Stomis
Professional Amateur
So I'm not gonna spend $85 to have my toe aligned when I get my new tierod. Whats the proper way to adjust it with a tape measure? Where should I measure from and to etc?
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Tape measure toe adjustment
- Thread starter Stomis
- Start date
Mikey von
1/2 ton status
Jumping aboard as I have the exact same question.
chev-mc
Registered Member
I read somewhere to measure rim to rim and toe in 1/8''. I did it but didn't want my new 42's to wear funny so I took it to a shop. Their machine couldn't align my tires with the 42's (just barely they said) and luckily I had some spares in the bed. They charged me an extra $50 to change the tires.... 
TucsonK5
1/2 ton status
Basically you are measuring the distance between the front tires at the front of the tire and at the back of the tire (at axle height if possible) with the tires pointed straight ahead. Ideally, you should use the centerline of the tire if you have a molding seam, but you can also measure off the "high point" of the interior sidewall (though it doesn't seem to be as accurate). Measuring at the centerline also allows you to keep the tape measure straight; you have to bend the tape to measure interior dimensions. Damn this is hard to explain; I could show you in person in less than a minute.
The distance between the front of the tires should be less than the distance between the rear of the tires (this is called "toe in"), I usually go for about 1/8-1/4 inch, but I don't know if that is ideal.
The distance between the front of the tires should be less than the distance between the rear of the tires (this is called "toe in"), I usually go for about 1/8-1/4 inch, but I don't know if that is ideal.
You need to raise the front wheels off the ground and use a piece of chalk and spin the tire and make a chalk line all the way around the tire (do this to both front tires) Now you need to get the front tires back on the ground and i like to roll the truck back and forth a little to "settle the tires" now take a measurement at the center of the tire height in the front and once again in the rear (at the same height). If the front measurement is say 1/8" closer than the rear then you have 1/8" toe in. IIRC 1/16"-1/8" toe in is about right.
Toe measurement MUST be measured at the outer most portion of the tire to be correct. Also anytime a tire diameter change is made then toe must be adjusted again.
Toe measurement MUST be measured at the outer most portion of the tire to be correct. Also anytime a tire diameter change is made then toe must be adjusted again.
From one of my previous replies;
Put a piece of tape in the middle of the tread on both front tires (lined up with the hub). Draw a vertical line in marker on each piece of tape. Measure the distance between the two marks. Now roll the truck forward or back until the pieces of tape are on the back side of the tires. Measure the distance between the two marks. The front measurement should be 1/16-1/8" smaller than the measurement on the back (i.e. tires toed in).
Put a piece of tape in the middle of the tread on both front tires (lined up with the hub). Draw a vertical line in marker on each piece of tape. Measure the distance between the two marks. Now roll the truck forward or back until the pieces of tape are on the back side of the tires. Measure the distance between the two marks. The front measurement should be 1/16-1/8" smaller than the measurement on the back (i.e. tires toed in).
TucsonK5
1/2 ton status
Inside-outside doesn't matter, the tire's width should be the same unless you have tires with a variable width (and those would be some pretty funky lookin tires
)
Inside-outside doesn't matter, the tire's width should be the same unless you have tires with a variable width (and those would be some pretty funky lookin tires
What i meant was the outer circumference not way back at the rim or even the bubble of the sidewall.
From one of my previous replies;
Put a piece of tape in the middle of the tread on both front tires (lined up with the hub). Draw a vertical line in marker on each piece of tape. Measure the distance between the two marks. Now roll the truck forward or back until the pieces of tape are on the back side of the tires. Measure the distance between the two marks. The front measurement should be 1/16-1/8" smaller than the measurement on the back (i.e. tires toed in).
That is the simplest and most sensible way I've seen to do the measurement.
This is a pretty good bunch of info here. great to know. After reading the OP question I thought to myself, "spent the focking money and do it right but 4x4high and 383's post are awsome. Great info fellas.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Alright I know the concept of it my main concern was whether I should measure off the actual rim since its solid and not changing or the tire but I see why it has to be the tire now.
Thanks alot guys!
Thanks alot guys!
You want to measure off the tire. 1/8" of toe in at the wheel could be 3/8" toe in at the end of the tire.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Yep after you guys explained I realized that.
cdoggwsu
1/2 ton status
To play devil's advocate here, couldn't you just pop the old off with the truck on the ground and adjust the new one to fit without moving the tires? That is, of course, assuming the alignment was correct before the swap (aside from the case of a bent tie rod)
A bent tie rod will increase the toe in so that wouldn't be a good idea. It would be a starting point though.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Thats what I did when I was replacing the stock one for the sake of new TREs
