Auto Racing: how to measure and set toe, big bous, wheel hub

Question
QUESTION: can you point me to a website or give me instructions on how to measure and set toe...i have a 91 escort ministock 1.9, 5speed that i am going to be wrenching on... i have not messed with anything yet but will be doing some soon...

ANSWER: Hi John:

Easier for me to tell you how.

You need two pieces of 1X12" lumber each 24" long. Or you can spend $50 and get a set of toe plates from Jegs, Speedway, or one of those.

And you need a measuring tape, paper and pencil, wrenches for the tie-rod ends, a jack and some patience. For short ciricle tracks, 1/4 to 1/2 mile, you will want from 1/8" to 3/16" toe out, so the fronts of the tires are further apart than the rears.

Start by jacking up the car, put it on stands (always !!) and with a wrench, loosen the locking nuts on the steering tie rods. Set the car back on the ground, and roll it back and forth a few times, perhaps 3 feet each way. This allows the suspension to settle and come to it's static position.

Now then, center the steering wheel and maark it with tape (like the big bous do ! )  Place one of the 1X12 boards against the side of each tire so it's centered beneath the wheel hub center.  With a friend's help, hold each board flush against the tire, and measure the distance between them (from outside to outside) at the front of the boards, and also the back. Be careful to always measure in the exact same place, make marks on the boards so you'll know where to place the tape. Write these measurements down.  

Now that you have loosened the lock nuts on the tie rods, turn the center of the rod (which is tubular) so as to either lengthen or shorten them a small amount to accopmplish the toe setting you decide upon.

Roll the car back and forth again a few times, and re-check your measurements.  You'll probably have to do this a few times before you arrive at the adjustment you seek, but once you do, re-tighten the locking nuts, re-check it again, lock it down, and go racing.

There's a lot more to front end set up  on FWD cars, and I'd be happy to help further if you need it, just let me know. I can better help you if you will let me know what size track, and which modifications are allowed, and which aren't.

Good Luck!

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida  



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: here are our rules: http://galesburgspeedway.com/techrules_detail.asp?rule=37
the track is a 1/4 mile flat asphalt

i haven't done anything with the car (except for air pressure)... plan to run 185/75/13 all the way around (per rules) and run 2nd gear...

this is what i am planning:
-1/2 inch neg. chamber in right front (measure per rules)
-1/2 inch neg chamber in right rear
-1/2 inch positive chamber in left front
-machine lower control arm bushings for right front
-put a 3/8 inch spacer on left front and 3/4 spacer on right front of sway bar
-mess with toe out at the track

am i heading in the right direction?

Answer
Hello again:

First I'd suggest you get ahold of a Caster Camber guage from Capital Motorsports, www.cmwraceparts.com , the Longacre #LON78260, is $129.00 and will allow you to adjust your cambers and casters  in degrees like the professionals. The 1/2" allowed in your rules is probably enough, but it may be too much for a flat track. You will learn that a properly handling race car is FAR better than a cheater motor. You will also learn that guessing is not the way to win races.  

You will also need a tire pyrometer, on the same page in the Capital catalog, it's Longacre #LON50612 and is $79.95  And finally you should get the book "How ToMake Your Car Handle" by Fred Puhn- - -any bookstore can order it for you, larger stores have it in stock.  It was once the bible of all suspension guys, and still has some excellent ideas.  The book will teach you the importance of the other two items and how to use them.  Once you've mastered that You will have the fastest chassis at that track, having the fastest car will be up to the driver.

Now to my recommendations.

RF Camber should be about 5 Deg. negative, LR camber about 3 Deg. positive, RR at 2 deg. neg. and LR at 2 Deg. positive. If you can find a way to improve caster (see the book I recommend) it will help the car turn.

Relocate the battery to the LR of the trunk.

If you can swing it in your budget, get a larger diameter but stock looking front sway bar.

Aside from that, your rules are pretty restrictive, so there's not much more you can do other than experiment with tires and tire pressures.

Good luck !

Dan Liddy