Great video! I just found out about this tool today and think I might be convinced enough to make the purchase. I’ll have to record a couple videos aligning the Terminator and Lightning!
Good to hear, and I hope you can learn from my video and find a tool and method which works well for you and your vehicles. It would be great to see how you make out.
Interesting device. I have one and an iPhone 11 to run the software. I have been doing my own alignments on my race cars for years and basically very simple. Measuring Toe is easy. Measuring Camber is also easy, set your floor as reference (ie; zero) and then measure the angle of the wheel/tire. Caster is a little more work and requires the caster plates. The Gyraline requires a floor with a 0.1 degree max non-level which will be difficult to find. However since I can measure the floor linearity to within 0.01 degrees, I should be able to compensate for the non-level. We'll see as I'll be doing measurements soon and will report back when done.
Mark, thanks for you comment. I also agree on the simplicity of measuring Toe vs. Camber, vs. Caster. Floor pitch doesn’t seem to impact Toe, but It will Camber and Caster. Even then it can be simply measured and the floor offset can be removed from those values. Looking forward to your experiences.
If the most experienced carpenter came my house to build kitchen cabinets and pulled out a tape measure with nothing less than 1 inch increments, the end result more likely won’t be as good as the less experienced technician with a tape measure that shows 1/16ths. If you align commercial tandem axle trucks your square has to be under 1/64th of an inch. This is not easily attainable with strings. That information is available through TMC RP642.
Should be mentioned that the main problem are the gyros of the phones. Some are not stable enough. Use the test version und position the phone to a fixed object. And wait if the angle runs away.
It is not necessary to have a perfectly straight front wheels when you do an alignment. But many car owners do like to align the steering wheel straight ahead, and then adjust the toe-in on the front wheels so that it results in a perfectly straight ahead steering wheel on the highway.
@@roachwerks3043 Smart shops don’t get involved with specialty or modified vehicles due to liability and the time sink they represent. If it’s a low slung vehicle and they have a surface mounted alignment rack it may be a challenge just to get the vehicle to climb onto the runways.
I found that my garage floor was level from side to side, but had a slight pitch downward towards the garage doors (for rain water drainage). This meant there may be slight impact on caster angle, but otherwise, Toe and Camber were un affected. If you can find a school parking lot with some standing water after a rain storm, it may give you an indication of where it is level and flat. I also recommend a set of cardboard or metal plates under the front tires during the Caster measurement.. to allow for easy wheel turning. Best of luck.
If I’m not mistaken , aren’t you supposed to also use certain points on the car to “measure” the center line ? Otherwise how would the tool know which way the car is pointed straight relative to the alignment ? Somewhat of a reference point to something that is straight and true .
Yes. It would be great to use some features on the uni-body. The Gyraline tool can accept references from either side of the car, and the best location would probably be the inner rocker lip (with door open). I used the door to window lip, which is not really well tied to the car’s uni body. So improved readings are still possible. Note: laser based wheel alignment tools use relative and absolute measurements between all four wheels and hubs to ascertain the thrust angles.
School me please. How can this be accurate? The phone holder is too small. It doesnt span the entire diameter of the wheel. How can it possibly give an accurate measurement for camber? Especially if you have a dished wheel.
If your rims are not damaged it works. You just go to the top of bottom circumference, , the pins of the holder must touch the rim at the same diameter, distance from the center. Main problem are the gyros of the phones. Some are not stable enough. Use the test version und position the phone to a fixed object. An wait of the angle runs away.
Yes, using a tool or bar that spans the entire diameter should be more accurate than spanning only a portion of that radius. Yes, rims with curved lips offer less surface to establish a reading. But with a bit of cleverness you can buy a piece of aluminum stock that does span your wheel diameter to enhance the tool’s ability to measure alignment on your rims.
Good question. I am not so curious about running E85, but there has been quite a bit of chatter in the various Jaguar Forums (XE, XF, XJ, F-Type, etc..) www.jaguarforums.com/forum/search.php?searchid=15504729
Jaguar dealers are mandated by the OEM to invest over $150K in wheel service equipment to ensure customer satisfaction and road safety. Believing that the same level of accuracy and precision can be achieved with strings and cellphones is delusional. Your attempt to repeat measurements only proves the point-after all, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Fair, laser based alignment equipment is available at professional shops. This video doesn't proport to be better than that, it just gives DIY-inclined folks the option to identify alignment issues and rectify them in their own garage. I am glad that I investigated various alignment techniques and shared them with others on RUclips.
The precision and accuracy of this method are akin to shipping a parcel with nothing more than the zip code-it’s highly unlikely to reach its intended destination.
