
10-04-2010, 10:59 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Oceanside BC Canada,
Posts: 41
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Not Ranked
Not sure exactly what set up you have as far as steering rack, inner rod ends etc, but usually you can do a simple toe alignment at home enough to safely drive it to the alignment shop.
First make sure the car is on a flat smooth level surface. Jack the tires up off the ground slightly, and slip some plastic garbage bags under the tires. This will allow the tires to turn with little friction. (Note you can't do this on a gravel driveway..lol). Centre the steering wheel. Loosen the small end of the inner tie rod end boots by removing the clamps. (You don't want the boots twisting as you turn the inner rod ends). Loosen the jam nut on the outer tie rod ends. Using a tape measure, gradually adjust the inner tie rod ends until your measurement is the same at the back and front of the wheel rims, when measured across the car. Check to make sure your steering wheel remains centered while you do all this. If you could clamp it somehow that would help.
I can only presume that the outer tie rod ends are the correct size ones for your car. Sometimes they have to be changed do to the set up, either using longer or shorter ones. This is to preevent the inner rod end threads from either bottoming out in the outer rod end, or not having enough thread bite. You should have at minimum 3/4" of thread inserted in the outer rod end.
Camber and caster adjustments may be needed as well, again depending on your set up, but these can be done at the alignment shop. Sounds like you just need to get your basic toe set for now.
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