FWIW--I just built an adjustable caliper that makes possible accurate toe-in
adjustment without any jacking of the car.
The factory manual calls for measuring the toe-in in the center of the
sidewall at the front and rear of the tire. This caliper makes it easy to do
so.
It's made from a 48" adjustable shelf rail, 3 pieces of scrap flat aluminum,
a turnbuckle and 2 pieces of scrap wood.
I've posted pictures on my gallery at
http://www.pbase.com/stevegerow
then click the picture that says "Healey Tech" and you'll see pictures of
the caliper on our kitchen counter (doubles as photo studio).
The right side is fixed and the left side is adjustable with the turnbuckle.
When you adjust the caliper to touch the tire on both sides in the center of
the sidewall, you then remove the caliper and measure the distance between
the two tips with a tape measure. I did this and found my toe-in to be 1/4"!
The distance at the front was 43-3/16" and at the back 43-7/16". Therefore
the front needed to be adjusted to a little over 43-1/4" to bring the back
down to a little under 43-3/8".
The caliper is rigid enough to reset it to the proper distance, then use as
a guide to adjust the tie rod until the toe-in is correct.
BTW--viewed from underneath, the tie rod adjuster nuts loosen on both sides
by rotating toward the front of the car.
--
Steve Gerow
Pasadena CA
59 BN6
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