Posted By: MRMOPAR622
Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/27/10 12:02 AM
I aligned my dragster front end off the rear tires. The string from the rear tires to the front tires. I put them about a 1/16 toe in on each side. But when I measured rear center to center then front center to center I had about 1/2 to 9/16 toe in.
I put my new engine in & took it to T&T last Sunday. At about 400 ft the steering wheel wanted to jerk from side to side. I did not feel a vibration like when the front tires are out of balance, it was more like the front wheels were moving back & forth.
A man told me this afternoon on a solid front suspension I first needed to get the steering wheel center(I know where the center is on the steering box) Then I need to get the rear center to center and the front center to center exact or as close as possible. This man is not a chassis builder but he is very smart. I was hoping someone could tell me if this is the correct way to do this or if there is a better way. I really appreciate any advice you have! Thanks
Posted By: Quicktree
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/27/10 12:05 AM
off the rear tires
I set mine 1/16 toe in and never messed with the rear wheels. drove straight as an arrow at 175+
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/27/10 12:18 AM
I've always set mine by placing a white line on both tires and setting the toe in with a tape ruler. 1/8" toe in is plenty 1/16 each side.
Posted By: MRMOPAR622
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/27/10 01:20 AM
Thanks for the help,I have one more question and I think I can fix it.
How can I check to make sure my front wheel is straight, my three foot level will not tell me side to side. If I could get one wheel perfectly straight I could use my tape to get the other one right. Can't think of a way to make sure it is straight! I know I'm overlooking a simple way to do this! Thanks
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/27/10 01:27 AM
Turn each heim end a 1/2 turn in on one side and out on the other until the wheel is where you want it and then check your toe.
Posted By: RodStRace
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/27/10 02:16 AM
Goofy but true.
Set it up as best as you can.
Get in it and hold the wheel straight.
Have a friend push you through a puddle (like a burnout area).
Measure where the front tire wet spots line up in the rear tire spots.
Posted By: 40ford
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/28/10 03:01 PM
I don't know how old/new your chassis is----if you can, talk to the chassis manufacturer about front end settings. And solid mount fronts often have the front spindles staggered(as much as 2") in order to present the widest window to the beams. Some older solid front axles do the same but not staggered as much.
We use 1/16" total toe on our car, but the camber is negative on both sides. Caster needs at least 8 degrees, many use 10 degrees.
Posted By: MRMOPAR622
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/30/10 12:53 AM
I was wrong about my toe in it was only 5/16" toe in. I set it to 1/16" toe in today.
So now my question is could 5/16" have caused my problem jerking(left-right)back and forth? Or do you think something else is going on? THANKS!!!
Posted By: polyspheric
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/30/10 09:20 PM
The first thing you need to do is find out if your front axle is center in both planes (L/R, F/R) using the center of the tire patch.
Then, same with the rear - I've seen some pretty big offsets to get around replacing a rear with a big offset pinion stem.
If yes + yes, a diagonal line from LF wheel hub to RR wheel hub will be the same length as from RF to LR, within 1/8".
Now, examine your steering arms: Ackermann or not?
Has the rack been bump-steered?
If everything is good, start looking for broken bolts, cracked tubes.
Posted By: MRMOPAR622
Re: Need Help on Front End Alignment for Dragster - 10/31/10 06:43 PM
Checked over everything good yesterday.After setting the toe in from 5/16" to 1/16",the only other thing I found is my 2 M/T front runners or out of round. They are about 3 years old with only 7-8 1/8 mile passes. The car sets in my shop on jack stands. One of them is protruded about a 1/4"for about 12". The other one sinks (don't know the correct term)in about a 1/4" for about 1/2 the cir. of the tire. I fear this is abnormal,what do you all think?
PS, I even keep them covered at the track to keep the heat off them.
