DIY Alignment? - Gyraline (1 Viewer)

[TeCKis300]

Came across this new product that uses a smartphone to perform a DIY alignment - Gyraline. Looks promising as it covers the full spectrum of Toe, Camber, Caster, and even Ackermann. It's a relatively new product still in development but the strategy and tech seem sound so I've purchased and will see how things turn out.

Alignments are about the only thing that I have to take the rig to a professional for. With more mods and 37s, that are way outside to norm of what most alignment shops handle, I'm less enthused to do so. It's already a hit or miss with a stock rig depending on the skill level of the specific tech. How awesome would it be to have the tools at hand to accommodate my endless tweaking.

I use to autocross and do track days and I've done the DIY plate and string alignments, but they are fussy and take some setup to get right. This new strategy and technology seems to be the ticket. I imagine others here might be interested so sharing this. I'll post the good, bad, and ugly as I get to play with it.

EDIT: See results in post #24 - DIY Alignment? - Gyraline - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/diy-alignment-gyraline.1353523/post-15932979

 

[Boston Mangler]

Very Interesting!

If you need/want a mess of a vehicle system to test/play with, i will offer up my 4 linked, air bag dually Ram that no alignment shops will even look at!

Looking forward to your feedback. If you give your approval, i am going to pick one up. Been chasing alignment gremlins with the Ram for years. Its CLOSE, but....

Hard to trust a single word from this dude with his unbuttoned shirt and mop hair. Not sure if he just got off a 2 day bender with the boys, or if hes promoting a really cool product.

Keep us posted!

 

[medtro]

 

[gasman4u]

I watched this video this am. The guy didn't like the wheels on the car. He mentioned that the setup "wasn't ideal."

Me - welcome to the world, guy!

 

[linuxgod]

From their website and data presented, it's less accurate, but to your point it might be good enough. In my experience just trying to use the iHandy level app on my iPhone, the sensors are probably accurate within 0.1 to 0.2 degrees. (i.e. just using that free app to check either side of my office desk at home, one side reports -0.1* and the other 0.2*, and so while I'm sure my floor isn't level in my 130 year old house, I *AM* sure my glass work desk isn't warped.

Anyway it would likely allow you to get reasonably close after doing suspension work, which in itself might be helpful since in my experience if you have an SPC UCA most shops don't want to touch the upper BJ so you really want to get it close-ish with the alignment cams neutral before a shop starts messing with it. And if it's pretty fast and easy to use, honestly it might be worth the $ just to be able to check your alignment yourself to determine if you need to go to a shop, rather than (a) drop $100+ on an unnecessary alignment, or (b) drive on a truck with toe out of spec and chewing up tires because you hit a pothole 2000 miles after your last alignment and didn't know it until the tires were shot.

 

[2021 LC200]

@TeCKis300

Any update on using this Gyraline?

 

[TeCKis300]

@TeCKis300

Any update on using this Gyraline?

A couple honey-do projects to get through (shower remodel) and I'll get there. Hopefully in a couple week.

Alignment plates just landed.

 

[2021 LC200]

I ended up buying one yesterday as my original dunlops are getting to 40k miles and the passenger front seems to wear more on the outside. Vehicle otherwise drives and steers and tracks straight with no additional angle on the steering wheel other than effect of sidewind or road camber. I find it odd as we have not done anything heavy duty with our 2021 LC200 nor do I recall hitting a big put hole or curb somehow bending one side.

Hope to find out in a quick way whether things are within reason or not or it is the way I rotated the 5 tires and perhaps just wear of cornering.

 

[grinchy]

I got my kit but am waiting for it to be a bit warmer.

 

[2021 LC200]

A couple honey-do projects to get through (shower remodel) and I'll get there. Hopefully in a couple week.

Alignment plates just landed.

You mention alignment plates, can you share what you bought please? Is that to make it easier to measure the angles at the rims/wheels? Or front wheel alignment turntables?

 

[TeCKis300]

You mention alignment plates, can you share what you bought please? Is that to make it easier to measure the angles at the rims/wheels? Or front wheel alignment turntables?

I haven't used one before but the idea is to remove any stiction to allow accurate measuring and also adjust the alignment in real time.

I was just going to grease two pieces of sheet metal but this is cheaper and easier. Many rebranded copies of this

https://www.amazon.com/8MILELAKE-Truck-Front-Wheel-Alignment/dp/B07JP91QWH

 

[2021 LC200]

Initial measurements of toe and camber. Vehicle at 39k miles with factory suspension and factory Dunlop's. I am now less worried about passenger wheel outer wear on the last inch, which is not showing driver side. Attribute that to few rotations and probably faster left hand corners than right hand ones.

