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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Front Alignment

I have front tires wearing on the inside treads. Does anyone have instructions how to adjust the front alignment?
B J Moreland

You are toed out too far and or have too much negitive camber. You can do a tape measure alignment by measuring toe at front and rear of the tires. Use the same point to make your measurements and make it toed in a little more in the front. This will get you close enough untill you can get to an alignment shop and have it checked correctly.
A.G. Gruskos

b.j. do you have an MG service manual? if not, it is a great resource i highly recommend having one in your library. regards, tom
tom peterson

B J, I agree that this uneven wear is most likely attributable to toe out, an adjustment easily carried out at the tie rod ends. If you have any concerns about camber, I highly recommend that you refer to Dave Braun's excellent site, that he has so generously provided! http://www.dbraun99.com/mgtd15470/
Dave details how shims placed under the shock bases will affect allignment.
Dave's site is a great resource for getting an understanding of how all components of our cars come together.
Steven Tobias

Well, Steve, that's kind, and a bit embarrasing. Thanks.

I just wanted to comment that adjusting toe-in with the Moss Motors' tool balanced on 2x4s to achieve the right height yeilds excellent results for me. The device is quite accurate.

Another way is to push the car until the wheels are staight. Make a mark on the front tread of each tire so a perpendicular straight edge from the floor to the tire is tangent to the tire. With a straight edge or plumb bob exactly transfer the location of each mark to the floor and carefully measure the distance from left to right. Push the car backwards exactly 1/2 wheel rotation (do not touch the steering) and repeat the plumb bob effort and measurement. Compare the two measurements and then subtract the smaller from the larger. If the smaller is the front measurement you have too much toe-in, if it is the back measurement, you have too much toe-out. Loosen the lock nuts on the end of the tie rod ends and the small gaiter clamps on the steering bellows. Rotate each tie rod to take up 1/4 of the measurement. Wrench flats are provided but you will need to steady the tie rod end. Remeasure. The two measurements should now be the same meaning your toe-in is nil. Tighten the lock nuts and the gaiter clamps.

If after all this the steering wheel doesn't center when driving straight, simply repeat the adjustment, turning the tie rods the exact same distance in opposite directions (i.e. lengthen one and shorten the other) to center the steering wheel. The toe-in will remain unaffected.

Hope this helps,
dave
Dave Braun

Pushing the car as Dave says first, you can also stretch a piece of string tightly from behind the rear tire to in front of the front, lightly touching the rubber, and that will give you a rough indication if the toe is way off. If it is toed out, the string will contact the front edge of the front tire but be spaced away from the back. This is used on occation in the pits in NASCAR after a driver has whacked the wall- crude but quick.
George Butz

This thread was discussed on 10/03/2010

MG TD TF 1500 index

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