Diy Geo (Any Tips)

[stockhome]

Right I have finally fitted the NTR's I bought from DrH (thanks Leigh)

 

After much faffing about I have set the ride height, next I will be fitting Eliseshop uprated toe links. as all of this has messed up the tracking I have been thinking about doing my own geo.

 

I watched this being demonstrated a long time ago when DIY garages was set up(the two poles and string method). I went to B&Q and purchased two poles and some nylon cord. I have mocked this up on the car but I cannot seem to get a good place on the front of the car for the pole to be attached.

 

For any of you that do you own Geo's have you got any tips or different methods of doing this.

 

Thanks Sheldon

[Martin R]

Drill a hole right in the middle of the front pole. Attach it to the towing eye using a 6 or 8mm bolt and some washers as spacers. i cant remember the size off the top of my head.

[goaty]

You can do it without attaching it to the car, ie sit it on top of axle stands, you just need to ensure its square

[russelld]

Sheldon if you remove the centre front grille ( 5 clips ) your front pole can then be positioned "in the mouth" of the of the front clam. Put some gaffa tape on the clam where the pole touches to protect the paint. ( you can also tape the pole in position if you wish )

 

Sit your second pole on top of the rear diffuser ( mine is a one piece diffuser & this is at the correct wheel center height ) and put your strings from the front to the back pole.

 

Use monofillament fishing line for your strings, this stretches by about 20% and acts like a spring to hold your poles in place once attached.

 

Measure the distance between the poles when in position and make your two stings about 100mm shorter ( finished length inc loops ). Tie a loop to each end of the strings to slip over the poles. Because of the stretch in the fishing line when your strings are in place they will hold your poles in position. Simples !!!

 

You then need to move the strings on the poles so they are perfectly parallel, then move the poles so the distance from the centre of the front wheels to the string is the same at each side of the car, repeat this at the rear and you are all set.

 

With this method you can move the car back and forth to settle the suspension without having to re set the jig.

 

For camber hang a plumb line from a pole taped to the top of the clam, again use fishing line and a fishing weight ( 1oz bomb ).

 

I suggest you wear a disguise when going into the fishing shop.

[jhall89]

Pay the £s and get it done by people who have proper equipment/experience. I use Guglielmi in Daventry

[Stumason10]

4 axle stands and nylon cord works well. Saves touching the car at all as Martin mentioned.

 

 

Rest is as Russel says.

 

Also if you ask Dan webster nicely he may help you out. There is a guy I use in Sandiacre if you want a really cheap set up doing.

[jimbo07g41]

Pay the £s and get it done by people who have proper equipment/experience. I use Guglielmi in Daventry

 

All the equipment does is replicate the pole and string method. Guglielmi do know what they are doing but plenty dont. How many people do you see getting someone to sit in the car as ballast.

[stockhome]

Pay the £s and get it done by people who have proper equipment/experience. I use Guglielmi in Daventry

 

It's not really a question of £s JSR have done my couple of geo's and it was fantastic, I believe that Guglielme is very good. I like working on my car the and i like to understand how the car fits together. There always seems to be some sort of smoke and mirrors around geos. I attended a session at DIY Garages a while ago with Walshy where the process was described and demonstrated.

 

I can't remember the guys name but he advised with practice you should be able to get accurate results. I would like to have a go and then get it checked.

 

 

4 axle stands and nylon cord works well. Saves touching the car at all as Martin mentioned.

 

 

Rest is as Russel says.

 

Also if you ask Dan webster nicely he may help you out. There is a guy I use in Sandiacre if you want a really cheap set up doing.

 

Dan also did one for me ages ago, I will send you a pm as I still would like to get mine checked after

 

Thanks for all the replies

[Elise+Imp]

often overlooked is wheel run-out, this can be more significant than the toe settings you're trying to achieve, (i.e 2-3mm)

 

either take readings and roll the car half a wheel rev and average the readings,

 

or measure the wheel run-out before you start (with a DTI) and try to find two points 180 degrees apart with the same reading, mark these with a spot of tip-ex and set them all horizontal for toe measurement and set them vertical for measuring camber.

[TheRon]

When I bent my steering arm at Donny Austen used one of these to set the alignment after we fitted a new arm: http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/wheel-alignment-products/trackace-laser-wheel-alignment-gauge

 

It's cheap and plasticy but is a clever idea. Manuals here that explain the process: http://www.trackace.co.uk/manual.html

 

We set the tracking on a bumpy bit of tarmac in the paddock and I've since checked it with poles and string and it was spot on.

[stockhome]

When I bent my steering arm at Donny Austen used one of these to set the alignment after we fitted a new arm: http://www.demon-twe...alignment-gauge

 

It's cheap and plasticy but is a clever idea. Manuals here that explain the process: http://www.trackace.co.uk/manual.html

 

We set the tracking on a bumpy bit of tarmac in the paddock and I've since checked it with poles and string and it was spot on.

 

Thanks Tim I will have a look, I have seen another one that produced by a bloke on seloc and is supposed to be quite good but very expensive

 

http://bobvanm.brinkster.net/corbo.htm

[stockhome]

Tim I have had a good read through the Trackace website and it seem quite a neat way of working out overall toe.

 

[danwebster]

You rang

 

I'll lend you my gear if you want to have a crack at it yourself?

[stockhome]

Thanks for the offer Dan I might take you up on it

[jhall89]

Good luck - totally understand DIY thing - my missus thinks I spend more time working on S1 than driving it [true!!!] although great blast today. When I changed trackrod ends did tracking myself and when I went for geo it was spot on but not aligned to rear so for me to get right handling + tyre wear I go to the professionals for geo.