edman49

In case someone was wondering, alignment specs in degrees can be computed into decimal fractions of an inch by multiplying sine of degrees by either rim diameter or tire diameter. Example: total toe in of .20 degrees is sine of .20 times 26" if that's your tire diameter,which equals .09", or approximately 3/32". If you want to know about your camber, on a level surface, you can place a large square against your tire, measure the distance to your lower rim, then upper rim, and say your difference is 1/4" on 18" wheels.Divide .25 by 18 and get .013888, inverse tan = .79 degrees of camber. If you plan on having .5 degrees of camber,with 18" rims, the sine of .5=.0087 times 18=.157=5/32" difference between top and bottom of your rim. This will ball park what you have or want to acheive. So when your alignment docs say you have .18 degrees toe in and .6 degrees camber L and
.7 degrees camber R, you can actually measure this yourself and get a fair acknowledgement.

Shawn Sexton

Very interesting tip here.

I didn't get the uptake on where you arrived at total toe in of .20 degrees, how do you arrive at this figure? (In other words what tecnique do you use here?)

edman49

Well, sometimes toe in is stated in decimals of a degree per each wheel. Factory setting can actually be zero degrees. The typical maximum is .20 degrees total. With my car about to get new outer tie rods, I will be going for a minimum amount of toe in.If not measured at the diameter, say you can only measure at a lower point of the front and back of the tire,you should measure that distance to do the math on.Example:if you choose a point on your tires that measure say 18" apart,and your steering is tight enough to use say .1 degrees of toe in,then the difference,front to back would be sine ( actually spelled sin) of .1=
.00175 times 18" = .031" toe in, or 1/32" at that lower point of measurement.