DIY Strings Alignment Setup Options

[yeahmag]

This was built using 80/20 hardware and a friend of mine on the mill:

[Andyrew]

String alignment works great for toe in/out, but IMHO I dont see it helping with camber or caster...

I use 2 4x4's and a tape measure and a buddy... Then drive to the alignment shop and pay the man $50 to tell me I did it right and give me a printout of camber/caster/toe/"walk". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I also use a bubble camber guage... Cross between the two below.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Aluminu...=item2eb4cc14e1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tenhulzen-A...=item4aab1e936e

[SirAndy]

I use 2 4x4's and a tape measure and a buddy... Then drive to the alignment shop and pay the man $50 to tell me I did it right and give me a printout of camber/caster/toe/"walk". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The problem with that is that a two wheel alignment does not ensure the whole car is square.

We use camber plates at the track for quick setups, but you're only setting the front or the rear at any given time.

If the car is not squared, you'll be crabbing down the road ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Andyrew]

I use 2 4x4's and a tape measure and a buddy... Then drive to the alignment shop and pay the man $50 to tell me I did it right and give me a printout of camber/caster/toe/"walk". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The problem with that is that a two wheel alignment does not ensure the whole car is square.

We use camber plates at the track for quick setups, but you're only setting the front or the rear at any given time.

If the car is not squared, you'll be crabbing down the road ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

Which is why you go to the alignment shop that has lazers and pay the men 50 bucks to do the car the rest of the way... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The 4x4 method works great for those quick jobs if you just did something and need to drive somewhere. I just dont see how a string method will do the car to the level that a daily driver should be at to prevent premature tire wear.

[Dave_Darling]

I just dont see how a string method will do the car to the level that a daily driver should be at to prevent premature tire wear.

As long as you get the strings referenced to the actual centerline if the car, you can get it as good with strings as you can with lasers. In fact, you get the exact same problem with the lasers; they have to be referenced to the centerline of the car to make sure the car doesn't crab.

The track widths are completely irrelevant, you measure the tire (or the wheel) against the centerline, not the front wheel against the back wheel.

--DD

[mrbubblehead]

I just dont see how a string method will do the car to the level that a daily driver should be at to prevent premature tire wear.

As long as you get the strings referenced to the actual centerline if the car, you can get it as good with strings as you can with lasers. In fact, you get the exact same problem with the lasers; they have to be referenced to the centerline of the car to make sure the car doesn't crab.

The track widths are completely irrelevant, you measure the tire (or the wheel) against the centerline, not the front wheel against the back wheel.

--DD

so how is the best way to find the center line of the care.

[SirAndy]

As long as you get the strings referenced to the actual centerline if the car, you can get it as good with strings as you can with lasers. In fact, you get the exact same problem with the lasers; they have to be referenced to the centerline of the car to make sure the car doesn't crab.

The track widths are completely irrelevant, you measure the tire (or the wheel) against the centerline, not the front wheel against the back wheel.

so how is the best way to find the center line of the car.

You simply use the strings.
Measure the distance from the string to the wheel hub in the front left and right until they are even.
Then measure the distance from the string to the wheel hub in the rear left and right until they are even.
Double check front and rear until both are even left/right (Equal numbers per axle).
At that point, the strings are parallel to the car and have equal distance from the centerline.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)