I'm frustrated with the lack of knowledge from my local shops that do alignments, thinking I'm better off just to buy some alignment tools and start to do my own. I've read a few DIY articles and it seems like the two important tools to get are toe plates/bars and a camber gauge.

First, does anyone have any experience using toe plates? The look simple enough and are cheaper than a toe bar, but a lot of times cheaper is not better. What are the advantages of using a toe bar over toe plates?

Also, for a camber gauge, I'm looking at the Longacre 78298, thoughts?

 

I've done 100's of alignments on race cars with bubble and digital caster/camber gauge (I like the magnetic ones that stick to the hub), degree plates and both toe plates and tow bars. Toe bars are easier if you just have one person, you really need 2 people to use toe plates, one on each side to hold them. If it's good enough to 200 mph and then turn left, it should be good enough for the street! lol.

 

Have you ever done the "scribe" method where you spin the tire and mark it, then measure front mark to back mark for toe-in?

Also, I'm assuming the magnetic camber gauges stick to the outside of the wheel bearing? The dust cap on the hub isn't flat, and I can't see how you could stick it to the wheel and be assured that it's actually square/level to the hub...

 

The magnetic ones I used, I had to take the dust cover off and it had a spring loaded pin that centered in on the spindle and then it stuck to the flat face of the hub. I haven't looked to see if it could be used on these trucks or not. I don't like the scribe way of marking the tires, sounds easy, but every time I tried to do it, I ended up with a squiggly scribe line!! lol. You can make a toe bar with 2 carpenter Squares bolted or clamped to a steel bar for pretty cheap too.

I can probable help you aline it when I'm up there next month

 

How do you think a modified version of the toe plates would work? I found this writeup over on ls1tech:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspensio...alignment.html

He made his own toe plates

 

That would work too. You need some "grease" plates like he has on there too so the wheels pivot easy. His look like they are lexan, we used alum. Basically just 2 12"x12" thin plates sandwiched together with some grease in between them for the tires to set on. Friction reducer

 

Sounds good...looks like I have a new project to work on

 

Hey Thunder..check QuickTrick tools. and another company is Fastrax.

QuickTrick is releasing a beadlock wheel adapter this weekend, but has a variety of options currently for cars and trucks.

 

I'll check them out, thanks.

 

Instead of plates & grease, a couple of plastic trash bags work well. They turn super easy with the weight of the vehicle on them.