How to Perform a Front End Alignment Yourself - Easy and Free

Here is a quick video on how you can adjust your front wheel toe alignment yourself and save a bunch of money. You should always do an alignment after you replace any of your steering components, inner or outer tie rods, rack n pinion etc but if all you need to adjust is the toe on your front wheel here is how you can perform the procedure yourself with very little effort.

How to diagnose vibration or shaking issues at highway speeds:

Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Ratchetsand Wrenches, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. Ratchetsand Wrenches assumes no liability for any property or personal damage that may arise from doing a repair on your vehicle after watching any of my repair video's. Due to factors beyond the control of Ratchetsand Wrenches, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Again Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Ratchetsand Wrenches.

[GaryKetchum]

Fix a mans alignment, and he’ll he driving straight for a year. Teach a man to align, and he’ll be driving straight forever. Thanks for the vid, you got a new subscriber.

[killersmith]

For anyone attempting this one thing to point out is when you make these measurements and adjustments. make sure the car is 100% on the ground with something under the wheels that will allow them to pivot. Also when you set the car on the ground make sure to give the car a few good shakes on each corner to make sure the suspension has settled. There's a reason alignments are done on a 4 post alignment lift that you drive up onto and not a 2 post lift where the tires leave the ground. The reason for this is the cars suspension geometry is totally different from when it's sitting on the ground compared to when it's lifted off the ground and all the suspension components are stretched out. Aligning the vehicle with the wheels off the ground can and more than likely will throw off your alignment. Im not saying the method in this video can't be used because it definitely can, it won't be as 100 percent accurate as an alignment system but it will work to get you by, you just have to make sure that all four wheels are touching the ground and the cars suspension is settled 100%. The reason I know this is im a ASE Certified Auto Technician. Good luck to anyone doing this method and take your time recording measurements and making adjustments, don't rush along.

[peterkleiner]

It's a good thing I was sitting down while watching this video, because I nearly fainted when I saw how easy it is. The more videos I watch on auto repair, the dumber I feel for having spent so much money with mechanics. Thanks (6 years later) for this video, sir!

[JM-wbxs]

went to three shops and no one would fix my alignment. "We are just to busy." Went to a fourth and they made me an appointment. Showed up for the appointment and they said they couldn't do it, could they give me another appointment two days later. Walked out and searched for a DIY and found this one. Went home and did it myself. Thanks a lot. Subbed and liked.

[samsen]

This was uploaded 8 years back and has to be solid so still here. You potentially have saved me $200! Thanks.

[MBYaBish]

“And we’re running a red light... but that’s ok we are making a very important video” 🤣🤣🤣

[unlimitedbattery]

You are cool because you use tools that WE can afford and you use techniques that WE the people can easily do.

[jojomama]

this guy comes across as a very honest man, it's becoming one of my favorite channels

[spamwagon]

A quick note... if you need to turn the tie rod more than about 1/4-turn, it's a good idea to loosen the clamp on the boot so the tie rod can spin without twisting the boot. Just remember to re-tighten it when you're done.

[monoshock]

I've been doing this for years. Works. Make sure the tie rod ends do not have any play or you wasting your time.

[hudsonite]

Great tutorial. Just performed my own alignment after replacing tie rods, runs smooth and straight as an arrow. I recently had a professional alignment, so what I did was to measure the distance before I removed my old tie rods and then aligned the new tie rods/wheels to my original distance. Also, I used folding chairs and tied the string on the same height on each of the chairs to ensure the string crossing the same part of the wheel on front and back. Worked perfectly! You saved me $100 from having to go in again.

[mingosmoreira]

just logged in to say this was the best video about getting your wheels aligned at home. I'm changing my tie rods, so need to get this right, no need to pay $50 for an alignment.

[petcatznz]

Not shown in the video. Use a second wrench (spanner) to hold the tie rod (track rod) end when tightening the lock nut. Tightening against the tie rod ball joint may damage the joint, plus the lock nut may remain insufficiently tightened. The tie rod end normally has flats provided for this purpose, as can be seen in the video. This method also allows the ball joint to be held level when tightening the lock nut. Hope this helps.

[michaelbroadbent]

Honestly one of the most clear and simple videos I've seen for explaining it thank you

[tastethyboot]

Brilliant, thank you. I am a fabricator and mason line once again has proven to be one of the most versatile/useful tools in my toolbox!!

[rangersammy]

thanks for the video. that tip about turning the wheels in 1/8" was perfect. I had them both straight and took it for a drive and just as you said, the wheels wandered. Went back and fixed it right up.

[YouCantSawSawdust]

A few things here that I need to mention.Do not adjust your toe-in with the front of the vehicle off the ground like R&W did in this demonstration.Your vehicle may be susceptible to "bump steer".This is a change of toe-in/toe-out as the suspension moves from full droop to full compression, due to differences in the arcs of the tie rod and the lower control arm.
When you adjust the toe with the vehicle on the ground, use turn plates under the tire or something to break the friction between the tire and the ground, as you may get a false toe reading due to a slight tire slip angle through the tread.That is, the rubber is twisting.
When centering the steering wheel, if the vehicle has power steering, start it up, center the steering wheel, then switch it off.This equalizes the pressure in the steering rack/box.   

[myRatchets]

I am glad everyone liked the red light comment, didn't think it was gona be that funny when I made it.. lol.

[niveklor]

Dude we're running red lights but we're doing very important videos, I love it. I have used this method and it works very well.

[GallacticReactions]

That's the thinnest rope I've ever seen, I think you're just stringing me along.