front end alignment tech.

[missouriman]

OK, went on a 45 mile interstate trip... front tires where hot when I got there but no time to find out why. went on run of about 10 miles ghost town run in the trails section.
got home and I could see the front tires had worn down... oh shait...

just reference, say the back tires were 80 degrees the fronts were around 120.

so time to check into this shait!!!!
I could do.. maybe 65. and my wife was running up behind me like.... speed up. heck I had it wooded. she was at about half on the gas peddle. WTF... I have the modded motor..

got home and checked it out... 2 inches of tow in.. yeh 2 inches, I am shocked that the tires were not squealing our I could not smell them burning.

so here is how I did the aline-ment

first I cut two pieces of small angle that I had laying around to 30 inch's long (the biggest tires offered stock on the toyota). marked the middle of them.
pulled the front wheels off and clamped them to the brake rotors.


stuff that I used.












measure from the angle to a point on each side to make sure the front end is pointed straight. I used the upper leaf spring.

I also taped the two measuring tapes to the ends of my 30 inch angle iron.

then adjusted the tie rod so the measurements were 1/4 inch less in front then in back.


This worked very well.. on the last run out I felt the tires and could not tell a difference in temp.. and felt like I had gained 10 hp... I could tell a difference.
the new 36 sx's are way larger then the old SX's...

I did have a balance problem, I used to use wind shield washer fluid. but after the new tires and seeing how rusted out the rims have gotten I switched to RV anti freeze. it is non corrosive and environmentally safe.
8 oz in each tire made a huge difference.

[mudrunner88]

What a redneck, But I like it!!!

[stump runner]

you had me untill antifreeze and washer fluid for ballancing. what are you talking about?

[missouriman]

well you can't balance a rock crawler wheel in the same way. the weights get knocked off, or you lose a lug, or the tire slips on the rim.

and I weld a ring on the rim so regular weights won't work anyways.
that and who wants 10 or 12 oz of lead on the side of a tire.







so with my 36's I used to use washer fluid as it dosn't freeze.
but didn't know that it would rust out the inside of the rims so bad.

so now I am using rv anti freeze, it is safe to drink, so no need worry about spilling it and it is non corrosive.

so my new tires were a bit out of balance so I started out with 8 oz of fluid.
really seems to have helped. I may go to 10 or 12 oz depending on how it go's the next time I am on the hyway.

it is the same principle, as air soft pelets or golf balls to balance these tires.

[stump runner]

i'v just never heard of putting any thing but air or nitrogen in tires. so the fluid somehow "finds" it's way to the spot that needs weighting? if it's that easy why don't tire shops do it that way? maybe because it would take buisness away. anybody can put fluid in a tire... not many own a wheel balance machine.

[missouriman]

Originally Posted by stump runner

i'v just never heard of putting any thing but air or nitrogen in tires. so the fluid somehow "finds" it's way to the spot that needs weighting? if it's that easy why don't tire shops do it that way? maybe because it would take buisness away. anybody can put fluid in a tire... not many own a wheel balance machine.

I don't know. but it sure helps.
maybe it just dampens the vibrations. but at least I can see out the rear view mirror while moving!!

there balance powders, but they can clog up the valve stem and make airing down a slow process.


speaking of airing down we use a 30 psi dial Gage and installed these on our rims. opposite the valve stem.