Alignment

For setting toe, I use a pair of 36" pieces of aluminum 2"x2" angle. The front axle is jacked up and placed on jack stands and the tires removed. Larger tires (35"+) can deflect during the adjustment throwing your measurements off, especially on 15 inch wheels. The 2x2 angle has a hole drilled into the center and it's mounted onto one of the lug bolts that has been rotated up to the top. I set the lug to the highest point, then level the 2x2 angle fore and aft. This gives me a level plane to measure between. Take measurements at each end of the 2x2 angle and adjust the tie rod until you get the difference (toe) you are looking for. Toe is supposed to be measured in degrees and it wouldn't be hard to convert an 1/8" of toe-in to an angular measurement.

Mike

 

I measure the rim to rim for basically the same results

 

This is pretty much how we have aligned solid axle swap Toyotas for years. Except I use thumb tacks stuck in a tread block a bit to measure off of, I only run mud tires. I would not do it that way on a non aggressive tire.

 

I just do it the way the FSM says works for me. Square the wheels and turn the tie rods in 1/2 turn.

 

On our beam axles, caster can only be adjusted by shimming wedges under the spring perches. More caster (positive) provides more stability at speed, higher steering resistance, more positive self-centering and vise-versa. It isn't easy to have more than a few tenths of a degree variance from side-side. A vehicle will lead toward the side with the lower amount of caster. I suppose it is possible to have a lot of "apparent" caster if the vehicle is not jounced aggressively to settle the shocks and spring bushings before measuring it.

On an old live solid axle, camber is essentially non-adjustable.

Toe should be measured at the centerline of the tire, front and rear. You can also erect string lines on pairs of jack stands, parallel to the vehicle frame CL. You then measure to the rim flange. Divide the recommended toe in half for each side. HOWEVER, do not dial in but around 60% of the toe, because the measurement is larger at the OD of the tire than the OD of the rim. IndyCars hang bars off the front and rear of their chassis, then pull fishing lines into grooves parallel to the CL. They do all their toe measuring from the monofilament to the rim face with digital calipers.

 

If camber is only a few degrees off the spindle can be shimmed.

 

Camber is usually restored by replacing (or adjusting) the taper roller bearings, top and bottom.
-Donny