Wheel Alignment - done at home
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Wheel Alignment - done at home
I had this question asked of me again today by PM
...so thought I would run up a 3 minute "how too"...
I will edit and add to this again soon...I just wanted something up ASAP to help now.
How do you check your wheel alignment at home without a ton of equipment ? and check that your front end is straight ?
Easy..
Stuff required :
I piece of good string about 4 mts (13') long
I straight edge about 400mm (16") long
A nice small retractable ruler/tape measure
To begin with ....
here is an example of what you may find is going on with your alignment!
Ok..
To start with , this is easier done with the help of a drinking buddy and about 6 cold cans
NOTE : You will need to remove both plastic side covers prolly depending on which of the 2 ways shown below that you try do this ...
Disclaimer
Rear wheel alignment is fairly easy to do and get right, so you should have no problems with it ..
The front to back wheel alignment can be a bit more fiddly , but very do able..
I would though suggest that if you are not mechanically inclined and can afford this done at a shop that has the correct gear to do it exactly , that you do get it done with them..
These methods will enable you to fix an alignment that is way out , or straighten a twisted front end...
... but it will not usually get it set to "degree perfect" std..
Wheel alignment is really a 3 part issue on bikes..
1/ Rear wheel alignment (firstly)
2/ Rear to front wheel alignment (secondly)
3/ Front Forks check (finally, this can help identify a twisted front end )
This is not too easy to explain , but I will try to make it simple..
Once you read this the pics below will prolly explain the rest for you , so that you get the whole idea..
The first thing..
is to check the rear wheel alignment by measuring the exact distance from the center of the rear wheel axle to the center of the swing arm bolt , on both sides .. This ensures that the wheel is sitting parallel and center within the swing arm.
NOTE:
Measuring this is better to adjust the chain as well because you cant trust the dam marks on the rear of swing arm to be accurate..
(Once you have done this properly once , you can re mark your swing arm for the next time to make it easier and quicker ..)
Second part..
Make sure your steering looks centered and even from the top first...
If you have a center or main stand ,put her up on it.
Grab a nice clean piece of string and tie it around the rear of the rear wheel about 4 inches off the bottom.... (REFER TO PIC BELOW)
Make sure your steering looks centered and even from the top ...
Stretch the string forward along the side of and across the rear wheel up to alongside the front wheel ... with a steady hand you should be able to then measure the parallel gap between the front tire or rim to the string where it passes both front and rear of the front wheel...
If you do your rear wheel to swing arm set first, then set your steering straight and then setup the strings rear to front and find that the front wheel gaps are no where near the same , you will then quickly know that you need to adjust things..
Front end twist check..
This will help identify a twisted set of forks if you are concerned.
The bottom pic explains how to do this better that I can type it ... LOL
Basically in summery...
just take all these measurements and adjust everything to get them all right..
Measurements can be taken from centers or outsides of axles or wheels , which ever is easiest for you.. BUT ...MAKE SURE YOU MEASURE FROM THE SAME POINTS EACH SIDE !!
Prolly take you a couple of hrs the first time , but it is the sort of thing you need only do very rarely anyways.. so its worth it
These 3 pics below may help explain better what I mean..
good luck guys
Excuse my stick figure drawings , but this was a rush job ... LOL
Front end twist check..
SPECIAL NOTE : BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT THIS !
Be sure you have done your rear wheel alignment first !!! at the least ..
...so thought I would run up a 3 minute "how too"...
I will edit and add to this again soon...I just wanted something up ASAP to help now.
How do you check your wheel alignment at home without a ton of equipment ? and check that your front end is straight ?
Easy..
Stuff required :
I piece of good string about 4 mts (13') long
I straight edge about 400mm (16") long
A nice small retractable ruler/tape measure
To begin with ....
here is an example of what you may find is going on with your alignment!
Ok..
To start with , this is easier done with the help of a drinking buddy and about 6 cold cans
NOTE : You will need to remove both plastic side covers prolly depending on which of the 2 ways shown below that you try do this ...
Disclaimer
Rear wheel alignment is fairly easy to do and get right, so you should have no problems with it ..
The front to back wheel alignment can be a bit more fiddly , but very do able..
I would though suggest that if you are not mechanically inclined and can afford this done at a shop that has the correct gear to do it exactly , that you do get it done with them..
These methods will enable you to fix an alignment that is way out , or straighten a twisted front end...
... but it will not usually get it set to "degree perfect" std..
Wheel alignment is really a 3 part issue on bikes..
1/ Rear wheel alignment (firstly)
2/ Rear to front wheel alignment (secondly)
3/ Front Forks check (finally, this can help identify a twisted front end )
This is not too easy to explain , but I will try to make it simple..
Once you read this the pics below will prolly explain the rest for you , so that you get the whole idea..
The first thing..
is to check the rear wheel alignment by measuring the exact distance from the center of the rear wheel axle to the center of the swing arm bolt , on both sides .. This ensures that the wheel is sitting parallel and center within the swing arm.
