You can keep the car/truck on a jack with most of the weight on the jack, but put jack stands on the control arms and lower it down slightly onto those to load the suspension to simulate where it would sit when the vehicle is on the ground.
"How accurate are these" Thought maybe it was a video using the product and then taking it to a competent alignment shop for comparison. Instead, just another guy with channel locks tightening his lug nuts to hold the them on and demonstrating how to use a tape measure. Seems super accurate. Good job.
I had just gotten an alignment done the day before and I was seeing how well it would come out if I was to do it with the tools. I had a print out of what it was so I was seeing how close it would come with tape measures. Sorry if you didn’t understand the video it was all explained right in the beginning.
Unfortunately you can’t. The suspension is supposed to be loaded with the weight of the vehicle on it when doing the alignment on a ifs suspension. I have seen some like this that have stand with wheels built in so you can, but the price starts getting pretty high for them.
@turbot6592 it will get you closer but there will be a degree of error because the weight is not at the same point as the wheel. The leverage will make a difference, whether it’s a big difference or how drastic it will be I’m not sure. I know just the small surface rust on the rotor threw off my measurement. It will probably get you close but I’m not sure how off it would be. I have some Chevys and I was wondering the same thing? The tool maker does say it will not work for ifs though.
I’m not exactly sure. I would think if the wheel is not exactly straight the wheels would keep the same tow measurement, but I didn’t experiment with it much. You could run a string line from the rear to the front and measure off of it to verify the wheels are straight after the tow is set and then adjust the link to the pitman arm. It’s a bit backwards but it’s probably the way I would do it. I got my steering wheel pretty straight like that before I went to the alignment shop. With this t style steering linkage the tow is separate from the steering wheel being straight so you can tweak the adjuster to get the wheel where you want it later if it’s off.
I accidentally said the toe spec was 10 degrees but it is actually 0.10 degrees.
i take it you then converted this to mm for the size of the tool (how far apart the slots are for the tape measure on each toe plate).
I didn’t use mm I used an inch measurement. Our tape measures are In inches here.
so did you convert 0.10 to inches? as it looked like you were going for parallel @@JasonTheMunicipalMechanic
You can keep the car/truck on a jack with most of the weight on the jack, but put jack stands on the control arms and lower it down slightly onto those to load the suspension to simulate where it would sit when the vehicle is on the ground.
Bro been following since the start of the Ram cab conversion and have valued all the knowledge. Stay well and thank you.
Thank you. I appreciate your support.
"How accurate are these"
Thought maybe it was a video using the product and then taking it to a competent alignment shop for comparison. Instead, just another guy with channel locks tightening his lug nuts to hold the them on and demonstrating how to use a tape measure. Seems super accurate. Good job.
I had just gotten an alignment done the day before and I was seeing how well it would come out if I was to do it with the tools. I had a print out of what it was so I was seeing how close it would come with tape measures. Sorry if you didn’t understand the video it was all explained right in the beginning.
Pretty slick.
It should make replacing tie rod ends easier to get aligned. Even if it’s to just get it close to get to have it done somewhere.
Can you use toe plates on a independent front suspension
Unfortunately you can’t. The suspension is supposed to be loaded with the weight of the vehicle on it when doing the alignment on a ifs suspension. I have seen some like this that have stand with wheels built in so you can, but the price starts getting pretty high for them.
@JasonTheMunicipalMechanic if I put a jack under the control arm near the rotor would that work. Thanks
@turbot6592 it will get you closer but there will be a degree of error because the weight is not at the same point as the wheel. The leverage will make a difference, whether it’s a big difference or how drastic it will be I’m not sure. I know just the small surface rust on the rotor threw off my measurement. It will probably get you close but I’m not sure how off it would be. I have some Chevys and I was wondering the same thing? The tool maker does say it will not work for ifs though.
how finicky do you think it is with regard to how well the steering is pointing straight ahead?
I’m not exactly sure. I would think if the wheel is not exactly straight the wheels would keep the same tow measurement, but I didn’t experiment with it much. You could run a string line from the rear to the front and measure off of it to verify the wheels are straight after the tow is set and then adjust the link to the pitman arm. It’s a bit backwards but it’s probably the way I would do it. I got my steering wheel pretty straight like that before I went to the alignment shop. With this t style steering linkage the tow is separate from the steering wheel being straight so you can tweak the adjuster to get the wheel where you want it later if it’s off.
10 degree toe??? You would never get out of the driveway. How about 0.10 degrees.
Oops. I didn’t notice the .
Metric system is quicker and easier when taking more precise measurements.