Any ways to check wheel alignment without lazer kit??

hawky666 · Dec 18, 2023

As per title folks, wondered f there's any way to do this as have very limited time to decide if im buying back from insurance after a smack and trying to find out whats causing wheel to look off center despite nothing obvious found to cause

Hicap phill · Dec 18, 2023

Measuring tape to rear of wheels to chassis.
Front of chassis leg to front of arms
Rear of chassis to rear arms (both on axle)

Laser line on wheels.

What was involved in the crash?
If you buy back you won’t get full payment on next claim.

Could you buy back and chuck a galv chassis under it ?

Turboman · Dec 18, 2023

hawky666 said:
As per title folks, wondered f there's any way to do this as have very limited time to decide if im buying back from insurance after a smack and trying to find out whats causing wheel to look off center despite nothing obvious found to cause

Do you mean checking the tracking of the front wheels? As in setting the toe in of the wheels.

Or do you mean checking the alignment of all four wheels? As in are the fronts following the rears?

Or do you mean the steering wheel is off centre?

Or maybe something else?

julianf · Dec 18, 2023

Tow in / out can be bodged with some string with reasonable success.

Other angles I'm not so sure about.

biketeacherdave · Dec 18, 2023

Try string to the rear wheels and run it along to the front wheels

Turboman · Dec 18, 2023

julianf said:
Tow in / out can be bodged with some string with reasonable success.

Other angles I'm not so sure about.

I have used the string with good results.

But not sure if that is what he means. Looking at his other thread on the subject, I think Phil is on the right track with the wheel not being central in the wheel arch^^^^^.

Myself, I wouldn't consider that a problem if the vehicle drove OK.

hawky666 · Dec 18, 2023

the cars taken a hit.. front wheel poining out slightly at front.
no visible bend damage.. front steering arm ball joint on this side has a split boot though.
brand new heavy duty steering and tracking arm, plus re con dtering box fitted 2weeks prior.
cant find anyone to do alignment test tis side of xmas even if i change the rods, joints etc, in order to start working the problem back to find main issue which, lets face it, could be chassis. this is a brand new galvanised one.

tbh i have a very limited time to decide if i should buy back off insurance and they have written it off, and im struggling to work the issue back. just cant see anything obvious so wanted to replace the arms or joints and see if it brings it back in before going any further.

Steering wheels half a full turn out from where it was, right hand down, so to speak

im a fair bit gutted and a bit out of my depth with little help

Hicap phill · Dec 18, 2023

Going by the other threads he has had a bump…

Don’t look bad. I would have drove it home

Anaconda · Dec 18, 2023

Read his other thread, it's already had a wheel alignment and it's out of spec.

Turboman · Dec 18, 2023

hawky666 said:
the cars taken a hit.. front wheel poining out slightly at front.
no visible bend damage.. front steering arm ball joint on this side has a split boot though.
brand new heavy duty steering and tracking arm, plus re con dtering box fitted 2weeks prior.
cant find anyone to do alignment test tis side of xmas even if i change the rods, joints etc, in order to start working the problem back to find main issue which, lets face it, could be chassis. this is a brand new galvanised one.

tbh i have a very limited time to decide if i should buy back off insurance and they have written it off, and im struggling to work the issue back. just cant see anything obvious so wanted to replace the arms or joints and see if it brings it back in before going any further.

im a fair bit gutted and a bit out of my depth with little help

How much are they offering you for the write off?

Did you have agreed value?

hawky666 · Dec 18, 2023

Hicap phill said:
Measuring tape to rear of wheels to chassis.
Front of chassis leg to front of arms
Rear of chassis to rear arms (both on axle)

Laser line on wheels.

What was involved in the crash?
If you buy back you won’t get full payment on next claim.

Could you buy back and chuck a galv chassis under it ?

Fully re built already with galavanized chassis, new breaks, new suspension, new most thing... and re sprayed raptor. 6 weeks on road and some things not even finished. written off and delivered back to me to weigh up if i want it

Anaconda · Dec 18, 2023

Maybe you can buy it in lieu of repairs, isn't written off then as far as I know.

hawky666 · Dec 18, 2023

Turboman said:
How much are they offering you for the write off?

Did you have agreed value?

6k to buy back.. full value covered

Hicap phill · Dec 18, 2023

if anything is going to bend it’s your drag link between the 2 wheels.
Did you put the c bracket on the diff to protect it?
Does this bar look straight?
Measure front of tyre from left to right
The. Rear of tyre left to right will show if towing in/out

hawky666 · Dec 18, 2023

Hicap phill said:
Going by the other threads he has had a bump…

Don’t look bad. I would have drove it home

it drove fine, but i decided best to get insurance involved as was completely none fault.. thats all sorted

julianf · Dec 18, 2023

hawky666 said:
6k to buy back.. full value covered

And it's a cat s then?

6k seems a lot. But then you may have had it covered for a lot and 6k is whatever the percentage works out at.

Probably can't really make the choice without knowing what the payout is though. Not that that is what you were asking at all! Sorry.

Turboman · Dec 18, 2023

hawky666 said:
the cars taken a hit.. front wheel poining out slightly at front.
no visible bend damage.. front steering arm ball joint on this side has a split boot though.
brand new heavy duty steering and tracking arm, plus re con dtering box fitted 2weeks prior.
cant find anyone to do alignment test tis side of xmas even if i change the rods, joints etc, in order to start working the problem back to find main issue which, lets face it, could be chassis. this is a brand new galvanised one.

tbh i have a very limited time to decide if i should buy back off insurance and they have written it off, and im struggling to work the issue back. just cant see anything obvious so wanted to replace the arms or joints and see if it brings it back in before going any further.

Steering wheels half a full turn out from where it was, right hand down, so to speak

im a fair bit gutted and a bit out of my depth with little help

Can you post any pics?

The tracking and steering wheel off centre could be caused by several things, some of them as simple as a bent steering rod.

I would think it would take a ,massive impact to bend the chassis.

Anaconda · Dec 18, 2023

You need to see the engineers report in reference to chassis damage.
If no body damage, no axle tube damage, no chassis damage then its not an expensive repair, it shouldn't be a write off. Get a 2nd quote as you are entitled to take it wherever you want.
Keep it at home if that is where it is.

Turboman · Dec 18, 2023

hawky666 said:
6k to buy back.. full value covered

I meant how much will they pay out to you if they take the vehicle?

hawky666 · Dec 18, 2023

Hicap phill said:
if anything is going to bend it’s your drag link between the 2 wheels.
Did you put the c bracket on the diff to protect it?
Does this bar look straight?
Measure front of tyre from left to right
The. Rear of tyre left to right will show if towing in/out

not 100% what you mean by C bracket phil?
is deff towing out, i could see it immediately, but still drove fine with no wobble or jusdder at all.

Any ways to check wheel alignment without lazer kit??

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