Tracking

[gaz_moose]

if its for 4x4 's then you can just make a set of gauges. get a length of 1" flat bar and bend a hook onto one side so it can hook and hang onto the tyre(so like an upside down J shape). then cut and weld another length of the 1" to it that longer than the tyres diameter to make an upside down capital 'T' shape. make a second then hang them on your wheels and measure between them with a tape measure.

trouble with Dunlop gauges and modern cars is that the bumpers are that long and low they obscure the mirror. if you buy a secondhand set of gauges, test them to see if they are bent by setting them up face to face.

I had a simple device for locking the wheel in position. it was basically a length of 1" tube, then a piece of 1/4" plate about the size of my hand with a 1" hole drilled to on side that someone had filed oblong. stick the tube through the plate, push the brake pedal down with ya foot, then wedge the 'device' between the pedal and steering wheel, release the brake pedal and it jams up against the steering wheel.

these days I tend to just use two mega long spirit levels cable tied to the wheels so they protrude past the front of the car. then measure with a tape measure.

 

[123hotchef]

i like the spirit level idea too, i lock the steering wheel with 2 big clamps
through the windows

 

[wookie]

these days I tend to just use two mega long spirit levels cable tied to the wheels so they protrude past the front of the car. then measure with a tape measure.

I had the same idea, except I used two off cuts of box section, did you get your spirit levels onto the rim or the tyre ? Ideally it should sit on the rim rather than the tyre.

On my 4x4 with solid axles I set it by measuring from brake disc to brake disc when I had the wheels off, I asked the garage to check it for me when it went for it's MOT and it was bob-on, they used the Dunlop kit to test it.

 

[123hotchef]

i have ordered some magnets for the rims so they stick out past the tyres

 

[reb78]

I run 16" wheels on my 4x4 with 33s or 35s good idea about the laser measure what one do you have I have always though about getting one for the tool bag saves reaching for the tape all the time.

I cant find a link at the moment - its a mates that I use when the car is up on his ramps. It just needs to be one that you can press against the wheel rim and locate the laser point on the same point on the rim on the other side. I will look for the link my mate sent me and post up if I find it. It works well though as its mm perfect so you can set toe in/toe out as closely as you wish. On a car with a lower undercarriage, it wouldnt work as well but on the 110, you can get up almost at the same level as the axle front and back (just a tiny bit lower to miss the radius arms)

 

[armalites]

I have a Trackace too and it don't see it as a faff to use. For what it costs it works really well.If you use it as per the instructions then the results are fully repeatable.I can see it may be an issue of high profile tyres but I think you could just extend the feet to get over that. The key with doing this kind of thing is check the tracking with the steering set at the point where the vehicle drives straight even if the wheel isn't. That way if you have toe-in or out you can tweak one side to get the wheel straight.

 

[indy4x]

Have the Gunson version of the Trackace and it just about copes with the std 16" rims and tyres on the D2. The Frontera with it's 33" tyres is way too big for the Trackace