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Wheel Tracking

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:26 pm
by waps
I need to get my tracking adjusted as it is well out and has cost me a tyre after 2k miles.
I thought the laser method would be the most accurate, but they tell me this can only be done on a 4 wheeled vehicle.
what is the most accurate method of getting this done and by whom?

Re: Wheel Tracking

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:17 pm
by Duncan Grimmond
Strange it's only one tyre. If the alignment on a three-wheeler is far out of true I'd expect even wear on either both inner or outer edges. IIRC, there should be very little toe-in on a trike, 1 or 2mm at most. A home-made device using dowel and worm-drive clips should allow you to measure between the inner edges of the wheel rims fore and aft. If the engine gets in the way use some brackets to get at a point as close to the central height as possible. You'll need to have a flat area to roll it along to let the steering settle to its natural alignment before you start measuring.

Re: Wheel Tracking

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:35 am
by notsmartcar
If you stand in front of the car and push the front tyres on their leading edge apart and then together I think you will be shocked how much movement there is due to wear in king pins/rack and track rod ends so as the tyres will always be trying to tow in when in use when I set my tracking I lightly pull the tyre leading edges together with a strap and then set parallel (it's all bit bit of a compromise). I find going to tyre places for tracking is an expensive waste of money unless they will let you help as above