The Rubber parachute - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

robchalmers · 09-25-2009, 09:54 AM

I finally got round to getting the alignment on my car checked - should really have had it done when the front corner was being rebuilt after the bearing explosion

verdict - 2.5degress toe-out

WTF

kinda explains the tyre eating, zero coast ability, massive turn-in etc I can only imagine the increase in RR this was causing.

so I got them to set it to neutral toe rather than the book 1deg toe-in. Instantly the car now coasts! and feels free-er. even though the change has been done at 170miles into a tank , I've got high hopes for this tank!

want any easy fix? try getting this checked

robchalmers · 09-30-2009, 01:25 PM

economy has gone up 3.9% just by sorting the alignment!! now into the 41's

Piwoslaw · 09-30-2009, 01:54 PM

Good going

I'm planning on checking my suspension when I go to change my tires for the winter. It'd be a good idea to check the alignment, as I haven't check that since buying the car. Hopefully it's OK, but it would be nice to find something that would improve FE...

FastPlastic · 09-30-2009, 01:54 PM

WOW! That alone should pay for the re-alignment in no time!

robchalmers · 10-01-2009, 06:14 PM

It cost $20 to measure and adjust. and on that tank saved me rougly $2 so.... ten tanks/weeks and bingo. Also the Change was done during the tank, so this tank now will be the first full tank ao i'm hoping that will also have an increase, maybe even break my target of 50mpg(imp) which i got sooooo close to!

Clev · 10-01-2009, 08:15 PM

A lot of EV'ers have their car aligned to zero toe to reduce RR. It's supposed to make the car a little more squirrely, but I haven't heard any of them complain. I'm going to try it next time I get the Clunker realigned.

MetroMPG · 10-01-2009, 11:31 PM

Congrats on the results from your alignment.

I've never thought to look up the factory toe in/out specs for my car. Doing that now....

Factory manual says:

Front total toe = 0.0 - 0.32 degrees
Rear total toe = 0.3 - 0.6 degrees

I should look into this...

mwebb · 10-01-2009, 11:43 PM

on my 1996 geo metro i have set toe at .1 degree front and rear and
the car does not feel "squirrely"
i was thinking to drop to 0 toe as well

MetroMPG · 10-01-2009, 11:52 PM

mwebb: did you set the toe yourself or have a shop do it?

Piwoslaw · 10-02-2009, 02:52 AM

Is rear toe as important as front toe? I'd think the toe in the front helps steering, but what about the back?

BTW: What if we called front toe = finger?