[David Pozzi]

I've tried setting toe without toe plates and the extra friction screws up the adjustments. A toe change twists the tire and you need to free up that friction to have a good measurable setting. I haven't tried the multiple pieces of wax paper method. I also heard a sandwich of 10 pages of newsprint works.


I use turntables and if you have replaced tie rod ends and need a basic setup do this:
1 Center the steering wheel and lock it or tie it in place.
2 I use a two foot long laser level up against the LF tire and see where it's pointing to the rear on the rear tire. Place the level at axle height against the sidewall and aim at the rear tire at axle height.


3 Adjust the LF tie rod so the laser hits the edge of the tire. I go to the RF tire and adjust toe so it hits the same spot on the other rear tire edge. Important, place the SAME SIDE of the laser level against the RF tire or you will have an error. The toe may be off but it's now off an equal amount on each side.

4 Mark the tie rods with chalk or paint dab for indexing. Make all future adjustments the same amount on each side.
5 I use NASCAR aluminum toe plates and two tape measures to measure toe. You can use a piece of wood, angle iron or tube elevated 2.5" to 3" to miss the tire bulge & hit more of the sidewall. the tapes should be same distance apart as your tire height. Usually that's 26". That way your measurements are the same as actual toe on the tire.


If the laser level is out of your budget or you will only be doing this once. Try running a string from front tire to rear, placed against the front tire sidewall at axle height.