So I've done string alignments before, nbd.

Took like 2 hours to do the front end of the civic (just toe) because the passenger side nut was pretty frozen. Anyway, got it.... aligned everything.... went for a test drive, and it pulls HARD AF to the right. Like a lot.

Park it back in the garage... I'm toed IN on the both sides (slightly just barely). Makes no sense because if ANYTHING, the passenger side is dead nuts on, and the passenger side has just a TINY bit of toe in, which means it should push to the left just a little aka track straight on crowned roads.

I don't get it. What am I missing?

 

Did you bounce & roll between every measure/adjust/measure? How are you centering the wheel? Is your string box car mounted?

 

Pulling to one side cannot be caused by front toe. There is no actual center for the front as they move. If you are off on front toe, the car may feel darty if you have too much toe out or feel like it won't turn with too much toe in. Rear toe, caster and camber can impact pulling to one side or another with caster and camber having the least impact on straight line driving. If I had to guess, your rear toe is wrong.

I only use string to get the rear tires straight. After that I use toe plates to actually set the toe front and rear then reverify with the string on the rear. Adjustable rear toe links make this easier as you can move them in specific increments. There really is no point in using string for the front if you have toe plates.

I have a set of 2x10 blocks about 6" thick that I set the car on so I can adjust toe without jacking the car up which also serve as leveling pads. Even if you don't elevate the car, you need to ensure it is fairly level (shoot for 1/16" or less). Many people stack thin 1 foot square tiles to level their cars for alignment. These are fairly cheep and you can pick them up at any big box hardware store. If you are jacking the car up to make changes, you need to settle the suspension. An easy trick for this is using grease between two of these tiles. It isn't the springs that need to be settled, it is the friction of the tires. As the car gets lower, the wheels will move outwards. The tires resist this force and will load the suspension unless you roll it back and forth or set it on something that can easily slide.

 

Just doing the fronts? that's what's wrong for starters.

Get some longacre toe plates.

String is fine if you know what you're doing and have lots of room. I use a laser instead to align my thrust.

 

So here's how it turned out, I loosened everything because I was going to have an alignment shop do it, 1.5 miles away. I literally left the tie rod nuts loose. On the way there.... car started driving fine. Wanted them to do it but turns out my upper balljoint has some play, so they didn't bother.... well... I drove it home and it drove fine, checked with string, seems like just BARELY toe in maybe 1/16" on each side, so I just tightened it up and it drives great. lol.