rithsleeper

After my frustration with only one shop being able to get both my Corvette and RX on a rack I decided to start doing it myself. After some info from your guys and watching Foggy's video I saw what he was doing. After discovering the bars he used were over $450!!!!!!, I said I'll make my own. Its not quite the same but its better than fiddling with jackstands. $50 of metal and two hours later I have one side done.

Update: Finally got back around to finishing the tool. so you can see the string in the pic, I put a big rope. I did an alignment on my dunebuggy really quick to get a feel for it and it works really well. It's a simple tool so not much can go wrong....

I realize we have the skeptics and I realize there are prob easier methods but I figure if the pros do it this way and it only takes me a few hours to make, it isn't that big of a deal. Gives me an excuse to do man stuff with a welder. One step closer to completely eliminating anyone from ever touching my car that I don't trust.

Supercharged111

Can you post an action shot? I'm not quite visualizing how this would work. Wondering if it's substantially easier to use than my toe bar.

rithsleeper

Like I said its only one side so im going to finish tomorrow. Basically I will place this parallel with the front and rear bumper, then tie a string that runs parallel to the rims. Then adjust the circular pipe to make the string identical distance from the hubs. Then measure distances to rim sides and do my 4 wheel alignment.

Ill snap a pic if I get it set up tomorrow.

fatbillybob

You don't need any of that big stuff

Two tape measures
L rule
Flat rule
Laser level
1/8" home depot 12x12 tile squares
Scales
Two pieces angle iron

froggy47

Nice work, as you have figured out, it doesn't really matter if the strings are attached to the car a la smart strings, or it they are suspended from any kind of non attached (to the car) stands.

But the car has to be "up" somehow to reach under & do adjustments.

Click below & search alignment to find the vid I did (for everyone else).

Keep us posted on your progress & nice welds.

Rob31

I bought some toe plates on Fleabay , two tapemeasures 50.00 tadaaa

rithsleeper

Great, im glad they work for you. I wanted string alignment because thats what the big guys use, I can set front to rear, and it works on all rims and tires even if the mid of the rim protrudes. Plus i love making things like this and not just buying it. It adds more to my sense of accomplishment.

It was really cold out today so I whimped out and didnt finish. Hopefully it will happen sometime this week.

Rob31

Not knockin your tools ...
To set front to rear "square it all up I use a lazer level and two steel rulers .

Still Id like to see how yours works .

sperkins

I like your enthusiasm, but I'll bet all that stuff ends up in the scrap pile soon. A couple of toe plates, tape measures and a laser level is really all you need.

Bill32

Setting up alignment bars to the hubs is the wrong way to do it.

The strings need to be parallel to the C/L of the chassis. And the attachment points for the suspension need to be checked against thet C/L.

Supercharged111

And since that sounds like such a huge pain in the ***, I've always checked my wheels relative to one another instead. Sucks when it takes a million attempts to get the steering wheel straight. Also sucks not knowing if the back is centered on the chassis or not. I tried with the string method off the hubs once, and followed up a couple days later with my newly constructed toe bar and felt I got much, much better results. This is one end of the tool checking rear toe on my Corolla after I freed it from the junkyard.



That said, I do believe the hotshots use the string method. I'm inclined to thinking they measure their suspension relative to the centerline and keep those numbers handy to calculate trackside alignment adjustments.

Bill32

The pros in sports racing (ALMS) and Open Wheel use lasers in the shop, Yea always on the C/L.
But they also carry alignment bars to the track for the string because the setup on these is like 5 minutes. Lasers take too long.

Even some production based cars have alignment bar setups. But all these attach to the car.

It takes some time to get the bars set up right the first time. After that, its a 5 minute deal.

RogerT

I wonder if I can make something like this with PVC pipe.

Roger T

Bill32

You could but, it won't work well for all the reasons above.

rithsleeper

updated to final product