Feel like making a wheel aligment gauge?
Discussion
just wondered how difficult this would be or if anyone has ideas on any clever plans for it.
I have an old four wheel alignment but its not very consistent and has trouble with low slung cars or wheel diameters above 16".
It also relies on a calculator as the deviation is measured in cm. This is because the scale will change dependant on the width of the car.
I recent saw a clever but simple track right gauge which is measured in minutes of arc because it negates the width of the vehicle by zero'ing on one side, and then using the sitting 1m away from the measured side, and that constant distance allows the scale to be an angle.
Only works on two wheels at a time but the trick it uses would negate having to use a calculator.
So the question is, has anyone seen a laser system which works on four wheels but the system measures angle by some clever trick?
I have just bought ten lasers on ebay so I'm hoping PH will deliver in terms of ideas? I will fabricate the best idea
I have an old four wheel alignment but its not very consistent and has trouble with low slung cars or wheel diameters above 16".
It also relies on a calculator as the deviation is measured in cm. This is because the scale will change dependant on the width of the car.
I recent saw a clever but simple track right gauge which is measured in minutes of arc because it negates the width of the vehicle by zero'ing on one side, and then using the sitting 1m away from the measured side, and that constant distance allows the scale to be an angle.
Only works on two wheels at a time but the trick it uses would negate having to use a calculator.
So the question is, has anyone seen a laser system which works on four wheels but the system measures angle by some clever trick?
I have just bought ten lasers on ebay so I'm hoping PH will deliver in terms of ideas? I will fabricate the best idea
Well theres the thing. Everyone knows how to string a car, or at least the friend of a friend knows how to string a car and its always perfect compared to the lazer pukka shop one.
Truth is it really isn't. When you look at the combined errors involed in a string and a ruler you would have a possible +-1mm error on a sixteen inch wheel. Thats 2mm over about 400mm distance or about +-17 mins of arc by my fag packet maths for each measurement.
An error so large it makes a nonsense of the system.
I might use it to set up a shed, but I wouldn't use it on my pride and joy.
Furthermore the last two times I had tracking done for me was at BMW and Jaguars. When I left BMW the car was pulling to the right, and when I left Jaguars the steering wheel was on a twenty degree angle to the right for straight ahead driving!
Quite happy to do it myself, I am an enthusiast after all, just want to know if anyones actually made something unique and wants to share ideas
Truth is it really isn't. When you look at the combined errors involed in a string and a ruler you would have a possible +-1mm error on a sixteen inch wheel. Thats 2mm over about 400mm distance or about +-17 mins of arc by my fag packet maths for each measurement.
An error so large it makes a nonsense of the system.
I might use it to set up a shed, but I wouldn't use it on my pride and joy.
Furthermore the last two times I had tracking done for me was at BMW and Jaguars. When I left BMW the car was pulling to the right, and when I left Jaguars the steering wheel was on a twenty degree angle to the right for straight ahead driving!
Quite happy to do it myself, I am an enthusiast after all, just want to know if anyones actually made something unique and wants to share ideas
In my experience, laser alignment rigs are usually limited by he skill of the operator. I'm absolutely certain that I could get a car more accurate using fishing line and ali box section than the average garage with a Hunter machine manages.
A really good garage using a Hunter machine, can be vastly more accurate than I'd ever hope to be, though.
A really good garage using a Hunter machine, can be vastly more accurate than I'd ever hope to be, though.
julian64 said:
Muncher said:
How do you work out a +/- 1mm error on a 16 inch wheel? I have used the kite string method several times and I think it's pretty accurate!
What are you using the measure the distance from the wheel rim to your string? Maybe I've got it wrong?julian64 said:
What are you using the measure the distance from the wheel rim to your string? Maybe I've got it wrong?
Firstly you should using fishing line or fine kite string to give you a very thin line, then you use a ruler with 0.5mm graduations on, which even then you can easily measure to 0.25mm. I can't see why you would want to get any more accurate than that for a road car.I did toe on my trike using 2m long square section ally tubing. At one end clamped to the wheel rim, at the other rested on a third ally bar (at 45 degrees, so resting on the corner to reduce friction).
Once the whole system was level, I set the toe up, then dismantled and re-assembled the whole rig to check. I was 2mm out on the measurement at taken at the far end of the 2 meter long bars. Close enough.
Once the whole system was level, I set the toe up, then dismantled and re-assembled the whole rig to check. I was 2mm out on the measurement at taken at the far end of the 2 meter long bars. Close enough.
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