Easy way to check for toe-in? Options

[TonyAKAVW]

I just received tires today to replace my front tires, which have worn on the inside much faster than the outside. My rear tires still have a lot of tread, whereas the fronts are basically bald on the inside. My guess is that its either toe-in or camber. The wheels don't look cambered any more than the back, though the front of the car does sit a bit lower than the back.

So my question is, is there a way to easily check to see if the front has too much toe-in? I was thinking about rigging up some laser pointers or something, but I don't know.

I would like to avoid getting an alignment because later this year I'll be putting on my carerra front suspension. For now I'd just like to prevent premature wear of the tires.

Tony

[John]

The two easiest methods I could let the typical home mechanic with typical tools would be:

A. The string method of wheel alignment. Using 4 jackstands, string, tape measure, straight edge, and a ruler.

There are threads describing this in detail, but the jist is to locate the centerline of the car and mark it on the ground. Measure outward from this line to a point very close to the wheels on each side. Mark out lnes using these points. The lnes should be parallel with the centerline of the car. Place the jackstands ahead and behind the car on these lines.

Tie the strings to the jackstands so that the strings are close to the center of the wheels on each side of the car. These should also be parallel with the centerline of the car. You can then measure the distance between the front of the wheel rim and the string and measure the distance between the rear of the wheel rim and the string. This will measure the toe in (larger number at the front of the rim) or toe-out (smaller number at the front of the rim).

B. Using two pieces sheet metal bent into an L shape. The larger the better. One leg of the L should be at least as high as the centerline of the rim. The other leg should be long enough that the L can stand by itself. The L should be long enough that it touches the tire or rim at the front and the back of the wheel.

The L shape should have two slots (for a tape measure) near the intersection of the two legs. One at the front and one at the rear.

Place one L shape at each of the front tires so that they are tight aganst the rim or tire at the front and back. Measure directly across the front of the L shapes (using the slots helps to do this with only one person). Measure across the rear of the L shapes.

The difference between the two measurements will give you an indicaton of total toe. Larger number in front = toe out. Smaller number in front = toe in.

You want just a bit of toe-in. You probably don't want zero toe or toe out. The cars are twitchy that way.



There is no substitute for a computerzed 4-wheel alignment performed by a well trained and hard working alignment specialist. I don't trust anyone so I bought my own alignment machine. I can make changes to the setup and verify results and don't have to pay $75-$100 each time. (The machne has paid for itself)