Fuelly Forums - What is the Optimal Alignment for MPG?

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I just found a tutorial on how to do a 4-wheel alignment that looks really detailed and I may try it on Monday and see how it goes ...

here it is -- > DIY 4 Wheel Alignment w/ pictures and DIY Calculate Camber

~John

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.I.D.E. (Post 96487)

Bought an 06 Corolla new, back to dealer at 12 k for excessive wear on both front tires on the outside (usually toe). Was told problem was due to not rotating tires (yeah right). At 19k I took it to a friend who was the service manager at another Toyota dealer, with all 4 tires worn badly on the outside now, after I checked the balance, and found I had paid dealer one for four wheel balance and they had not even removed the original weights from the rear tires when the moved them to the front, and they were out of balance by a total of over two ounces. They did balance the tires they moved to the rear.

My friend put it on their high tech alignment machine and took me there to show me the specs. Front total toe was beyond max, although individual wheels were within specs. Rear axle (solid) was out in such a way that both rear wheels were pointing somewhat to the left of where they need to be.
First he replaced the rear axle and adjusted the front toe, but the rear was still out of specs, so he had me drop the car off and took it to a frame shop to have the mounts for the axle shifted enough to get the rear axle pointed in the right direction.

This was a brand new car I bought with 6 miles on the odo, and I have some friends that have bought Toyotas that have the same symptoms as mine.

I sold the Corolla and bought a Del Sol, then found my 94 VX with less than 28k actual miles when I got it in February.

For best mileage the alignment specs should be at the minimum total toe, with camber as close to 0 as is practical (Minimum specs). Camber will be different from one side to the other in the front or the car will drift to the right on roads due to the crown in the road. Generally speraking the specs should be as close to 0 as possible (except caster) while still within specs individually and at the minimum of total spec for both sides.

regards
gary

hahaha yea some of those new corollas look scary to drive(look like they dont handle good), and have slop suspension I think, and wretched amounts of leg room in the front, FAIL

O degrees toe front and rear will give the best mileage. I believe my VX has those specifications. A first-generation Honda Insight has 0 degrees toe-in from the factory, too. However, this setup kills directional stability. The car wants to follow every groove and crown in the road.

*usually* the correct alignment according to the machine will give a little camber and toe. theoretically, with people in the car it'll correct and end up closer to zero than on the rack. BUT that's an ideal situation not necessarily the real world. Every car will settle differently with driver, passenger, cargo, wind resistance. the best you can do is put your usual load in it and set toe to zero. if you're doing it in your driveway (scott), well, keep doing it the way you're doing it.

the optimal alignment is to add wheel spacers on the back wheels for better handling and less slowing down.

I would just assume that the best alignment is a normal, DIY whatever happens when you finally get the wear on the tire even alignment.

Then again, you know what happens when you assume :D

I just changed the tie rod ends and ball joints on my '02 Escort about a month ago and did a DIY alignment. The only adjustment that I made was a toe adjustment. I ran a string line from the rear of the rear tire to front of the front tire at the center line of the wheel and adjusted the tie rods until everything was in a straight line, then I gave each tie rod an extra full turn giving it approximately 1/8" toe in on each wheel. I've been watching tire wear and fuel mileage. Fuel mileage is about the same as before the tie rods and ball joints were replaced and so far I haven't noticed any abnormal tire wear.

in my area Firestone Tire offers unlimited alignments for one car $150

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford Man (Post 147202)

That method works if the distance between front wheels is the same as the rear wheels. It might be worth checking.

what do you think would save you more money?

20$ on spacers that save you countless mile per gallons and allow you for alot less down shifts, taking corners in fourth gear ect...(at the expense of having to hold things from flying around your car) less wear on your brakes(less slowing down) less wear on your transmission(less shifting)
and more mpg maybe even an extra 2-4mpg constantly in the city.
Yes ill be realistic too, cornering can wear out tires, so add that in.. Unless you have super hard tires..

or finding the perfect alignment for your car's best mpg

obviously both

but
alot of these mpg ideas aren't really compared to each other... I'm not trying to diminish either.. more saying, maybe people might take a different route if they consider all their options, I personally thinks there's alot more to be gained by improving handling with spacers but.. not trying to shoot down this idea tho...

yea I know I have another thread about this.. but that was info, this is comparison..