NOTE:
Measuring this is better to adjust the chain as well because you cant trust the dam marks on the rear of swing arm to be accurate..
(Once you have done this properly once , you can re mark your swing arm for the next time to make it easier and quicker ..)
Second part..
Make sure your steering looks centered and even from the top first...
If you have a center or main stand ,put her up on it.
Grab a nice clean piece of string and tie it around the rear of the rear wheel about 4 inches off the bottom.... (REFER TO PIC BELOW)
Make sure your steering looks centered and even from the top ...
Stretch the string forward along the side of and across the rear wheel up to alongside the front wheel ... with a steady hand you should be able to then measure the parallel gap between the front tire or rim to the string where it passes both front and rear of the front wheel...
If you do your rear wheel to swing arm set first, then set your steering straight and then setup the strings rear to front and find that the front wheel gaps are no where near the same , you will then quickly know that you need to adjust things..
Front end twist check..
This will help identify a twisted set of forks if you are concerned.
The bottom pic explains how to do this better that I can type it ... LOL
Basically in summery...
just take all these measurements and adjust everything to get them all right..
Measurements can be taken from centers or outsides of axles or wheels , which ever is easiest for you.. BUT ...MAKE SURE YOU MEASURE FROM THE SAME POINTS EACH SIDE !!
Prolly take you a couple of hrs the first time , but it is the sort of thing you need only do very rarely anyways.. so its worth it
These 3 pics below may help explain better what I mean..
good luck guys
Excuse my stick figure drawings , but this was a rush job ... LOL
Front end twist check..
SPECIAL NOTE : BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT THIS !
Be sure you have done your rear wheel alignment first !!! at the least ..
Last edited by CBRclassic; Aug 3, 2009 at 10:06 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: Adelaide South Australia
Very simple set of instructions, especially with the drawings. You're right. First time allow a couple of hours because It takes a bit to work cause & effect. The marks on the swing arm are only a guide. They are never accurate. I tend to use a builders string line around the rear tyre & attached to heavy garden chairs. That way I can have the string really tight & it's easily adjusted as I work.
Administrator, MVN / ROTM NOV 2012
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 11,003
Likes: 3
From: Republic of Boon Island
In Maine ............wood works best lol
Well I use 2x 2foot pieces of 2 x 1 wood on the rear wheel
and shim out with 2x 6 foot pieces of straight lumber up to
the front wheel and the as you said adjust so the front sits
dead center and equidistant between the two 6 foot pieces
of wood.
Just a fast and simple approach that works for me....takes
30 seconds and the center stand is not an issue.
Kinda got the lumber thing going on here in Maine ...lol
and shim out with 2x 6 foot pieces of straight lumber up to
the front wheel and the as you said adjust so the front sits
dead center and equidistant between the two 6 foot pieces
of wood.
Just a fast and simple approach that works for me....takes
30 seconds and the center stand is not an issue.
Kinda got the lumber thing going on here in Maine ...lol
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 787
Likes: 0
From: Denver, Colorado
My 1990 CBR has the stock exhaust, which makes it impossible to get a direct measurement between the rear axle and swingarm pivot bolt. I made a caliper. I used a straight rod and a pair of right-angle clamps I got from the internet. I used a long nail in each clamp to space the rod away from the exhaust pipe. I center-punched the swingarm pivot bolt and placed one nail on it. I adjusted the other right-angle clamp so the nail is exactly in the center of the rear axle. I tightened the clamps and brought it to the other side of the bike. When the chain tension is correct and both sides are exactly equal, the rear axle and swingarm pivot bolt are exactly parallel. I also use this on my 1979 Suzuki GS1000, and I can take both hands off the handlebar at speed. This picture shows the rod, right-angle clamp, and the long nail on the center of the swingarm pivot bolt.
By noworries1, shot with Canon PowerShot A510 at 2008-11-04
By noworries1, shot with Canon PowerShot A510 at 2008-11-04
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 257
Likes: 1
From: Waitahanui, New Zealand
Did mine the other day with string and boy it was way out. I wrapped the string around the rear of the back tyre and pulled it along both sides through the main stand and around the front of the front tyre. I used two small blocks of 16MM MDF blocks as spacers between the string (on the front)and the tyre to push the the string out to the same width as the back. I then measured the gap either side on the rear of the front tyre. This worked a treat. My tyres are standard for a 87 and 16mm either side make the front as wide as the back.
Bit of mucking around but worth it.
Bit of mucking around but worth it.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: pine bluff arkansas
Craigart,
If you use string and go from bar end to the gas cap on both sides it should give you the measurement to tell if your wheel is straight
Edit to my post fork top to gas tank I'm both sides then bar end to bar end to
If you use string and go from bar end to the gas cap on both sides it should give you the measurement to tell if your wheel is straight
Edit to my post fork top to gas tank I'm both sides then bar end to bar end to
Last edited by 74demon; Feb 27, 2013 at 09:16 AM. Reason: merged posts
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