Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] The DIY alignment kit is progressing nicely
| [GMCnet] The DIY alignment kit is progressing nicely [message #139093] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 13:52  |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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After learning first hand that even competent wheel alignment shops struggle to properly align our 35 year old GMC motorhomes, I set out to develop a kit that would allow any owner to achieve a better and more consistent alignment.
My objectives were:
1) Simple enough that even non-mechanical owners could at least check their alignment anywhere they have a flat, level, paved area whether at home or at a rally.
2) Robust enough that the kit could be shipped or carried from user to user without damage.
3) Able to accurately measure ride height, camber, caster and toe to better than factory specified tolerances without needing to lift the motorhome or tires off of the ground.
4) Inexpensive enough that each of the clubs can afford to buy one and make it available to their members and inexpensive enough that more mechanically inclined owners might wish to buy one for their own use.
5) Optimized for use on coaches with Alcoa aluminum wheels as these are the most common of the 16” wheels. The old 16 1/2” steel wheels are so old, warped and bent that I did not think it would make sense to try to design around them.
I intend for the kits to contain an accurate story stick for measuring ride height, a pair of stand off plates that accurately reflect the plane of the rim and a pair of turntables with accurate marks for center and 20 degrees each way that are less than 1/2" high so the coach can be driven onto them without lifting the coach or the wheels off the ground. I am designing the kits so you can use any form of magnetic mount digital angle meter or commercial camber/caster gauge you wish.
So far things are progressing nicely. The stand offs are designed, the jigs built and the first prototype set constructed. I am using four point rim registration and positive mounting so once in place the standoff plates will remain in place thought the whole of the measurement process. The standoff plates are constructed of 1.5 x .5" rectangular steel tube finished in black crinkle paint. The standoff pins are nylon tipped so they will not mar or mark the aluminum wheels. The evaluation set of turntables should be ready by the end of next week or early the following week. The story stick is jigged and the first prototype unit constructed. I have tested the standoffs with both a Wixley digital angle meter and a commercial vial type camber/caster gauge and they appear to work equally as well and equally as easily.
These standoffs have a lower horizontal member that is long enough to project beyond the front and rear of the the wheels. With standoffs mounted on both front wheels it is really easy to accurately measure total toe. If the turntables work correctly, the coach can be driven onto them without lifting the wheels off the ground so you will be measuring the alignment as it is when the coach is being driven. It looks like you will also be able to make all the alignment adjustments without lifting the coach or the wheels IF you know enough to follow the proper safety precautions.
I will keep you posted as this all comes together. And, yes, I will give a seminar at the upcoming rallies that will include parts and dimensions if you want to build one yourself and donate it to your club instead of having them buy one of these.
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
Visitors always welcome!
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
541-592-5360
Founder of the Southern Oregon Guild
www.southernoregonguild.org
Member of the Siskiyou Guild
www.siskiyouguild.org
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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| Re: [GMCnet] The DIY alignment kit is progressing nicely [message #139111 is a reply to message #139093] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 15:54  |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
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Senior Member |
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| glwgmc wrote on Sun, 14 August 2011 13:52 |
...5) Optimized for use on coaches with Alcoa aluminum wheels as these are the most common of the 16” wheels. The old 16 1/2” steel wheels are so old, warped and bent that I did not think it would make sense to try to design around them.
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There are still quite a few GMCs out there with 16.5 steel wheels, although I suspect that those owners might not be inclined to spend much effort, time or money for an accurate FE alignment.
Mine has 16.5 steel rims, but the tires are rotten. As long as I need new tires, and I would like to replace the rims, but alloys are not under consideration. When I locate 6 or 7 of the correct style 16" steel rims from a wrecking yard, those are going on the rig with new 225/75R16 tires. If I can't find a set of steel rims like I want, I will be buying Firestone Transforce 16.5" tires.
So whether you design your setup for steel rims or not, I might ask to be a test subject to see if it will work (or how well it can be made to work) on steel rims.
There are others out there that either don't want, or can't afford, Alcoas (and would still like to get a good alignment).
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| Re: [GMCnet] The DIY alignment kit is progressing nicely [message #139115 is a reply to message #139093] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 16:26 |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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picture?
gene
On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Work Jerry <glwork@mac.com> wrote:
> After learning first hand that even competent wheel alignment shops struggle to properly align our 35 year old GMC motorhomes, I set out to develop a kit that would allow any owner to achieve a better and more consistent alignment.
>
> My objectives were:
>
> 1) Simple enough that even non-mechanical owners could at least check their alignment anywhere they have a flat, level, paved area whether at home or at a rally.
> 2) Robust enough that the kit could be shipped or carried from user to user without damage.
> 3) Able to accurately measure ride height, camber, caster and toe to better than factory specified tolerances without needing to lift the motorhome or tires off of the ground.
> 4) Inexpensive enough that each of the clubs can afford to buy one and make it available to their members and inexpensive enough that more mechanically inclined owners might wish to buy one for their own use.
> 5) Optimized for use on coaches with Alcoa aluminum wheels as these are the most common of the 16” wheels. The old 16 1/2” steel wheels are so old, warped and bent that I did not think it would make sense to try to design around them.