I disagree. I found that both the string method and the Gyraline tool identified a ~5 mm toe-in error in my car's right rear wheel alignment, which was adjusted by me to +/-0.5 mm (+/- 0.06 deg). I have yet to confirm this via a laser alignment method, but I don't feel like I need to.
@@OncaEngineering String alignments? Sure, they have their place, but as an engineer, you understand the role of compliance and stacked tolerances. OEM alignment specifications are established and measured with the full weight of the vehicle on low-tension turnplates, positioned on a surface level to within 1/16 inch from corner to corner. The equipment compensates for the cumulative lateral runout between the alignment tool, the wheel, and the spindle hub to which it’s mounted. Additionally, ride height is measured or adjusted, and tire pressures are set to specification. The wheel assemblies are tested and matched to less than 30 lbs of RFV (Radial Force Variation), with front tires contributing less than 15 lbs of NLF (Non-Uniformity Lateral Force). These steps ensure that manufacturing tolerances don’t compromise the precision and accuracy necessary for a diagnostic alignment. Your Jaguar dealer, like other OEM dealerships, has the equipment needed to restore your vehicle to OEM specifications, addressing warranty claims or customer satisfaction issues. Jaguar also deploys regional field service engineers, well-versed in NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) concerns, to support dealers when a customer is dissatisfied with completed work. Respectfully,
All that said, I still think there is definitely a place for this device in the garage of the occasional DIYer. Dealerships, better known as stealerships, hire resources that know or understand 1/8th or perhaps 1/16th of all the Wikipedia text Veerod put out there. Out of 100 alignments I've paid for in my life, only 1 of them hasn't sucked. No matter what equipment you give a fool, it will always be a fool's work. I do 100% of all my maintenance, repairs and upgrades right here in my garage and have been doing so for 20 years (including alignments). I will likely get this tool.
Thanks for creating this video! I just received mine in the mail and looking forward to testing it out.
Austin, how did the GyroLine app work out for you?
Great video! I just found out about this tool today and think I might be convinced enough to make the purchase. I’ll have to record a couple videos aligning the Terminator and Lightning!
Good to hear, and I hope you can learn from my video and find a tool and method which works well for you and your vehicles. It would be great to see how you make out.
Interesting device. I have one and an iPhone 11 to run the software. I have been doing my own alignments on my race cars for years and basically very simple. Measuring Toe is easy. Measuring Camber is also easy, set your floor as reference (ie; zero) and then measure the angle of the wheel/tire. Caster is a little more work and requires the caster plates. The Gyraline requires a floor with a 0.1 degree max non-level which will be difficult to find. However since I can measure the floor linearity to within 0.01 degrees, I should be able to compensate for the non-level. We'll see as I'll be doing measurements soon and will report back when done.
Mark, thanks for you comment. I also agree on the simplicity of measuring Toe vs. Camber, vs. Caster. Floor pitch doesn’t seem to impact Toe, but It will Camber and Caster. Even then it can be simply measured and the floor offset can be removed from those values. Looking forward to your experiences.
If the most experienced carpenter came my house to build kitchen cabinets and pulled out a tape measure with nothing less than 1 inch increments, the end result more likely won’t be as good as the less experienced technician with a tape measure that shows 1/16ths. If you align commercial tandem axle trucks your square has to be under 1/64th of an inch. This is not easily attainable with strings. That information is available through TMC RP642.
Should be mentioned that the main problem are the gyros of the phones. Some are not stable enough. Use the test version und position the phone to a fixed object. And wait if the angle runs away.
Good point. I was using my iPhone 13 mini, and was wondering if the larger format phones had larger/better sensors inside.
Do you need to make sure your steering wheel is perfectly centered before you start. I would think so. I just recieved my tool.
It is not necessary to have a perfectly straight front wheels when you do an alignment. But many car owners do like to align the steering wheel straight ahead, and then adjust the toe-in on the front wheels so that it results in a perfectly straight ahead steering wheel on the highway.
@OncaEngineering Thats what I did using the string method.
An alignment shop won’t touch my mr2 so I might get this just to mess with. Could probably get it pretty solid with a few hours of trial and error
@@roachwerks3043 Smart shops don’t get involved with specialty or modified vehicles due to liability and the time sink they represent. If it’s a low slung vehicle and they have a surface mounted alignment rack it may be a challenge just to get the vehicle to climb onto the runways.
