&highlight=caster+shims

you do need the front of the tires to have alittle toe-in, so your 90degree idea might not work that well
_________________
1958 bug - 1958 baja - 1962 vert - 2000 Golf

[drscope]

I've heard of some of the low cars not being able to get onto the alignment rack. You may need to find a shop that has a pit type rack and not an elevated one.

But if you use the string and you are careful, you can get it dead nuts on and you won't have to take it anywhere else.
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[bipolaroller]

[SlowSeventy]

What up Wakeem!

How much caster/camber/general alignment change is there from sittin on the bumpstops to bags fully inflated?

What ride hieght do you have it aligned at?

I will call 158th tomorrow and see if Russ is still around, he would be the dude you would want to do it. He knows when to put 'the book' down and set it like you want it. I will let you know.

ltr

[bipolaroller]

[glandnut]

Two yard sticks works for me (front).
I roll it up on the rhino ramps so I have room to slide under and adjust the tie rods. Roll it off and back on to double check. I end up using the inside of the rims to square the ends of the yardsticks instead of the inner wall of the tires.
_________________
Looking for aluminum single port Kadron manifolds.

[Mark]

[FireBug1966]

I'd love it if someone was energetic enough to do a youtube video of the various DIY alignment methods.

[lownslo]

I use wodden dowels from the hardware store, put the car on ramps, tape the dowls to the wheels, measure at the base of tires, between the dowls ,and at the ends, between thedowels. You want an 1/8 of toe in roughly, so you want your measurement at the end of the dowles to be 1/8 less than at the tires.

Its not totally accurate, but works if your too low to get it on a rack.

[Eurobug]

I use one long 2x2, the width of the car, with wood paneling attached to each end about the width of the tires and as tall as about halfway up the tires. I make a mark on both pieces of paneling next to a fixed spot on the rear of each tire. Then I move my contraption to the front of the tires and see where the marks are. I adjust accordingly. It's very easy actually, no strings no jack stands, no measureing tapes and no ramps. And it's all a one man opperation, I just have to go back and forth from each side of the car. I keep putting the contraption on the front and back of the tires until the marks are about 1/8 inch smaller on the front

[doubledoor64]

I use one of these

[Eurobug]

This is what I was talking about two posts earlier. This is Version 1.0. Version 2.0 will have the two end sections a little taller so they go further up the tire, to make the measurements more precise.

[Sid Vicious]

I've used the stretched string method and gotten pretty close. I have a little vibration at speed and that's why I'm asking this question:

If you have 1/8" difference front to back, how far should the end of the strings be from each other 10 feet in front of the car? That's a math equation I can't work out in my head...

This would depend on how wide your beam is, wheel offset, etc, but is there a simple equation you can just plug 'X' into, if 'X' is the distance from spindle end to spindle end?

[Joey]

[Eurobug]

[Joey]

I was distracted by the nice pictures...
_________________
Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[Eurobug]

No worries, I'm not sure how high I want to make it though. If I go too high it will be very difficult to see the markings when it is placed on the rear of the tires.

[Joey]

You figure it out and let us know.
_________________
Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle