TheCousinDan

Gentlemen,

I have set my alignment in the past on my '89 N/A using the string method and I understand that pretty well. My question now is simply how much toe in should I set for normal road driving and best gas mileage? I have it set for 1/4" toe-in at the moment. I'm about to go on a long interstate trip so I also want the best mileage.

Thanks guys,

Dan

Butters944

I think 1/4" seems like a lot to me? But I'm a noob, I dunno.

944Ross

1/4" measured where? At the tire tread, or wheel rim?

TheCousinDan

Ok, re-reading the original post I see it is a bit misleading. The last time that I did alignment I actually used the "scratched treadline" meathod...so it is 1/4" difference, front to back, measured at the tread.

944Ross

About all you get with that method is some assurance you don't have toe-out. I'd get it set correctly at a shop, all 4 wheels, then check to see what that corresponds to with your method for future reference. But if you change tires, all bets are off. The guys with lifted 4x4's and big tires use your method but they aren't driving on the highway or carving corners much.

Van

Use the strings and measure from the rim lip. No more of 1/8" toe in (1/16" per side).

About the same for the front... Or you can set the front to 0 toe if you don't mind it being twitchy and following every groove in the pavement.

whalebird

Sounds like a lot of toe in to me. Conrolating angle measurments from degrees to inches is a guess at best. I would suggest before your trip: make sure that all the suspension/steering components are good. The struts need to be tight (cap nut holding the insert in the strut), strut mounts solid and tight to the frame, and wheel bearings properly adjusted. Then have a shop with good equipment and people who know how to use it do an alignment. I chose the standard "Pascha" settings but with a bit less camber for street use. I have remarkably little tire wear after 10K miles and no feathering of the tread unless I am doing some track laps (to be expected).

car_slave

+1

Van

Car_slave, are you going to the PCA picnic at Thatcher Park today?

OakRZB

+2

Just got back from the morning coffee run in 968. Zero toe & again had to pay extra attention to keep car straight on some parts of the freeway.

1/4" is probably too much, but in the past I've done the driveway method in a pinch
___________________
-Robert
'86 944 NA - Alpine White, parting out (slow death)
'86 951 - Alpine White (sold)
'94 968 - Aventurine Green

car_slave

Van - Yep, saw you there with the family Nice turn out and great food!