Setting toe with string?

hipwell · Feb 26, 2017

Has anybody ever successfully set the toe using the string method?

It pains me to pay 40 quid for a hunter alignment when I could possibly do it myself.

What is the correct way to do it?

My basic understanding was. 4 Axel stands with a bit of string between front and rear.

Place rear one so the string is just touching the back of the rear wheel.
Place front one just in front of the front wheel and then adjust toe until the front of the front wheel just touches the string.

Is that correct? And is it going to get you anywhere near what a hunter system would manage?

imprezaworks · Feb 26, 2017

@Tony Hunter may know?

I have had a clio set up this way from a company called grinspeed

NorthloopCup · Feb 26, 2017

I've done it a couple of times, but I also have proper tracking gauges, so I use them instead. Piece of piss tbh.

cs_dave · Feb 26, 2017

NorthloopCup said:
I've done it a couple of times, but I also have proper tracking gauges, so I use them instead. Piece of piss tbh.

Wont spacers effect that tho being wider at the front to the rear?

NorthloopCup · Feb 26, 2017

cs_dave said:
Wont spacers effect that tho being wider at the front to the rear?

Nah. You set the distance that the strang is apart equal front to rear mate. You then measure from the centre of each wheel to make sure you've got the same distance all round. You're creating a square box around the car essentially, or in the string case, 2 parallel lines alongside the car.

imprezaworks · Feb 26, 2017

How much do you charge to do tracking, assuming it's something you do etc

Fraser.J. · Feb 27, 2017

Was literally doing this tonight.

4 axle stands, 2 bits of wood.

String between the wood, even spaced, sizes equal at the front and back, reading off the front and back of the wheel.

Handy to have a second pair of hands to read tape or adjust toe so you don't have to keep going up and down.

Also keep an eye on the steering wheel that it doesn't move

NorthloopCup · Feb 27, 2017

imprezaworks said:
How much do you charge to do tracking, assuming it's something you do etc

String or gauges? Using gauges about £25.

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

Either really. Was curious as finding someone good seems hard.

I have an Ats local to me which if they knew how to do it properly would help no end. All they used to do was type in my reg and set it to that, or atleast say that's all they can do.

NorthloopCup · Feb 27, 2017

imprezaworks said:
Either really. Was curious as finding someone good seems hard.

I have an Ats local to me which if they knew how to do it properly would help no end. All they used to do was type in my reg and set it to that, or atleast say that's all they can do.

Well technically they should set the tracking with someone in the car. Blink motorsport is up near you isn't it?

RichValver · Feb 27, 2017

I had a go at the string method, couldn't get it to work for me. Just changed a hub on mine and it's knocked the alignment out again so will have another go at it as its an hour round trip for tracking for me

shiftspark · Feb 27, 2017

NorthloopCup said:
Well technically they should set the tracking with someone in the car. Blink motorsport is up near you isn't it?

Blink are very good :up: @JohnnyE

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

Yeah I've used a place in Liverpool before 'ball joint centre' and they were good. Have used blink to ages ago.

Forget how much they charge for camber/toe, blink that is.

JamesBryan · Feb 27, 2017

imprezaworks said:
Yeah I've used a place in Liverpool before 'ball joint centre' and they were good. Have used blink to ages ago.

Forget how much they charge for camber/toe, blink that is.

About £90 😂

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

Yeah thought they werent cheap.

JamesBryan · Feb 27, 2017

imprezaworks said:
Yeah thought they werent cheap.

It was something like that when i had it done after i fitted camber bolts.

Speak to @AdamR on here, he'll sort you out. I know he's busy till about April though.

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

Ta la.

If i can get ats to use their hunter system properly that would be even better. Foc

What could go wrong :/

JamesBryan · Feb 27, 2017

imprezaworks said:
Ta la.

If i can get ats to use their hunter system properly that would be even better. Foc :smile:

What could go wrong :/

Just tell them you want 12 minutes of total toe out on the front, ignore what their system is recommending.

