1979 SDV: Toe In adjustment

[wbdeford]

I have too much toe in (about 1/4"), but before adjusting, I am wondering how much toe is added/subtracted per thread on the adjusting sleeves...thanks!

[79 Eldorado]

William,
Nobody else answered so I wanted to try to help. When you turn the sleeve on one side one full turn you get 2 thread pitch of change; equal contribution from the inner and outer tie rod ends. Assuming both sides had the same amount of toe and you are adjusting both obviously 4x thread pitch. If you don't know the thread pitch take a piece of paper and lay it on the threads. Rub it with the side of an old wooden pencil. Do it over as much distance as you can to get a good measurement. Now take the paper and count the gaps; so from peak one to peak 2 is one gap. Stop on the last peak you can clearly see. Now measure the distance as accurately as you can between the peaks you counted. Divide that distance by the number you counted and you will have the thread pitch. Multiple by two and that will be the amount you change by a full rotation on one side.

I never really looked at why the toe is taken as a distance as opposed to an angle but I found a good diagram which shows they are measuring in back of the pivot point compared to the front of the pivot point (front edge and back edge of the rim). So the important thing about that is when you change the sleeve the point in front of the pivot is moving and in back of the pivot is moving in the opposite direction.

I don't like posting an image from the web but here's a link showing the way it's measured front/back of the rim:
https://www.ictworkshopsolutions.com/2011/06/wheel-alignment-3/

Scott

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I never really looked at why the toe is taken as a distance as opposed to an angle ........ Scott 

I think it harks back to the old days when nobody had the intricate wheel alignment gear, and it was simple to use a piece of string or a length of wood.

The measurement in length is really handy for performing the initial setup, in order to get the vehicle to a shop with the correct equipment.

These days, alignment is so technical that angles are used.

Bruce.

[79 Eldorado]

Thanks Bruce. That seems like a good explanation.

Scott