Measuring caster

[neilxjs]

Hi
I am wondering if anyone has ever managed to find a garage that can measure and adjust the caster on our cars. I have had several attempts since a front suspension rebuild. One place carried out a full geometry check but would not adjust it. This meant that I would have to take the car away and adjust the caster and camber myself and then bring it back for another check and repeat this process until all settings were correct. At £45 per visit I opted to just drive the car as it was. The service manager in the main dealer gave me a vacant look when I asked about it and then proceeded to tell me that they normally handed the cars to their tyre depot for the wheel alignment. I thought I had it sorted when I found a tyre depot that knew exactly what I was talking about and told me I would need to book the car in for half a day to give them time to carry out all the adjustments. When I picked the car up only the wheel alignment had been touched and they denied ever talking to me about caster and camber. Surely it can't be that difficult. I am considering buying a Longacre caster gauge to do it myself. Can anyone offer any advice?

[jonc3725]

Hi Neil,

This can be done with using a tape and simple measurements to the nearest mm. Taking the measurements and using simple Trigonometry you can get the angles . All that said I have not done it myself yet but when I get the chance to do it I will post exactly what I did and hopefully you can use the information.
I wont be doing it for a week or two so if you get a better answer then maybe use that info

[almcl]

Caster, camber and toe in were adjusted for me in about and hour by the chief mechanic at an accident repair centre not far away.

The computer based system required special sensors to be hung on each wheel and the results were shown on a display screen that also indicated where the adjustment points were.

The system was of US manufacture but nevertheless 'knew' all about XJSs and the figures it gave corresponded to that I had taken along with me.

Sorry to say I can't remember the manufacturer and I no longer have the print out sheet (you get a copy with the original and final result) but it was possible to visit the manfacturer's website and find the nearest equipped garage and book an appointment on-line.

[steveww]

A full four wheel alignment check and adjustment were done on my XJS by Nene Jaguar.

I think most of the better specialist should be able to do this for you.

It can be done with string and a ruler but unless you have a four pillar ramp it is a very time consuming process.