"Just to try to clear up a little confusion on several recent postings:
When wheel alignment specs say, for example, +1/8 inch, they mean that if=
a
center line were to be drawn around the tire, the distance between the
lines =
at the front of the tire would be 1/8 inch greater than the distance
between =
the lines at the rear of the tire. This in known as +1/8" toe (or some
would =
say 1/8" toe out).
Some have posted the toe out as "1/16" each side" which is the same thing=
as =
+1/8 inch toe. So to be consistent we should all try to just use +1/16
inch, =
or +1/8 inch, or - 1/16 inch, etc., which means the total toe in or toe o=
ut
of both tires together."
Sorry Emery I was not trying to confuse........rather I was trying
to clarify.
While I agree that it can be very accurate to measure across
the pair of wheels (and in fact the alignment shops have a
measuring stick used for this purpose.) It is important to know
what each wheel is doing. If one wheel were toed out 1/4" and
the other wheel was toed in 1/4" the result of measuring across
the pair would be 0 toe.
Although in the above example 0 toe would be a true answer
it is an answer that could result in tire scrubbing, or if the other
axle was similarily misaligned dog tracking.
The above is not just theoretical. It is similar to the way mine
was when it went into the shop.
Therefore many times during the process it is important to get
ones mind around what an individual wheel is doing..........not
just the total toe across a pair of wheels.
When aligning mine I used the numbers generated by the alignment
shop as the starting point for adjustments. These numbers were
calculated from the centerline of the coach. A second calculation
performed by the machine translates that into total toe for the pair
of wheels.
During this process only once I was happy with the toe based on a
string down the coach (similar concept to the alignment machine
check from center line) did I check the total toe across the pair of
wheels.
Therefore for everything but the final check I was looking for 1/2 the
final dimmension.
Sorry if I confused anyone.
I sure wish I lived closer to Jim Bounds. Sure would have saved me
a lot of work.
Regards
Gary Zingle
1973 GMC 26 foot
When wheel alignment specs say, for example, +1/8 inch, they mean that if=
a
center line were to be drawn around the tire, the distance between the
lines =
at the front of the tire would be 1/8 inch greater than the distance
between =
the lines at the rear of the tire. This in known as +1/8" toe (or some
would =
say 1/8" toe out).
Some have posted the toe out as "1/16" each side" which is the same thing=
as =
+1/8 inch toe. So to be consistent we should all try to just use +1/16
inch, =
or +1/8 inch, or - 1/16 inch, etc., which means the total toe in or toe o=
ut
of both tires together."
Sorry Emery I was not trying to confuse........rather I was trying
to clarify.
While I agree that it can be very accurate to measure across
the pair of wheels (and in fact the alignment shops have a
measuring stick used for this purpose.) It is important to know
what each wheel is doing. If one wheel were toed out 1/4" and
the other wheel was toed in 1/4" the result of measuring across
the pair would be 0 toe.
Although in the above example 0 toe would be a true answer
it is an answer that could result in tire scrubbing, or if the other
axle was similarily misaligned dog tracking.
The above is not just theoretical. It is similar to the way mine
was when it went into the shop.
Therefore many times during the process it is important to get
ones mind around what an individual wheel is doing..........not
just the total toe across a pair of wheels.
When aligning mine I used the numbers generated by the alignment
shop as the starting point for adjustments. These numbers were
calculated from the centerline of the coach. A second calculation
performed by the machine translates that into total toe for the pair
of wheels.
During this process only once I was happy with the toe based on a
string down the coach (similar concept to the alignment machine
check from center line) did I check the total toe across the pair of
wheels.
Therefore for everything but the final check I was looking for 1/2 the
final dimmension.
Sorry if I confused anyone.
I sure wish I lived closer to Jim Bounds. Sure would have saved me
a lot of work.
Regards
Gary Zingle
1973 GMC 26 foot