200 series spec

Spec vs Measurements
Front Camber spec -0.4 to 1.2 spec and Gyraline measured -0.1/+0.1 and 0.0/0.0 (Looks good values, no immediate worry)

Front Toe spec 0.00 to 0.20 and total 0.05 to 0.40 and Gyraline measured Total Toe 0.25/0.30 and Rear 0.05/0.05 (Looks good value. Axle no doubt straight and rims appear to be straight as tool with good phone gyros is down to 0.05 accurate)

What else
Probably watch more user videos and hope to learn from fellow 200 series owners. I will also take tomorrow a bunch more measurements to see if results are consistent.

Did also try the toe in body alignment mode. Never got all six measurements to green in the tool. I think I messed up the body measurements or the body on frame is confusing the matter as it pointed all wheels min 0.8 to max 1.35 (left front) to the right relative to the body. Vehicle was bought new with only 39k and no accidents or high impact events nor major putholes. Let me tomorrow try again and also measure against the frame itself. Hopefully something more useful comes out of that.

 

[2021 LC200]

Toe in Body Align mode result, measuring at the wheels and on two identical body locations (used front side windows rear bottom corner). Never got to show all green (meaning the red vertical lines measuring the body would turn green but red after I finished measuring at the wheels). Kept asking me to repeat those body measurements and the back to the tires. Something not right yet as vehicle is near new and no incidents or major put hole events.

Trying to think why? I am considering operator error using the tool (most likely) to body on frame inherent imperfect alignment to perhaps Panhard length after installing airbag man airbags sitting slightly different (although rear deflated at this point so should sit at factory height).

 

[TeCKis300]

Initial measurements of toe and camber. Vehicle at 39k miles with factory suspension and factory Dunlop's. I am now less worried about passenger wheel outer wear on the last inch, which is not showing driver side. Attribute that to few rotations and probably faster left hand corners than right hand ones.

200 series spec
View attachment 3855945

Spec vs Measurements
Front Camber spec -0.4 to 1.2 spec and Gyraline measured -0.1/+0.1 and 0.0/0.0 (Looks good values, no immediate worry)

Front Toe spec 0.00 to 0.20 and total 0.05 to 0.40 and Gyraline measured Total Toe 0.25/0.30 and Rear 0.05/0.05 (Looks good value. Axle no doubt straight and rims appear to be straight as tool with good phone gyros is down to 0.05 accurate)

View attachment 3855939 View attachment 3855940

View attachment 3855942View attachment 3855943

What else
Probably watch more user videos and hope to learn from fellow 200 series owners. I will also take tomorrow a bunch more measurements to see if results are consistent.

Did also try the toe in body alignment mode. Never got all six measurements to green in the tool. I think I messed up the body measurements or the body on frame is confusing the matter as it pointed all wheels min 0.8 to max 1.35 (left front) to the right relative to the body. Vehicle was bought new with only 39k and no accidents or high impact events nor major putholes. Let me tomorrow try again and also measure against the frame itself. Hopefully something more useful comes out of that.

Thank you and maybe this will motivate me to get at it. Pretty intuitive and easy to use?

 

[2021 LC200]

Pretty intuitive and easy to use?

Well, overall pretty easy after watching some online videos. That is, I only focused on toe and camber at this point and got the funky result in toe body mode.

Having said that I actually struggled with the initial calibration process between the app and the phone. Made me wonder whether I am part of the iPhone generation or not... After I figured that out, taking the toe and camber measurements actually worked very easy. Make sure you hold the tool in such a way that the green diamond in the middle is aligned in both axis as you take the measurement. Also keep the tool in one orientation as you walk from wheel to wheel and side to side. Note that the picture you store is showing the diamond position as you store the picture.

Also my garage floor is pretty level which is what you apparently need. Did not get to the Caster measurement yet. Probably need those wheel turning tables you bought for that, not sure I will at this point. Also look at measuring the BMW 535d. That still drives beautiful straight and has even tire wear and has never been aligned at 69k miles. Let me share more tomorrow or when I get back to this.

 

[TeCKis300]

Well, overall pretty easy after watching some online videos. That is, I only focused on toe and camber at this point and got the funky result in toe body mode.

Having said that I actually struggled with the initial calibration process between the app and the phone. Made me wonder whether I am part of the iPhone generation or not... After I figured that out, taking the toe and camber measurements actually worked very easy. Make sure you hold the tool in such a way that the green diamond in the middle is aligned in both axis as you take the measurement. Also keep the tool in one orientation as you walk from wheel to wheel and side to side. Note that the picture you store is showing the diamond position as you store the picture.

Also my garage floor is pretty level which is what you apparently need. Did not get to the Caster measurement yet. