How to make rear wheel alignment at home
After repairing the vehicle's chassis, it is necessary to adjust the toe-in of the rear wheels. This is one of those tasks that you don't need to be a professional auto mechanic to perform. You can make alignments yourself without specialized equipment.
Toe is adjusted first on one wheel, then on the second. It is best that the car is not jacked up. First you need to pull the cord between the front and rear wheels on the right or left.
It is important that the rope passes through the center of the hubs. From the front of the car it can be hooked onto the tow hook, and from the rear onto the towbar, mudguard or other protrusion.
After this, by turning the steering wheel, you need to set the front wheel straight so that it runs parallel to the string. That is, in the rear part the front wheel should reach it with a slight touch.
Since the front and rear axles of the car have different widths, this must be taken into account. Information on the wheelbase size can be found in the owner's manual for the vehicle being serviced.The front wheelbase in the example car is 1580 mm, and the rear wheelbase is 1565 mm. Thus, the front wheel should ideally be extended relative to the rear by 7.5 mm. It should be taken into account that the use of spacers changes the wheelbase. If they are installed, then based on their width you need to recalculate the base. So, if there is a spacer of 12 mm in front and 3 mm in the rear, then the rear wheel is recessed relative to the front by 16.5 mm.
Next you need to bend 2 pieces of wire into an “G” shape. Marks are made on their stem 16.5 mm from the edge. The result is a primitive tool that allows you to control the toe-in of the rear wheel relative to the front, compensating for the difference in width.
For further adjustment, it is ideal to invite an assistant. It will monitor, along a thread running parallel to the front wheel, the actual clearance to the rear wheel. It is necessary that it is 16.5 mm along the sidewall of the tire in the front and rear.
This can be achieved by rotating the toe bolts. The other side is regulated in a similar way.
The proposed adjustment method allows you to set the toe even in the field. Ideally, place the car above the inspection hole. If you lift it on a lift, then the lack of load on the levers will create a small error.
Required tools:
- twine or cord;
- wire;
- a set of spanners or sockets.
Toe adjustment
Toe is adjusted first on one wheel, then on the second. It is best that the car is not jacked up. First you need to pull the cord between the front and rear wheels on the right or left.
It is important that the rope passes through the center of the hubs. From the front of the car it can be hooked onto the tow hook, and from the rear onto the towbar, mudguard or other protrusion.
After this, by turning the steering wheel, you need to set the front wheel straight so that it runs parallel to the string. That is, in the rear part the front wheel should reach it with a slight touch.
Since the front and rear axles of the car have different widths, this must be taken into account. Information on the wheelbase size can be found in the owner's manual for the vehicle being serviced.The front wheelbase in the example car is 1580 mm, and the rear wheelbase is 1565 mm. Thus, the front wheel should ideally be extended relative to the rear by 7.5 mm. It should be taken into account that the use of spacers changes the wheelbase. If they are installed, then based on their width you need to recalculate the base. So, if there is a spacer of 12 mm in front and 3 mm in the rear, then the rear wheel is recessed relative to the front by 16.5 mm.
Next you need to bend 2 pieces of wire into an “G” shape. Marks are made on their stem 16.5 mm from the edge. The result is a primitive tool that allows you to control the toe-in of the rear wheel relative to the front, compensating for the difference in width.
For further adjustment, it is ideal to invite an assistant. It will monitor, along a thread running parallel to the front wheel, the actual clearance to the rear wheel. It is necessary that it is 16.5 mm along the sidewall of the tire in the front and rear.
This can be achieved by rotating the toe bolts. The other side is regulated in a similar way.
The proposed adjustment method allows you to set the toe even in the field. Ideally, place the car above the inspection hole. If you lift it on a lift, then the lack of load on the levers will create a small error.
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