Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
bilgladstone

Is Rear Toe-in Adjustable?

31 posts in this topic

As per title. Caster/camber is fixed, as we know. Is the toe adjustable? Thinking about it because of tire wear - inside tread.Bil :senile:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For the rear, wouldn't you want no toe-in? Adding toe would cause wear, and an extra load that our already strained engines don't really have a chance to overcome.

I guess you could change it with a shim plate like you posted in another thread to modify the camber... but at the factory I'm sure there is a jig that takes careful consideration into the parallelism between the two welded supports on the DeDion tube.

Here's a good page: http://www.ozebiz.com.au/racetech/theory/align.html

-Iain

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For the rear, wouldn't you want no toe-in?

Yes, exactly. I want to confirm that my rear toe is zero and adjust it to zero if it is not, because I suspect it might not be right on the money. My rear tires wear faster than I would like. It could be my driving :confess: but I'd like to be reassured that the suspension is set up "as per".

Thanks for the link, Iain.

B :sun:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It may not be the most "polite" solutiong, but I have always thought that it you took two long pieces of pipe and slid them into the rear tubes, you could easily bend the tubes toward or away from each other to modify the toe. Although, whenever we have a smart that has been in an accident, and the rear toe is out, we just have the rear suspension replaced.

Edited by MightyMouseTech

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I suppose one way (along those lines) to adjust the toe in would be to install a turnbuckle-style linkage where the rear links are. Recall that the linkage is as such:

Posted Image

In machinery design we often use a solution like this, with a left-hand and right-hand threaded nut:

Posted Image

That way you can adjust the distance between the two rod eyes. Same setup is used on your steering up front. You might be able to do something like that to tweak your tow in angles.

(Actually, I think we must have discussed this online before, because I found this sketch that I'd done up as well)

-Iain

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So... there is no adjustment that can be done at a normal alignment shop?

@Duck: yeah, I think there was a couple of guys offering a pair of rods like that to replace the oem smart rods. One end was fixed and the other was adjustable. And because of the Heim ends with no flex bushings, they said they were hard like a rock and recommended for race application only.

Their installation notes emphasized measuring the C:C distance on the oem installation before removing them, and then very carefully fine-tuning the new rods to exactly the same dimension once installed and weight-loaded. I guess if you had a 3-bolt alignment plate setup, you could tweak it like that. Too much trouble for me.

@MightyMouseTech: the "snipe and bend" idea sounds very risky. Like breaking a turkey wishbone (in reverse) - the two sides never have exactly the same strength due to material variability so you are as likely to make the problem worse as not.

So... there is no adjustment that can be done at a normal alignment shop?

Edited by bilgladstone

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So... there is no adjustment that can be done at a normal alignment shop?

I do a fair number of alignments on smarts that have been in an accident, and if the rear is out at all, it means a complete new DeDion tube, and only the dealer has the special tools to install one properly.As for Duck's idea with the adjustable tension rods, I have seen something like that for our cars, I saw it on here somewhere for sale at some point.... :dunno2:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

OK then. Thanks guys. :-/

Well, you showed the alignment shims in another thread...did you ever find out if they would work? On old VW's we used shims like that on the rear, and if you turn the shim 90 degrees you are adjusting the toe and not the camber, and you can vary the angle anywhere between to get a combination of toe and camber. They usually came with a chart that would tell you such and such an angle means X-camber and Y-toe change.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The problem with the Watts linkage adjustment is that the tension on the tube and hence toe out will vary proportional to the amount of extension or compression the rear springs are under, the lowest toe effect being when the Watts links are perfectly horizontal......it is not by any means a fixed effect. And compared to the Watts link on the B 200 which has a toe compensator of sorts; it is a very simple affair on the smart, more likely to have undesirable side effects.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, you showed the alignment shims in another thread...did you ever find out if they would work?

Yes, according to the designer they will work. They reduce negative camber and no other axis. I remain unconvinced that it is a good idea :dunno:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The problem with the Watts linkage adjustment is that the tension on the tube and hence toe out will vary proportional to the amount of extension or compression the rear springs are under, the lowest toe effect being when the Watts links are perfectly horizontal......it is not by any means a fixed effect.

Ah... so adjusting rear ride height (as with Bilstein adjustables) will affect toe-in?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well it would appear to (assuming bushing hysteresis - under compression or tension - is not all that extreme), so what you would want ideally is to have the Watts links perfectly horizontal when the car is at its normal operating weight, with you in it....that would leave the C-shaped tube in whatever its natural state is or was out of the box.

Edited by Mike T

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well it would appear to (assuming bushing hysteresis - under compression or tension - is not all that extreme), so what you would want ideally is to have the Watts links perfectly horizontal when the car is at its normal operating weight, with you in it....that would leave the C-shaped tube in whatever its natural state is or was out of the box.

But the rods are not normally horizontal. Look at the red line or any smart. the inside attachment points are higher than the outside points. So I'd want to lower the back end until these are actually horizontal to achieve "zero toe"?

I might be misunderstanding what you're meaning :dunno:

post-95-1265347578_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well my thoughts were theoretical....I would say controlling toe on the rear of this car is a lost cause!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well my thoughts were theoretical....I would say controlling toe on the rear of this car is a lost cause!

I agree, especially as the reason for uneven tyre wear is the -2 degrees camber.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree, especially as the reason for uneven tyre wear is the -2 degrees camber.

Not that I 100% disagree with you but it would be interesting to nail down the question of why some peoples' rear tires show very little wear after many, many kilometers when others' similar tires appear to wear down in a fraction of the distance.I'm thinking maybe turning? Faster:slower or maybe even the number of turns in the same km? City v. highway, in general terms.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry to bring back this topic, but last year, I had my crank seal done with the help of a friend. To access it, we had to undo the rod on the tube. When we had to put it back, well, we had a lot of difficulties... and we had to force it with a very long force bar.

The thing is, I'm thinking it's propably why now that I have a swig left to right when one wheel is having less contact on the road.

Today, I changed my tires and there I find :

10648459_10152794595577667_4305336919512

The left tire is still good for one more year, maybe 2 if I don't do a lot of road, as I tend to know. The right tire is... over done...

They are been brought at the same time...

So I think I need somebody good with smart rear aligment!

What will you do?

By the way, I live in Trois-Rivières, Québec.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

There was a thread here with a lot of contributions from Tolsen, detailing how he did his rear alignment. Can't seem to find it though, spend some time searching and you may. The search function here is not great, use Google and search within domain for better results.

Any official smart dealer will be happy to charge you many thousands and replace everything!

Don't even think that way, find someone with patience who know how to measure carefully and bend metal back straight. A come-along, a hydraulic jack, ropes/chains, big straight-edge, measuring devices and experience will yield a great result. Not a job you can learn on the fly, though.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well I know somebody like that, the problem is he won't have the time at all... but he is perfectionist so he would do a real good job..

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, find the problem... and it will be harder to fix since the problem is the alignement.

The smart is supposed to have a 0.20 degrees of toe in, but a got 1.55 degrees of toe out..

That's like a lot... I must have fall in deep hole!! Dam!

And the garage don't think there is an existing shim for that car.

I may calculate the thinkness of the shim I need... put it on, and go test again...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Seems to be fairly even wear across the bad tire and no visual feathered edges usually common with toe in/out problems. . Break dragging at all?

Edited by dmoonen

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No break dragging at all, I think the almost 2 degrees off in toe alignment may compensate for the camber. The guys at the garage were thinking that's strange too.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!


Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.


Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0

    Chatbox
    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More