Longacre Toe Gauge (help)

[Racy-Stacey]

Well guys I need your help.. I bought this toe gauge and it didnt come with directions. I've been playing with it and its turning my hair grey.

So can anyone help as to how to set this thing up and use it.

Thanks so much.
Toodles,
Stacey_B


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Toodles,
Stacey_B AOL IM: SCCAStaceyIB 1990PGL SCCA STSL "Girls Do It Better" Cal Club T&S, BWRP,WS,Lag,Hallett www.scpoc.com : www.probetalk.com Racing is my life. Winner One Lap of America 2003- SSGT2 class 1996 Ford Probe GT.

[racer_tim]

Stacey, is the one with 2 aluminum "plates" and 2 tape measures?

I have the same units. With the car on flat ground, and with the steering straight. Put 1 of the alum plates, with the slots down, against one of the wheels. Do the same with the other side. Then, slide one end of the tape measure on the front of 1 side, and the other tape measure on the rear side, and then mark the distance between the front and rear measurements. That is the total amount of "toe" that you have. If the front is larger than the rear, you have "toe out" if the rear value is larger, then you have "toe in".

I'll take some pictures if you need.




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Tim Linerud
San Francisco Region SCCA
#95 GP Wabbit (Bent)
http://linerud.myvnc.com/racing/index.html

[Racy-Stacey]

Nope... mine doesnt look like that..

I have the one that is a long pole with a gauge at one end and two feelers made of round bar that go at each end.

Thanks,

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Toodles,
Stacey_B AOL IM: SCCAStaceyIB 1990PGL SCCA STSL "Girls Do It Better" Cal Club T&S, BWRP,WS,Lag,Hallett www.scpoc.com : www.probetalk.com Racing is my life. Winner One Lap of America 2003- SSGT2 class 1996 Ford Probe GT.

[racer_tim]

Stacey, is it this?

http://www.longacreracing.com/images/produ.../setup/7962.gif

Longacre P/N 7962, description "Toe In Gauge"

I have P/N 7950, description "Toe In Plates"

Tim

[Racy-Stacey]

Yup thats the one...

Anyone ever use this?

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Toodles,
Stacey_B AOL IM: SCCAStaceyIB 1990PGL SCCA STSL "Girls Do It Better" Cal Club T&S, BWRP,WS,Lag,Hallett www.scpoc.com : www.probetalk.com Racing is my life. Winner One Lap of America 2003- SSGT2 class 1996 Ford Probe GT.

[racer_tim]

Originally posted by Racy-Stacey:
Yup thats the one...
Anyone ever use this?

Stacey, I think these are for slick tires. I've seen people take a screw driver or tire "scrib" and make a line in the slick while your rotating the tire, so it makes a small "groove" in the tire. Then you use this device to measure the distance from the rear and then from the front, and calculate the difference.

I don't think it will work with DOT tires, unless you use can create a "groove" in the tire to measure them with.



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Tim Linerud
San Francisco Region SCCA
#95 GP Wabbit (Bent)
http://linerud.myvnc.com/racing/index.html

[Quickshoe]

Stacey,

I haven't used that exact tool, but one of similar design. If the uprights(pointer things) are sturdy AND the bar is wide enough:

perhaps someone else can more clearly explain the process. Think of the tool like a great big vernier caliper at will be easy.

1. Spread the pointers so that one side (right) is snug up against the sidewall of the right tire at its' outermost point and not resting on a raised sidewall letter.

2. Position the left pointer on the left tires sidewall at it's outermost point and secure it to the bar. Have a partner confirm that the right pointer is still at the outermost point.

3. Now transfer the bar to the opposite end of the tire (ahead of or behind the spindle/axle).

4. Position the right pointer up against the outermost portion of the sidewall again.

5. Measure the distance between the left side pointer and the outermost portion of the sidewall.

The distance between the tire and the pointer is the toe.

Wider at the rear is toe in
Wider at the front is toe out

Have fun!

[powerslide91]

I use a homemade version that looks pretty much the same. Instead of scribing a line with a screw driver or trying to reference the sidewall, I place a piece of tape in the middle of the tire tread on each side of the car. Each piece of tape has a pen dot or line on it. With boths pieces of tape on the tires and on the side facing the back of the car, adjust the pointers on the toe bar so they line up with the dots. Then slide the toe bar out of the way without moving the pointers, push the car forward so the tape is facing the front of the car. Do not run over the tape and I try to be careful to push the car from the back so the suspension does not compress or rebound. Realign one of the toe bar pointers with the dot, then check the other side. The relation of the dot to the pointer shows toe in or out.

Hope that helps,
Jeff
ITS 240Z

[Racy-Stacey]

Thanks Guys..

Well I did it like Quickshoe mentioned last night. And I think I got it pretty good. The only thing is I didnt secure the steering wheel to my wheel is a little off of center but not to bad..

Thanks again.

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Toodles,
Stacey_B AOL IM: SCCAStaceyIB 1990PGL SCCA STSL "Girls Do It Better" Cal Club T&S, BWRP,WS,Lag,Hallett www.scpoc.com : www.probetalk.com Racing is my life. Winner One Lap of America 2003- SSGT2 class 1996 Ford Probe GT.

[Diane]

Stacey,

If it's not too late, I feel the plates are much easier to use and not too much more. We upgraded to them last year - love them and easier to carry to the track.

Diane

[Quickshoe]

Jeff,

Sounds simple...good idea.

Stacey,

If you move both tires an equal amount you won't have to reposition the steering wheel.

It makes it easier/quicker if you take a yellow paint marker and mark each tie rod adjuster with a "+" and an arrow indicating which direction to move the adjuster to increase toe.

You may also want to make a note in your setup sheets about how many turns = how much toe. Such as 1/2 turn = 1/16". Remember that while increasing the distance at the front of the tires you are reducing the distance at the rear of the tires by an equal amount. So either measure both each time or account for it in your calculations.

Hope that helps.

[MarkL]

Just make sure you get yor tie rods TIGHT.

[MrMoody]

you can paint a line and scribe a thin line on a treaded tire . . . here's a couple pics:


http://www.overboost.com/getimage.asp?arti...ge=DSCN2243.JPG

http://www.overboost.com/getimage.asp?arti...ge=DSCN2334.JPG

http://www.overboost.com/getimage.asp?arti...ge=DSCN2240.JPG

the whole article is here:

http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=1124

EDIT: OK! you can't see the pictures, and you need a login to read the article, but I swear that the article is worth looking at. They show how the alignment tech checks toe settings using a system like yours


[This message has been edited by MrMoody (edited October 23, 2003).]