>
> I intend for the kits to contain an accurate story stick for measuring ride height, a pair of stand off plates that accurately reflect the plane of the rim and a pair of turntables with accurate marks for center and 20 degrees each way that are less than 1/2" high so the coach can be driven onto them without lifting the coach or the wheels off the ground. I am designing the kits so you can use any form of magnetic mount digital angle meter or commercial camber/caster gauge you wish.
>
> So far things are progressing nicely. The stand offs are designed, the jigs built and the first prototype set constructed. I am using four point rim registration and positive mounting so once in place the standoff plates will remain in place thought the whole of the measurement process. The standoff plates are constructed of 1.5 x .5" rectangular steel tube finished in black crinkle paint. The standoff pins are nylon tipped so they will not mar or mark the aluminum wheels. The evaluation set of turntables should be ready by the end of next week or early the following week. The story stick is jigged and the first prototype unit constructed. I have tested the standoffs with both a Wixley digital angle meter and a commercial vial type camber/caster gauge and they appear to work equally as well and equally as easily.
>
> These standoffs have a lower horizontal member that is long enough to project beyond the front and rear of the the wheels. With standoffs mounted on both front wheels it is really easy to accurately measure total toe. If the turntables work correctly, the coach can be driven onto them without lifting the wheels off the ground so you will be measuring the alignment as it is when the coach is being driven. It looks like you will also be able to make all the alignment adjustments without lifting the coach or the wheels IF you know enough to follow the proper safety precautions.
>
> I will keep you posted as this all comes together. And, yes, I will give a seminar at the upcoming rallies that will include parts and dimensions if you want to build one yourself and donate it to your club instead of having them buy one of these.
>
> Jerry
>
>
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
> Visitors always welcome!
> glwork@mac.com
> http://jerrywork.com
> 541-592-5360
>
> Founder of the Southern Oregon Guild
> www.southernoregonguild.org
> Member of the Siskiyou Guild
> www.siskiyouguild.org
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and -------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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| Re: [GMCnet] The DIY alignment kit is progressing nicely [message #139116 is a reply to message #139093] |
Sun, 14 August 2011 16:37 |
 |
USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Jerry,
I don't want to rain on your parade, however, I found these on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/4y36peo
Being adjustable they will fit the 16" & 16.5" wheels and your car too.
Regards,
Rob M.
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Work Jerry
Sent: Monday, 15 August 2011 4:53 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] The DIY alignment kit is progressing nicely
After learning first hand that even competent wheel alignment shops struggle
to properly align our 35 year old GMC motorhomes, I set out to develop a kit
that would allow any owner to achieve a better and more consistent
alignment.
My objectives were:
1) Simple enough that even non-mechanical owners could at least check their
alignment anywhere they have a flat, level, paved area whether at home or at
a rally.
2) Robust enough that the kit could be shipped or carried from user to user
without damage.
3) Able to accurately measure ride height, camber, caster and toe to better
than factory specified tolerances without needing to lift the motorhome or
tires off of the ground.
4) Inexpensive enough that each of the clubs can afford to buy one and make
it available to their members and inexpensive enough that more mechanically
inclined owners might wish to buy one for their own use.
5) Optimized for use on coaches with Alcoa aluminum wheels as these are the
most common of the 16" wheels. The old 16 1/2" steel wheels are so old,
warped and bent that I did not think it would make sense to try to design
around them.
I intend for the kits to contain an accurate story stick for measuring ride
height, a pair of stand off plates that accurately reflect the plane of the
rim and a pair of turntables with accurate marks for center and 20 degrees
each way that are less than 1/2" high so the coach can be driven onto them
without lifting the coach or the wheels off the ground. I am designing the
kits so you can use any form of magnetic mount digital angle meter or
commercial camber/caster gauge you wish.
So far things are progressing nicely. The stand offs are designed, the jigs
built and the first prototype set constructed. I am using four point rim
registration and positive mounting so once in place the standoff plates will
remain in place thought the whole of the measurement process. The standoff
plates are constructed of 1.5 x .5" rectangular steel tube finished in black
crinkle paint. The standoff pins are nylon tipped so they will not mar or
mark the aluminum wheels. The evaluation set of turntables should be ready
by the end of next week or early the following week. The story stick is
jigged and the first prototype unit constructed. I have tested the
standoffs with both a Wixley digital angle meter and a commercial vial type
camber/caster gauge and they appear to work equally as well and equally as
easily.
These standoffs have a lower horizontal member that is long enough to
project beyond the front and rear of the the wheels. With standoffs mounted
on both front wheels it is really easy to accurately measure total toe. If
the turntables work correctly, the coach can be driven onto them without
lifting the wheels off the ground so you will be measuring the alignment as
it is when the coach is being driven. It looks like you will also be able
to make all the alignment adjustments without lifting the coach or the
wheels IF you know enough to follow the proper safety precautions.
I will keep you posted as this all comes together. And, yes, I will give a
seminar at the upcoming rallies that will include parts and dimensions if
you want to build one yourself and donate it to your club instead of having
them buy one of these.
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple
building in historic Kerby, OR
Visitors always welcome!
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
541-592-5360
Founder of the Southern Oregon Guild
www.southernoregonguild.org
Member of the Siskiyou Guild
www.siskiyouguild.org
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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