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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3000

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
DIY wheel alignment/tracking
The internet has shown tracking done with string, tape, mop handles, bits of tube and laser gadgets.

Which method would you chaps recommend?

It needs to be idiot proof because, well, I will be doing it.
Post #773805 19th May 2019 7:23am
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grafty99



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4784

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
In all honesty, I would pay someone to do it.

I think I payed £40 for a 4 wheel lazer alignment, it made quite a difference at the time (it was a while ago now Shocked)

However if I was doing it myself I would probably remove the front wheels and clamp two straight edges to the hubs, then measure for parallel Thumbs Up 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton
Post #773811 19th May 2019 7:46am
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Roy5695



Member Since: 15 Feb 2014
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 1123

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Indus Silver
I tried doing it myself with the measuring to the front and rear of the wheel rim. Got it close but sent it off for a proper check and it was out a little bit. The difference between many thousand miles on a set of tyres.

So in my opinion it’s much more sensible to pay someone to do it proper. Cost me £45 at an ATS place. Took them all of 15 minutes dudeto the brand new sumo bar and drag link I’d just put on. 2011 Defender DCPU 2.2 - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic30623.html

Instagram - @r22oyp

Roy
Post #773815 19th May 2019 8:01am
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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3000

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Cheers chaps. I hear you but my tracking is out now, which I'd like to sort and in a couple of weeks I'll be doing the Gwyn Lewis drop arm sumo jobbie. Plus I wouldn't mind knowing how to do it anyway.
Post #773816 19th May 2019 8:06am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16809

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
The last time I did an emergency tracking job (on a S1 about 30 years ago) all I used was a metal extending tape measure and a helper to hold the end. As far as I know it has still never been readjusted so can't have been too far out!
Post #773817 19th May 2019 8:16am
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2062

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Pennine Grey
I use the string method, served me well for the last 25 years. It's quick, easy and accurate enough.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.
Post #773819 19th May 2019 8:32am
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richcl



Member Since: 25 Mar 2011
Location: tewkesbury
Posts: 25

United Kingdom 
I use the string method too.
Just remember the difference between front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and all wheel drive cars when carrying out this procedure.
Post #773820 19th May 2019 8:37am
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hank



Member Since: 12 Sep 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2218

Wales 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I'd like to give this a go too as I have been underwhelmed when having it done "professionally" - steering wheel off centre, vehicle tracking one side or the other, unequal number of turns left and right on the steering wheel etc.. > 110 XS Double Cab
> Instagram @simonlanemind
Post #773822 19th May 2019 8:45am
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mactheknife



Member Since: 08 Jul 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 51

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 2.5 TD CSW Baltic Blue
I used two flat bars and a tape measure to get mine aligned after replacing all the track rods and ends. I got it as close to perfect as I could, but still took it to a shop to get it double checked as I had a wheel out of balance. They said I was still about 1mm out, the difference was noticeable.
The alignment check took 15 minutes and cost £15.
Post #773931 19th May 2019 10:19pm
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Mies



Member Since: 07 Jan 2019
Location: Lithoijen
Posts: 15

Netherlands 
String method. Was conviced fancy laser type stuff must be better until I had a pit-pass for a WEC race at Spa......even Audi was using the string method.
Post #773935 20th May 2019 12:51am
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v8bob



Member Since: 14 Mar 2018
Location: Midlands
Posts: 303

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Nato Green
These are fairly useful to do the tracking with. A little limited on how much access you have but as long as you use the same height front and back will get it close.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/harris-trade-ex...gIl1_D_BwE

When you buy one SWMBO will get excited and start choosing some paint colours.
Post #773943 20th May 2019 6:38am
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jfh



Member Since: 08 Jan 2014
Location: West Coast
Posts: 348

South Africa 2007 Defender 110 300 Tdi SW Chawton White
I use 2 aluminium pipes that fits snugly into each other. The biggest of the 2 has a diameter of about 8mm.

The inner pipe slide out telescopically and I mark on the inner pipe with permanent marker.

I measure the distance between the front rims at the rear and front on the same height. Using a straightedge to determine height but a laser can also work.
After adjusting alignment, I roll the vehicle back 2m and back to original position and remeasure.

I work on a 1mm difference between front and rear, but can't remember if it was +1 or -1mm..

A while ago I had new tires fitted and alignment done, the guy doing the alignment said I was almost spot-on.
Post #773944 20th May 2019 6:56am
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v8bob



Member Since: 14 Mar 2018
Location: Midlands
Posts: 303

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Nato Green
Just walking past wilko and popped in to see one of these:

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-extending-pole-1-2m/p/0343127

Only 3 quid, not worth getting a hacksaw out to make one at that price.
Post #773987 20th May 2019 10:34am
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Bluest



Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 3993

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
Mies wrote:
String method. Was conviced fancy laser type stuff must be better until I had a pit-pass for a WEC race at Spa......even Audi was using the string method.


Ive just seem all the British Touring Car Championship teams using the string method this weekend. If it’s good enough for them... 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
Post #773990 20th May 2019 10:37am
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6026

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
Must set mine up... never bothered in the last 9 years/65000 miles.... be interesting to see how far out it is... probably miles out, seeing as I built the axle from various sources
Post #774008 20th May 2019 12:05pm
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