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[Webby the Bear]

Hi guys,

Got the omega on the Hoffman alignment machine at work today. Front and rear toe was out. I adjusted front toe and everything moved well as they're relatively new track rod ends and I had greased the living shit out of them lol

Had a look at the rear track rods (which I presume need to move to adjust rear toe) and they look really old and I can't be bothered to free them up. I'm just gonna replace them. Where do I get them from though?

[TheBoy]

I bought GM. About £80 a side about 2yrs ago...  ...not that I've fitted them yet

[Webby the Bear]

Lol thanks TB. It is these that are moved to alter rear toe, right? That may seem like a dumb question but I don't think I've ever adjusted any rear alignment on any car. Ever. 


And when turned will I see camber alter also on the screen?

[TheBoy]

Lol thanks TB. It is these that are moved to alter rear toe, right? That may seem like a dumb question but I don't think I've ever adjusted any rear alignment on any car. Ever. 


And when turned will I see camber alter also on the screen?

For the rear, you're looking for a compromise between toe and camber, as this rod adjusts both.

Absolutely critical is the thrust angle is 0'00. 0'02 is nowhere near good enough, and I wouldn't be happy with 0'01

[terry paget]

You can free them with heat, a hammer, and a Stillson wrench. MOT testers occasionally advise of play in the end ball joints, but I have never suffered MOT failure because of it. I keep greased up spares on the shelf for that eventuality.

[Webby the Bear]

Lol thanks TB. It is these that are moved to alter rear toe, right? That may seem like a dumb question but I don't think I've ever adjusted any rear alignment on any car. Ever. 


And when turned will I see camber alter also on the screen?

For the rear, you're looking for a compromise between toe and camber, as this rod adjusts both.

Absolutely critical is the thrust angle is 0'00. 0'02 is nowhere near good enough, and I wouldn't be happy with 0'01

Got ya mate. So when I adjust it to bring the toe in I'll see it alter the camber too.

So how does one bring the thrust angle to spec? Will the adjustment of the track rods do this and it will be a bit of playing about to get the best compromise of toe, camber and thrust?

Ps please remember I'm not a WIM expert and I'm still learning this dang Hoffman so a lot of learning for me at the moment 😀👍

[TheBoy]

Get toe the same each side at rear will sort thrust.

You may not be able to get toe bang on spec without really cocking up camber, so there will be a compromise in most cases.  But thrust angle is critical on these.

[Webby the Bear]

Perfect explanation t.b. Cheers for that mate 

[terry paget]

May I assume thrust angle at zero is rear wheels parallel to front?

[TheBoy]

May I assume thrust angle at zero is rear wheels parallel to front?

Nope.

It means that if the car only had rear wheels, what angle it would go off at if pushed.

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

May I assume thrust angle at zero is rear wheels parallel to front?

Nope.

It means that if the car only had rear wheels, what angle it would go off at if pushed.

Makes perfect sense! 

[Webby the Bear]

That does make sense. cheers TB.

Not wanting to go all 0-60 on you  but would a thrust angle not at 0' mean a drop in acceleration albeit slightly? I'm thinking of the ''crabbing'' effect. 

[05omegav6]

That does make sense. cheers TB.

Not wanting to go all 0-60 on you  but would a thrust angle not at 0' mean a drop in acceleration albeit slightly? I'm thinking of the ''crabbing'' effect. 

Until you put a proper engine in it don't even go there

[terry paget]

May I assume thrust angle at zero is rear wheels parallel to front?

Nope.

It means that if the car only had rear wheels, what angle it would go off at if pushed.

I think that means parallel to each other and to an imaginary centre line of the car

[aaronjb]

May I assume thrust angle at zero is rear wheels parallel to front?

Nope.

It means that if the car only had rear wheels, what angle it would go off at if pushed.

I think that means parallel to each other and to an imaginary centre line of the car

Not necessarily parallel, that implies a toe of 0º0'. Basically the toe angle on both sides must simply be equal - therefore if both wheels toe in slightly then the point an imaginary line drawn through the centre of the tyres converges at should be exactly on the imaginary centre line of the car. Both dead ahead is also fine and both toeing out by exactly the same amount is also fine - all equate to a thrust angle of 0º0'.