DIY Alignment - Gyraline

[Otis Campbell]

Has anyone out there used this device to do your own alignments? https://gyraline.com/pages/landing-page

 

[73azbronco]

for that price, go to local Firestone shop, buy the lifetime alignment option for less.

 

[Otis Campbell]

Thanks. I tried to take a lowered Mustang to my local Firestone one time and they refused to even put it on the rack. I imagine they'd take the same position for a lifted Bronco.

 

[toddz69]

I've been eyeing it for a few months but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Todd Z.

 

[Soylent]

Do those peg-legged jogger pants come with it?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Guy at work who road races uses it. Says it is good. You have to have a good enough phone for it to work. There is a test they offer to check your phone before buying one.
Side note, you better have really straight wheels. A normal alignment has a calibration process that corrects for wheel runout. References off the rotation of the wheels, not the edge of the wheel. This just goes off the edge of the wheel.

 

[pcf_mark]

Just use a digital level and a tape measure..

 

[Otis Campbell]

Just use a digital level and a tape measure..

Can you get caster measurements that way?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Just use a digital level and a tape measure..

The gryaline will be better and faster.

If you really know what you are doing you can do it with strings as well.

It's all about how skilled you want to be with it and how much time, effort, money you are willing to put into it. A good digital level could cost as much as the gryaline does. Then you are not messing with trying to get the exact spot on both tires to get toe since tread blocks are not even.

I've done digital and tape before. Gets you close. The Gryaline I know people who set up race care with it. Pretty damn competative spec miata class stuff.

 

[pcf_mark]

Can you get caster measurements that way?

Yes. Turn wheels to one side gently to the lock, relax tension, place level vertically on the upper an lower ball joint or king pin, measure angle. Rotate wheel opposite sire, repeat measurement. Middle point of these is your caster. Do for both sides. Surprisingly easy on a Bronco the trucks are so far off the ground. On a car it is really not possible.

 

[Otis Campbell]

Pulled the trigger on it. Got my toe dialed in but forgot to take a screenshot. It is at .1 degrees in. Camber seems to be ok. I haven’t been able to get a good caster reading yet. Those two measurements couldn’t be easier to obtain. Getting caster measurement involves turning the wheels left and right and I keep getting an error message saying I’ve turned too far. I’ll keep at it and update accordingly

 

[DirtDonk]

Definitely try turning it a minimal amount until you get a reading. Even with our old “analog“ bubble type caster gauges, there was a definite maximum that you were supposed to turn the wheel.
If I remember correctly, it wasn’t all that much. On a bronco, probably less than half the full number of turns. Maybe one, to one and a half turns in each direction?

 

[gnpenning]

If I remember correctly you only turned the wheels 20° each way.

 

[Otis Campbell]

The Gyraline video says to, "Turn the wheel all the way," which I've attempted without success. I also tried 1.5 turns... same result. I emailed the company. Will see.

 

[DirtDonk]

OK, that’s interesting. Definitely let us know what they say.

 

[Otis Campbell]

Gyraline responded and said the error was caused by turning THE PHONE too much, not the steering wheel. When I get the chance to redo I'll update...

 

[DirtDonk]

That’s interesting. Can’t wait to hear the new results
But just what direction did they say you were turning it too much? Maybe the wheel rotating at the same time that you were steering? Or maybe there was some up-and-down tilt that wasn’t a direct result of the caster?
Reason I ask, is that it seems like in the cases of extreme caster, the phone would tilt on multiple planes, or more correctly, tilt a lot as the wheels turned.
If you ever seen a steering setup with mega caster, that’s what I’m thinking.
Not that a Bronco is ever gonna get there!

 

[Otis Campbell]

UPDATE:

After some back and forth with Gyraline (I gotta say, they have terrific customer service) I have been able to measure caster; Result - I had practically NO caster. My truck had 2.5" body lift and 4 degree C-bushings. It measured .3 degrees caster on the driver's side a little more on the passenger's side.

I have since replaced the 4 degree C-bushings with 7 degree bushings as well as 1.5 degree ball joint sleeves and am sitting at 4 ish degrees of Caster. I haven't driven it yet but anticipate a better experience. Before it didn't self center, at all, which makes sense with no caster.

 

[ksagis]

In the video on website he mentioned a per use plan but I’m not seeing that on website, is that available? If reasonably priced, I’d try out just from curiousity.

Agree with Broncobowsher that there is probably some “user skill” involved with getting accurate measurements. Maybe get a one time alignment shop readout as a baseline to test against and refine technique.

Little surprised that adding 4 degree bushings got you 4 degree caster increase. Edit: I see you added ball joint sleeves too. Makes more sense now.

Thanks for the updates on it

Edit: Any idea of when they’ll have the calibration feature available? Most magnetometer type devices are affected by ferrous metals in proximity which is what I assume is what they are referring to

 

[Otis Campbell]

Sorry, I can’t answer either of your questions. I’d encourage you to send them an email. If my experience is any indication they will answer any questions you have.