another alignment question "Toe In"

[evilkhemist]

I have a 68 coupe with the unisteer manual R&P. The wheels have pretty bad toe out, sorry no measurment. I have only about half an inch of the R&P threaded rod screwed into my Tie rods. This does not seem safe nor does it seem right. I did redo my entire suspension and have no shims for the upper control rods. I know the shims usually help camber, but can they help toe in? I am afraid to drive any real distance to a proper alignment shop, because I do not want to destroy my brand new tires. Any suggestions? I know I can have it towed to a shop, but really dont want to have it towed.

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

Jack up the front of the car, and with a nail in a board, or marker of your choice. By rotating the tire againt the nail, scribe a light line, in the center of each tire. Drop the caar back down on the wheels & measuring the toe by comparing, the distance between the scribe marks front tire to tire, against rear scribe marks tire to tire. Adjust as necessary to achieve 0-1/16 in toe.
Now you can take it to an alignment shop.

 

[hotcobra03]

Great job on how to get a mesuring point.wont work unless he has alignment pads with movement.keep car on stands under contol arms as close as u can .use two equal jackstands place near line on tire and check toe.you can get pretty close

 

[CraigMBA]

Option 1 - call a tow truck

Option 2 - use a tape to measure from one line of lugs to another. Just pick some part of the tread you can get to and identify.

You don't need pads to do a driveway alignement. You can do one with four flooring tiles (two for each side) with a piece of newspaper stuck in between them. Portable and cheap.

 

[evilkhemist]

thanks guys, I got it close enough to take to a shop. Car drives like a million bucks. First time I have been able to drive the car since I bought it two years ago. Now I just have to finish the interior