Alignment with a piece of string

[tim.100]

Went to a reputable MB independent, recommended on this site. Asked for a full alignment, and queried the type of machine they have. Told they used a piece of string 'the old fashioned way.' I was charged 2 hours labout at £50+VAT.

Anyone heard of this technique?

Regards,

Tim

PS the car steering is perfect, and steering wheel dead centre. So I'm not complaining.

 

[scotth_uk]

Hi Tim,

I have seen it done well a couple of times using that method, but I wouldn't have it done that way myself.

Scott

 

[bitonw]

Most of the times it's the knowledge and experience of the mechanic... and not the machine!

 

[goldestate]

Entertaining reading, next door to my hovel the construction of a large block of apartments is under way, with differential gps, more lasers than a Pink Floyd concert but, oh and its a big but when they came to lay the floor beams they had to stagger them because things were so badly out of square, moral of story dickhead with lasers and computer or clever man with string you choose, the brickie with the brain predicted this from the outset to me after I asked why it looked so odd!!

 

[Dieselman]

The piece of string is used to measure the wheelbase on both sides of the car to check for setback. The rest can be done manually with tracking gauges and castor/camber gauge. A caster/camber gauge can be made from a piece of plywood and a plumb bob.

 

[miro]

Most of the times it's the knowledge and experience of the mechanic... and not the machine!

There are about 30 different W203 setups. So it must be something.

 

[TVRTASMIN]

Demon Tweeks sell a string alignment kit. Just seen it in the 2007 Motorsport cataloque.

 

[Ultymate]

As with many things in life it ain't what you've got it's what you do with it that counts

 

[Mactech]

Classy string

I the motorsport world we tend to use a classy sort of string called fishing line! I have used all sorts of hi tech kit for aligining cars including lasers and 5m solid bars.
If you have made a jig to go on the car (tracking bars) then the best method in the field is string! It always goes straight if you try to stretch it.
You do need good reference points, like the centre line of the car for instance, but the diesel landspeed record was set using the string method this summer. That did travel straight.....and fast

 

[tim.100]

I the motorsport world we tend to use a classy sort of string called fishing line! I have used all sorts of hi tech kit for aligining cars including lasers and 5m solid bars.
If you have made a jig to go on the car (tracking bars) then the best method in the field is string! It always goes straight if you try to stretch it.
You do need good reference points, like the centre line of the car for instance, but the diesel landspeed record was set using the string method this summer. That did travel straight.....and fast

Thanks for all the responses. I think only the high-tech methods have been discussed on this forum before, so you learn something every day.

Like I said earlier, the car drives really well so the money was well spent.

Tim