Is -.01 toe out on each side enough to worry about?

[Metz3020827]

I just got my alignment done a week ago and my car has been pretty darty over bad roads.

roads in AZ suck but my toe is set at -.01 on each side. I know people prefer a little toe in on the front or close to zero.

of course the -.03 toe (total front toe) is in spec but I’m curious if that has part of what I’m experiencing. It gets kind of scary sometimes and it’s hard to be confident driving my mustang.

do I need to take it in to another place to get an alignment?

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[Metz3020827]

I just got my alignment done a week ago and my car has been pretty darty over bad roads.

roads in AZ suck but my toe is set at -.01 on each side. I know people prefer a little toe in on the front or close to zero.

of course the -.03 toe (total front toe) is in spec but I’m curious if that has part of what I’m experiencing. It gets kind of scary sometimes and it’s hard to be confident driving my mustang.

do I need to take it in to another place to get an alignment?

Just to specify, I didn’t specify anything besides rear camber which is at -1.5°. I’m assuming they put it as close to zero as possible

 

[K4fxd]

Neg toe is toe out. You want toe in or positive toe for stable street use.

-1.5 rear camber if perfectly fine. No way you want 0 camber, unless drag racing. You also want .1 toe in each side in the rear for a total of .2. .05 toe in each side for a total of +.1 in the front works well

 

[GTP]

I'd just call that zero toe. It's what I shoot for up front. My car is "pay attention to keep it straight", but I wouldn't call it "darty".

You can pull the toe in on each side by 1/2 flat (1/12 turn), which would make your total toe 0 + 2 x 0.05 = +0.1 degree.

You can do this yourself by turning the wheel all the way to one side, and then reach under there lying down. 24mm open end wrench (or large adjustable) for the locknut, and 15mm wrench to turn the tie rod. Turn each tie rod clockwise to "shorten" it, which will increase the toe-in.

Mark a line with a paint pen for a reference point on both the tie rod and the tie rod end, because it can be easy to get confused.

 

[Metz3020827]

I'd just call that zero toe. It's what I shoot for up front. My car is "pay attention to keep it straight", but I wouldn't call it "darty".

You can pull the toe in on each side by 1/2 flat (1/12 turn), which would make your total toe 0 + 2 x 0.05 = +0.1 degree total toe.

You can do this yourself by turning the wheel all the way to one side, and then reach under there lying down. 24mm open end wrench (or large adjustable) for the locknut, and 15mm wrench to turn the tie rod. Turn each tie rod clockwise to "shorten" it, which will increase the toe-in.

Mark a line with a paint pen for a reference point on both the tie rod and the tie rod end, because it can be easy to get confused.

So the alignment likely isn’t the problem? It just seems on roads with bad crowning, it will pull towards whatever side of the road is worse like when slowing, or if the road is just awful. Hard to be confident with it like that.

 

[Metz3020827]

Neg toe is toe out. You want toe in or positive toe for stable street use.

-1.5 rear camber if perfectly fine. No way you want 0 camber, unless drag racing. You also want .1 toe in each side in the rear for a total of .2. .05 toe in each side for a total of +.1 in the front works well

The only thing that is concerning me is the front toe being -.01 and -.01 each side in the front. It’s .14 on each side in the rear for .28 toe in.

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

Well it doesn't take much toe out in the rear to make your car wander. Not much at all in my experience.

edit: didn't see you posted that you have toe IN for the rear.. I have similar specs and have no wander though i haven't gone on the levy roads around here in a long time (those are the worst roads around here).

 

[Metz3020827]

Well it doesn't take much toe out in the rear to make your car wander. Not much at all in my experience.

edit: didn't see you posted that you have toe IN for the rear.. I have similar specs and have no wander though i haven't gone on the levy roads around here in a long time (those are the worst roads around here).

Yeah I think it may just be my tires. It’s just hard to be confident in driving hard when it darts in direction. It’s usually just shitty roads.

 

[GTP]

So the alignment likely isn’t the problem? It just seems on roads with bad crowning, it will pull towards whatever side of the road is worse like when slowing, or if the road is just awful. Hard to be confident with it like that.

I think all our Mustangs do what you describe.

 

[TeamGomez]

Any toe out up front is the last thing I'd want (aside from any toe out in back....unless you want to go off to the races under heavy braking). Get underneath and crank it out (after confirming about 3 times which way each tie rod s threaded/travels). Paint pen b/f and after so you can always reset it back to where you found it.

 

[K4fxd]

Toe out makes the car want to turn, it makes it twitchy or darty. Track people like this street people don't.

Some street people like the toe out because it makes the car more fun on twisty back roads.

Your rear toe in fine. Fix the front.

 

[Metz3020827]

I think all our Mustangs do what you describe.

I don’t remember my car doing this when I first got it. I’m sure it’s a combination of stiff suspension and low profile tires. Roads here are shitty. Car feels like it tramlines all over the place.

I think the previous owner set the bump steer kit to where the old suspension was at (I was lowered 2” now only 1”) and that may be the issue? Bump steer?

 

[K4fxd]

Toe out makes the car want to turn. It will be unstable at high speeds when going straight.

Bump steer will make your steering wheel turn when you hit bumps. It will be most noticeable on on ramps with long sweeping curves.

You are in AZ, add a bit of toe in. If you were in North Carolina you might want some toe out.

 

[Metz3020827]

Toe out makes the car want to turn. It will be unstable at high speeds when going straight.

Bump steer will make your steering wheel turn when you hit bumps. It will be most noticeable on on ramps with long sweeping curves.

You are in AZ, add a bit of toe in. If you were in North Carolina you might want some toe out.

I’m not doubting what you’re sayin but you think that -.01 on each side is enough to cause that? It feels so great on highways. It’s just uneven shit roads that it really takes its toll.

it’s really noticeable over the lane divider bumps, and uneven bad roads. Even if you drive on the line it does it too. Seems like a combination with tramlining.

 

[K4fxd]

Post your alignment sheet. If in fact it is .01 it is 0 toe and will be darty. Toe in creates stability.

On the Legends car I'm crew chief on the driver thinks he knows his shit. He had 5/8's inch toe out because people told him he needed it. He complained about the car being un controllable. I dialed in 1/8 inch toe in and he is happy as a clam.

I know this is extreme but toe out equals an unstable car that wants to turn. Toe in makes a stable car that wants to go straight.

To answer your question. Yes some toe in will help on the shit roads and lane dividers.

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