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

Yeah will show them the printout and ask them to do it the same. Possibly looking at replacing stuff hence me asking

JamesBryan · Feb 27, 2017

imprezaworks said:
View attachment 179170 Yeah will show them the printout and ask them to do it the same. Possibly looking at replacing stuff hence me asking :smile:

Front toe is bang on there.

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

oreA · Feb 27, 2017

So when looking at the printout there, the angles are measured to an accuracy of minutes & seconds (I think), how accurate do you reckon the the string method could be in comparison, if done well?

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

Id say very good. When Grinspeed did mine it drove really very well.

JamesBryan · Feb 27, 2017

oreA said:
So when looking at the printout there, the angles are measured to an accuracy of minutes & seconds (I think), how accurate do you reckon the the string method could be in comparison, if done well?

Only measures to minutes on that print out.

Can get that with string, you just need to convert mm's to degress to get your setting in minutes.

oreA · Feb 27, 2017

JamesBryan said:
Only measures to minutes on that print out.

Can get that with string, you just need to convert mm's to degress to get your setting in minutes.

I can do that, I'm good with triangles

.

What settings do we need/want, any links where I can find recommendations? :up:

hipwell · Feb 27, 2017

NorthloopCup said:
I've done it a couple of times, but I also have proper tracking gauges, so I use them instead. Piece of piss tbh.

Thanks mate.

Is that the correct way then?

I have seen similar videos where they make the string actually touch the rear tyre.

Steven103 · Feb 27, 2017

Hardly the best video in the world. Doesn't work for different front/rear track widths (you need a full box for that), he's using a tape measure and has his box about a foot from the car lol (use a metal rule & measure from as close as possible to prevnt wobbly hands coming into it!), and he's going off centre caps which probably wobble/move around a bit.

Measuring off of the tyre is really poor practise. Variability in tyres (shape/size due weight/temp/pressure & even manufacturing tolerance) is surprisingly large. Much better to measure off of the wheel rim.

Tracking is all about being careful, precise & thorough. Can do a good job with string if you're patient & can do a bad job with hunter if you're rushing. String is still used (with jigs to speed things up) in BTCC and international GT4/GT3...
String takes ages especially outside (windy, ground isn't as flat as you'd like, have to make the odd fixture, you have to convert mm to deg to minutes on the fly etc)
No-one likes wasting time/petrol going back to the same place 3 times until they get it right.

Those three combined is why I'll happily pay £100 to get it done right, first time, by someone who takes care in their work.

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

Good post

JamesBryan · Feb 27, 2017

oreA said:
I can do that, I'm good with triangles .

What settings do we need/want, any links where I can find recommendations? :up:

12 minutes total toe out is standard for a 1*2 and a good starting point.

oreA · Feb 27, 2017

Thanks, I doubt I'll make any changes, but handy to check :up:.

JamesBryan · Feb 27, 2017

oreA said:
Thanks, I doubt I'll make any changes, but handy to check :up:.

Or in mm's it's about ~1mm total. ~0.6-0.7mm per side based on a 15-16" wheel.

bloke · Feb 27, 2017

imprezaworks said:
Yeah I've used a place in Liverpool before 'ball joint centre' and they were good. Have used blink to ages ago.

Forget how much they charge for camber/toe, blink that is.

got to drag one over there on wednesday, blink and clear on about 2 month wait to get in with them!!

imprezaworks · Feb 27, 2017

Their ok tbf.

NorthloopCup · Feb 27, 2017

hipwell said:
Thanks mate.

Is that the correct way then?

I have seen similar videos where they make the string actually touch the rear tyre.

Tbh mate, I never watched the video all the way through. I made a transferable rig when I set some cars up with string, but tbh I found it just as easy to put the Dunlop tracking sticks on it. The only thing the sticks don't tell you is setting the steering wheel straight. For that you need to drive the car, see where the steering wheel is and adjust until it's central. After that's done, you set the alignment.

This is the kit we have at work http://www.josam.se/products/wheel-alignment/ @imprezaworks and we also have to work it out in mm per metre. No such thing as degrees and minutes on a truck! Lol!

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