Toe-In Tool

emf

emf

Well-known member
I have a tool that measures toe-in like the one on Marco's web site. Has anyone ever had success with this tool? I tried using it according to the instructions, setting the tool on the high spot of the tire with the chains just touching the floor. Every time I try to move the truck forward, the tool slips off the tire and hits the floor. Are there supposed to be rubber tips on the little grab arms???

Mine has none...

Frank
 
I have always jacked the tires off the ground, spin the tires and make a mark all the way around as a measuring point and use a tape measure. I know. I can not get all the way to exactly half way up on the back but it has always worked for me.
 
That's what I ended up doing. I just had an excuse the use the tool, and it won't stay on the tire, no matter what I do... Drat...
 
The tool is easy to use. No rubber tips. The tool is spring loaded against the tires it should not fall off. Check your tool spring action. Is it compressed with a lock pin for storage? Remove pin
 
It is fully adjustable. I set it on the only position that will allow me to set the pointer to zero and it keeps falling off. Perhaps a stronger spring... I might try that.
 
Build one with a spring loaded or adjustable shower rod then attach the chains. Inexpensive and effective.

Roger F Clark
 
If you want accurate measurements that translate to the toe-in on the road then the tires need to be on the ground.

To use the spring loaded tool you compress the tool when it fits on the front wheel and move the indicator plate to read "0". The spring will expand as the tires rotate and not fall off. Once the chains are off the ground on the rear, read the measurement in the indicator plate.
 
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It has been my practice to jack up the tires and make the scribe line, but then to not only put them back on the ground, but roll the car backwards at least one full tire diameter, then roll back forward one full tire diameter, This removes all the 'slop' and tolerances in the steering components and gives the most accurate adjustment for driving going forward.
 
As youngsters with old International Scouts we would use to use a 2x2 board almost as long as the distance between the front tires. There was an 8 inch 1x2 attached to each end with a 3" bolt, washers and wing nuts. We would lay the "tool" on the ground at the front of the front tires and adjust the "arms" so they touched the inside of the tires, tighten the wing nuts and relocate the contraption to the rear of the wheels and looked at the distance from the "wings" to the tire. That was our front end alignment procedure. Only one of our friends had this technical tool so we all went to his driveway to do our "front end alignments".
 
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