Excessive toe in or out is what wrecks tires, camber just moves the wear area on the tire. Camber is, however, very important to equalize the load and wear across the tire. Ask Toyman about running slicks with insufficient camber.
deadskunk covered the high points for a quickie alignment. About camber: run over to Lowe's and get one of those angle finders, like this:
and use that against the rim to check the camber. Make sure the car is on a level floor, use a 4 foot level for checking the floor. If it's not level, pieces of Masonite hardboard can be stacked for the car to rolled onto.
The levels bungeed to the tires will get you started, be sure to check both front and rear. Once the toe is set (I'd recommend zero toe in the rear and about 1/16" toe out on the front to start), use a string to make sure the front and rear are in line with each other. If they aren't, adjust as necessary. This will get you in the ballpark for the weekend.
Once the weekend is done, you need to find the centerline of the car to be able to do a really good alignment. You'll need 4 plumb bobs, a way of making reference marks (masking tape and pencils will work) and a way of striking straight lines (a chalk line will work). Once the centerline is found, alignment is simple. Marking it permanently means you only have to go through that part of the process once.
Jack up the car and remove all 4 wheels.Now look at the front subframe mounting points and hang a plumb bob from each of these points. (Don't use control arm bolts as these move when adjusting the camber.) Mark each of these points on the floor. Then run diagonal lines between the marks, you'll now have a point at the center of the front subframe.
Now repeat the process at the rear of the car. You will now have 2 marks centered lengthwise under the car, these are your centerline reference point. You'll need to make a line on the floor the full length of the car, use the chalk line for this.
Use a plumb bob at the front of the car hanging from the front center of the subframe aligned with your centerline on the floor, make a mark on the subframe where the string crosses it. I used a hacksaw to make a notch. Now repeat this process at the rear and you now have a set of permanent centerline marks on the vehicle, unless you wreck it or replace a subframe.
To set front/rear toe after this has been completed: put all 4 wheels back on, then check the camber measurements and adjust as needed. (I'd get some toe plates. Much simpler.) You will need to hang plumb bobs from your previously made center marks on the subframes, mark those points on the floor and then mark a straight line on the floor again. A chalk line will work but it's hard to see if you are dead on the line. I used to have 2 pieces of aluminum strap 1/8" x 2" riveted together (it was about 16 feet long) which I slid under the center of the car, aligned one side of it with the plumb bobs and then held it down with weights. I could then feel when the tape measure touched the aluminum, a good tactile reference point. Check your toe from this center line, the measurements will need to be the same on each side for the wheels to be in line with the car centerline.
If you run, say, 1/16" toe out the front toe measurement will be 1/32" per side greater at the front of the tire than at the rear of the tire.
), and will also be interested in what you think of the STR-Ts after Sunday. My understanding is they're basically Koni yellows on full soft. I had adjustable Konis on my last Miata and loved them, but my budget is practically nothing this time around. Shocks will help, and so far the STR-T is my top choice. More data, pro or con, will help me decide further.
Jensen, thanks for spending the time typing that.
