Home made alignment
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
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Home made alignment
Gentlemen,
This is so cool, I'm as happy as a pig in mud.
My aero, like many cars, pulled slightly to the right (or left). Not quite enough for me to take a trip to the alignment shop and possible mess it up more but annoying on trips.
Since it pulled right (homed in on telephone poles) , I reasoned that more caster, tilt of the top of axis to rear of right tire OR lessening this tilt on left tire was in order. Verified through google.
I don't know if all are the same but mine has cam bolts on the top control arms. I loosened the lock nuts and turned cam bolt to effect said movement. I moved front and rear cams in opposite directions to disturb other angles as little as possible and I believe I accomplished this.
I made my adjustment in two steps with a test drive in the middle. First adjustment was an improvement, the second was spot on.
Now I don't recommend this for major alignment problems (wall-eyed, pidgeon-toed,etc) but there is no reason to fear this type of simple adjustment.
I moved the axis at the ball joint approx 3/8 inch rearward on the right side.
Since the tie rod is in plane with the lower joint, I don't think this changed much.
Fear Not,
Ken
This is so cool, I'm as happy as a pig in mud.
My aero, like many cars, pulled slightly to the right (or left). Not quite enough for me to take a trip to the alignment shop and possible mess it up more but annoying on trips.
Since it pulled right (homed in on telephone poles) , I reasoned that more caster, tilt of the top of axis to rear of right tire OR lessening this tilt on left tire was in order. Verified through google.
I don't know if all are the same but mine has cam bolts on the top control arms. I loosened the lock nuts and turned cam bolt to effect said movement. I moved front and rear cams in opposite directions to disturb other angles as little as possible and I believe I accomplished this.
I made my adjustment in two steps with a test drive in the middle. First adjustment was an improvement, the second was spot on.
Now I don't recommend this for major alignment problems (wall-eyed, pidgeon-toed,etc) but there is no reason to fear this type of simple adjustment.
I moved the axis at the ball joint approx 3/8 inch rearward on the right side.
Since the tie rod is in plane with the lower joint, I don't think this changed much.
Fear Not,
Ken
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,015
Likes: 208
From: SoCal
The other adjustment that affects pulling to one side is camber. Given all else the same, the car will pull toward the side with the more positive camber. If you can get lots of caster, say +4 to +5 degrees, you can get away with minimal amount of camber, say about -.75 degrees. This will improve straight line stability, cornering, as well as reduce tire wear. I'm not sure if the parts on an Aerostar will accommodate these settings.
Centering of steering is obviously a matter of adjusting the tie rod ends, as is toe-in. This is a compromise between stability and tire wear. It's possible to reduce toe-in by adding more caster.
Centering of steering is obviously a matter of adjusting the tie rod ends, as is toe-in. This is a compromise between stability and tire wear. It's possible to reduce toe-in by adding more caster.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,242
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
I tried to did it at home, but here it's costs $20 to rent a laser tool and I prefere more accurate ways. I tried to do it with measure band! It works! But tires are expensive too! Lets save it!
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
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Definitely use the most accurate method. Mine was a rather simple adjustment but the main point I have come away with is that we need not be afraid of this area of maintenance. The adjustments are rather large, not micrometer .004", etc. Since i have had alignments screwed up by shops with poor operators and never-been-calibrated equipment, I gave it a try with good results.
Ken
Ken
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 1
From: Mitchell, SD
Another way to check the aliagnment is to "borrow" some of your kids sidewalk chalk and trace the outline of all four tires. This will give you an idea of your aliagnment.
Another method is to take a standard tape measurer and measure from the same tread spot between the two tires, front of the tire and back of the tire and see if the # is the same.
Another method is to take a standard tape measurer and measure from the same tread spot between the two tires, front of the tire and back of the tire and see if the # is the same.
