I got my alignment report back on my car. Now, is -1/8 toe out or toe in? I requested toe out in the front, and by the printout and the results, I'm having a tough time telling what is what. Before it went in car was 1/32 on both sides in the front for toe. Now it came back -1/16 on both sides (for an eighth total).

Car doesn't seem to turn as well either. I'm having a hard time figuring out why going from toe-in in the front to toe-out would make the car more difficult to turn and not seem to handle as well.

Any thoughts?

 

anything - is toe in. you should have the opposite amount of toe, (i run the same settings) +1/8 total toe out, not toe in. the reason it doesn't turn in as well is your tires are facing towards each other, kinda fighting each other. sounds like you need to go back and have them correct the problem.

 

negative toe = toe out

You can call the shop and ask to talk to te alignment tech if you like.

Warren

 

yeah, the dude at the shop said that -1/8 total was toe-out on their machine.

Maybe I should have went with more toe-out....

 

I've been on a couple of different alignment machines that were different. Why cant they just stick to one way??

+ being - & - being + Some read fractions other read decimals i.e. 1/16 or .0625

Definitely make sure that is what the machine says.

Pete

 

Every Hunter machine I've worked on, (-) is toe out.

I used to set them up with fractions, but prefer a decimal.. I think it's more exact due to the fluctuations in the machine if you "breathe" on it...

Jeff

 

I've heard the opposite. But not 100% sure if it is correct tho.
At turn in, the outside front tire would be most loaded, so if you have toe in, that tire would be pointing slightly towards the turn --- better turn in.

At track out, the outside rear tire would be most loaded, so if you have toe out, that tire would be pointing slightly away from the turn --- oversteer.

For the Integra/Civic, the front suspenion gains toe out as it compresses. So having a static toe in would balance that out.

 

Actually, due to Ackerman angles designed into the car, the outside tire would be pointing slightly less towards the turn. Toe out is automatic once the steering wheel is turned.

My guess as to why a little toe-out helps with turn-in is that the outside, more heavily loaded tire is better able to use it's traction circle by turning with less of a slip angle at the same speed than that of a car with more toe-in.

Like I said before, this is nothing but a theory. If anyone else has more knowledge on the subject of Ackerman angles, and how these angles combined with toe alignment affects handling, I'd love to hear it.


[Modified by Mike P., 12:03 AM 8/30/2002]

 

In the realy real world, toe out helps turn in. Toe in = understeer city. The outside tire travels a larger arc, unless you're spinning like a top about that corner.

I can't believe someone said toe in helps turn in

Warren