looking for easy way to check toe-in

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dunoon
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looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by dunoon » Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:02 pm

What's the easiest way to check toe-'in? Thanks

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Steve Jelf
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by Steve Jelf » Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:30 pm

The inevitable often happens.
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JacolbEdwards
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by JacolbEdwards » Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:38 pm

I believe the book says to measure centerline to centerline in the front side half way up the tire and the back side half way up and there should be a 3” difference, the front should be 3” closer to each other


JacolbEdwards
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by JacolbEdwards » Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:40 pm

I stand corrected Steve’s post shows toe in at 1/4” camber at 3”


Norman Kling
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by Norman Kling » Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:12 pm

The way I do it is jack up the front wheels and spin, run a piece of chalk over the center of the tire as the wheel spins. Take a piece of wood with a nail in it, with the nail pointing upward toward the time and place it on the floor under the center of the tire, actually the nail should be enough above the bottom of the tire to allow you to scribe a mark in the chalk as you spin the tire. Then let the jack down and measure the distance between tires at front and at back. Most accurate would be to roll the car to turn the wheel one half turn and measure at the same place both in front and in back. You are limited as to where you can set the toe in because of the yoke at the end of the tie rod. I adjust to where both front and back are equal distance to zero toe in. Then turn the yoke to lengthen the rod till you get the location where you can install the bolt. I then tighten the bolt and jamb nut and install the cotter pin. It works for me. You can't get it any more accurate without bending something.
Norm

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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by CudaMan » Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:19 pm

"There is no easy way to check toe-in." - Euclid :)
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George House
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by George House » Thu Feb 21, 2019 5:12 pm

I’m liable to have learned something today. Although I’ve known of the 3/16”-1/4” gather, I’ve never checked for it like Norman and Steve with the front wheels jacked up off the floor. It just never instructed to in the Service Bulletin Essentials or the Model T Ford Service books.
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Norman Kling
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by Norman Kling » Thu Feb 21, 2019 5:56 pm

The car is to be jacked up to scribe the center with chalk, but it is on the ground when you actually do the measurement. An easier way without using the chalk and scribe would be to put a square on the wheel to the floor. Put masking tape at the point where the square touches the wheel in front and make a mark on the tape Then measure distance in front. Push the car to where the square meets the tape in the rear and measure. Same adjustment as above. The actual measurement is made with the car on the ground because you are measuring the toe in under actual condition in which it would be driven.
Norm

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tinman080
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by tinman080 » Fri Feb 22, 2019 5:12 am

Way toed out- vehicle wanders left and rt. Way toed in tires scuffing and slow to center. Wiggle the wheel a little and check again. Worn front end won't toe.
''Just Passin' Thru.....Slowly! :D

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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by VowellArt » Fri Feb 22, 2019 6:38 am

I made one also from one of those spring loaded twist shower curtain rods (they're cheap). Took it apart and measured from the one end and marked it off is inches. Added the length of the other end to whatever the expanding ends was at the inch marks to give the to total length when expanded to those points.

What you do is put it between the wheels and turn the expanding shaft until it meets your wheel (with the wheels straight). look at the place where it joins with the other half and take that reading (which should be the total length of the rod at that point). Then do the same from the rear side of the axle. This gives you the two values you need to figure the toe. Or you can build on like Steve Jelf's...a bit more fancy and unless you've got scrap materials laying around, probably a bit more pricey than the $9.95 I spent on that rod. :)
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Charlie B in N.J.
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by Charlie B in N.J. » Fri Feb 22, 2019 6:42 am

I use 2 tin/grease sandwiches. 1 under each front wheel. (2 pieces of "tin" with lube between). They allow the wheels to move giving a more exact reading. If alone Steve's tool is your best friend. If doing the chalk bit a breathing body next to you is a huge help.
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ABoer
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by ABoer » Fri Feb 22, 2019 9:49 am

I do it this way .
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by MichaelPawelek » Fri Feb 22, 2019 9:55 am

BAD.....
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BAD....
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GOOD.....
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JEC
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by JEC » Fri Feb 22, 2019 12:00 pm

A little Vicks Vapor rub under the toe nail will kill the fungus.


MichaelPawelek
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by MichaelPawelek » Fri Feb 22, 2019 12:48 pm

Dropped a piece of 4” metal irrigation pipe on that toe last year and am just getting the nail to grow all the way back out. It was a huge “ouch” when it happened......😩


D Stroud
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by D Stroud » Sat Feb 23, 2019 6:08 am

I had my Grandson hold the other end of the tape measure. Worked for me. John C., nope that doesn't work. Tried it for over a year, no change. :( Dave
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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by Original Smith » Sat Feb 23, 2019 9:39 pm

Some of you guys are getting a little carried away, and that's ok if you wish to do it that way. I too use a chalk line, but only put it on the tire on one place on each side. Then, I rotate the wheel 180 degrees and measure it again. No need to scribe the chalk line all the way around.


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Re: looking for easy way to check toe-in

Post by Dennis_Brown » Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:19 pm

I have always used a piece of 3/8 pipe with a round steel rod that slips inside. Drilled a hole in the side of the pipe and welded a nut on the outside so I could lock the rod inside it when I expanded it between the front inside of the tires on the sidewall. Place it about 1/2 way up the tires, lock it in place and then place it inside the tires behind the axle about the same height. You can measure it with a ruler at this point if need be. Works great for one person. Remember when changing the gap subtract thew measurement you want to set it at from the measurement you have and adjust half of the the excess and check again. If you adjust out the whole excess you will have just put the excess on the opposite side. You may want to jack up the wheels before you start and see if they are running true. If they are not then while they are jacked up use a heavy marking pencil or the edge of a screw driver on a block of wood and spin the wheel and place a mark around the face of the tires . Set the tires back on the ground and get someone to help you and measure from line to line both front and rear and write down your measurements and add or subtract what you have and you have your gap and adjust if needed.

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