@ correct I understand why they won’t I just don’t have a good flat reference surface to do it myself
I found that my garage floor was level from side to side, but had a slight pitch downward towards the garage doors (for rain water drainage). This meant there may be slight impact on caster angle, but otherwise, Toe and Camber were un affected. If you can find a school parking lot with some standing water after a rain storm, it may give you an indication of where it is level and flat. I also recommend a set of cardboard or metal plates under the front tires during the Caster measurement.. to allow for easy wheel turning. Best of luck.
If I’m not mistaken , aren’t you supposed to also use certain points on the car to “measure” the center line ? Otherwise how would the tool know which way the car is pointed straight relative to the alignment ? Somewhat of a reference point to something that is straight and true .
Yes. It would be great to use some features on the uni-body. The Gyraline tool can accept references from either side of the car, and the best location would probably be the inner rocker lip (with door open). I used the door to window lip, which is not really well tied to the car’s uni body. So improved readings are still possible. Note: laser based wheel alignment tools use relative and absolute measurements between all four wheels and hubs to ascertain the thrust angles.
School me please. How can this be accurate? The phone holder is too small. It doesnt span the entire diameter of the wheel. How can it possibly give an accurate measurement for camber? Especially if you have a dished wheel.
If your rims are not damaged it works. You just go to the top of bottom circumference, , the pins of the holder must touch the rim at the same diameter, distance from the center. Main problem are the gyros of the phones. Some are not stable enough. Use the test version und position the phone to a fixed object. An wait of the angle runs away.
Yes, using a tool or bar that spans the entire diameter should be more accurate than spanning only a portion of that radius.
Yes, rims with curved lips offer less surface to establish a reading.
But with a bit of cleverness you can buy a piece of aluminum stock that does span your wheel diameter to enhance the tool’s ability to measure alignment on your rims.
Harman. Tell me about your center caps on the wheels. Mine have red. I want those.
Dillon, sharp eye. I have two sets of wheels, one with OEM red caps, one with aftermarket black caps. Search eBay for “Jaguar center wheel caps”
@@OncaEngineeringI've been meaning to ask as well. What do you know about running E-85 fuel in the F-Type?
Good question. I am not so curious about running E85, but there has been quite a bit of chatter in the various Jaguar Forums (XE, XF, XJ, F-Type, etc..)
www.jaguarforums.com/forum/search.php?searchid=15504729
Jaguar dealers are mandated by the OEM to invest over $150K in wheel service equipment to ensure customer satisfaction and road safety. Believing that the same level of accuracy and precision can be achieved with strings and cellphones is delusional. Your attempt to repeat measurements only proves the point-after all, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Fair, laser based alignment equipment is available at professional shops. This video doesn't proport to be better than that, it just gives DIY-inclined folks the option to identify alignment issues and rectify them in their own garage. I am glad that I investigated various alignment techniques and shared them with others on RUclips.
The precision and accuracy of this method are akin to shipping a parcel with nothing more than the zip code-it’s highly unlikely to reach its intended destination.
I disagree. I found that both the string method and the Gyraline tool identified a ~5 mm toe-in error in my car's right rear wheel alignment, which was adjusted by me to +/-0.5 mm (+/- 0.06 deg). I have yet to confirm this via a laser alignment method, but I don't feel like I need to.
@@OncaEngineering String alignments? Sure, they have their place, but as an engineer, you understand the role of compliance and stacked tolerances. OEM alignment specifications are established and measured with the full weight of the vehicle on low-tension turnplates, positioned on a surface level to within 1/16 inch from corner to corner. The equipment compensates for the cumulative lateral runout between the alignment tool, the wheel, and the spindle hub to which it’s mounted.
Additionally, ride height is measured or adjusted, and tire pressures are set to specification. The wheel assemblies are tested and matched to less than 30 lbs of RFV (Radial Force Variation), with front tires contributing less than 15 lbs of NLF (Non-Uniformity Lateral Force). These steps ensure that manufacturing tolerances don’t compromise the precision and accuracy necessary for a diagnostic alignment.
Your Jaguar dealer, like other OEM dealerships, has the equipment needed to restore your vehicle to OEM specifications, addressing warranty claims or customer satisfaction issues. Jaguar also deploys regional field service engineers, well-versed in NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) concerns, to support dealers when a customer is dissatisfied with completed work.
Respectfully,
All that said, I still think there is definitely a place for this device in the garage of the occasional DIYer. Dealerships, better known as stealerships, hire resources that know or understand 1/8th or perhaps 1/16th of all the Wikipedia text Veerod put out there. Out of 100 alignments I've paid for in my life, only 1 of them hasn't sucked. No matter what equipment you give a fool, it will always be a fool's work. I do 100% of all my maintenance, repairs and upgrades right here in my garage and have been doing so for 20 years (including alignments). I will likely get this tool.