Tracking

DIY Wheel Alignment (Toe-in)

If your car hits a kerb, or the tyres are wearing unevenly then it will be worthwhile checking the car’s wheel alignment, if new track rod ends are fitted then the alignment has to be checked and, probably, adjusted.

This method will ensure the wheel toe in is correct and, if done properly, the steering wheel will also be centred.

Equipment Needed

No specialist equipment is required and most of what is needed will probably be lying around or is readily available:

• Two axle stands
• String, preferably a type that doesn’t stretch
• Two reasonably heavy objects, to keep the string in tension
• A way of measuring accurately, a steel rule should be adequate although a vernier caliper would be a more accurate way of measuring
• Time to set up and do the alignment, allow about one hour
• Spanners to adjust the tie rods (¹/₄W / ⁵/₁₆BS for the tie rod, ¹/₂W / ⁹/₁₆BS for the lock nut, earlier Minors are different: ³/₁₆W / ¹/₄BS for the tie rod, ⁷/₁₆W / ¹/₂BS for the lock nut).

Setting Up

Park the car on a flat, level surface with the steering wheel centred. Do not jack it up at all or do anything to shift the suspension.

The front and rear track width of the car needs to be known. Track width is the width of the car between the wheel hubs. A standard Morris Minor should have a front track width of 50⁵/₈” (1,286mm) and a rear track width of 50⁵/₁₆” (1,278mm).

The difference between front and rear is ⁵/₁₆” (8mm) overall or 4mm on each side.

Position one of the axle stands at the back of the car, off to the side and behind the rear wheel. Position the other axle stand, in front of the front wheel and off to the side.

The string should be aligned to the centre of each wheel to do this adjust the height of the axle stands, so the string height is at the centre of the wheel.

Tie one of the heavy objects to the end of the string and run the line over the rear axle stand.

Stretch the string past the other axle stand and tie the other heavy object to the other end of the string. Adjust the string and axle stands to ensure the string is stretched tight.

Aligning

The difference between the front and rear track widths is used to align the string.

Measure the distance between the centre of the rear wheel and the string, using the wheel not the end of the half shaft, and make a note of it. It isn’t essential but it helps if this is a round number.

Now start adjusting the placement of string over the front axle stand (or move the axle stand) to get the correct distance between the string and the centre of the front wheel, using the wheel and not the end of the hub.

The front track, on a standard Morris Minor, should be 8mm wider than the rear (4mm per side), the string, therefore, needs to be 4mm closer to the front wheel than it is to the rear wheel.

For example: if the string is 130mm from the rear wheel, then the string needs to be 126mm from the front wheel.

Check rear and front settings several times, to ensure they are exactly correct as this setup is essential in ensuring the alignment is correct.

Adjusting

A standard Morris Minor should have a front tow in of ³/₃₂” (2.5mm), which means that the front of the wheel on each side should be 1.25mm further from the string than the rear.

If the toe-in, on this side, isn’t 1.25mm then adjust the tie rods until the toe-in on this side is 1.25mm.

It is worthwhile rolling the car so that the wheels rotate half a turn then back again, to allow for any resistance to moving from the tyres on the floor, alternatively spinning plates could be used under the wheels.

It is essential to ensure the steering wheel does not move, if it does then start again.

Repeat on the Other Side

Repeat the adjustment process for the other side of the car.