Frt suspension/alignment question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 570
Likes: 65
From: Sebastian,FL
Frt suspension/alignment question
So with spring coming, (I hope, 70 yesterday snow today) I've nearly finished everything with the frt suspension rebuild. My question is this, when I changed the tie rod ends I just counted the number of turns. Is this good enough for the alignment to drive it about 20 miles to the shop that will be doing the alignment or is there something else I should do before?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 598
So with spring coming, (I hope, 70 yesterday snow today) I've nearly finished everything with the frt suspension rebuild. My question is this, when I changed the tie rod ends I just counted the number of turns. Is this good enough for the alignment to drive it about 20 miles to the shop that will be doing the alignment or is there something else I should do before?
But depending on how worn the parts were to begin with it is likely the new parts + setting back as close as possible will be out.
In 20 miles it is unlikely they will wear enough to cause problems.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
"Counting turns" is an acceptable way to get tire TOE in the right neighborhood, so that you can get it to an alignment shop (just to set TOE properly). But, not good enough to save your tires and get a 'true' steering set-up. There is considerable difference in any two tie rods. They are cast and casting tolerances are liberal; machining threads may start at a different place on the part; etc.
As mentioned above, if you had a GOOD way to measure from the pivot center to the end of the adjustment collar, you might do better. But, I think it best to just get the TOE set correctly.
P.S. C3's (and other small cars with wide tires) need a little bit of TOE-IN to keep the car from 'hunting'. Set toe-IN to 3/32" +/- 1/32". Do not let them set the toe to "neutral" position (zero toe).
As mentioned above, if you had a GOOD way to measure from the pivot center to the end of the adjustment collar, you might do better. But, I think it best to just get the TOE set correctly.
P.S. C3's (and other small cars with wide tires) need a little bit of TOE-IN to keep the car from 'hunting'. Set toe-IN to 3/32" +/- 1/32". Do not let them set the toe to "neutral" position (zero toe).
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 570
Likes: 65
From: Sebastian,FL
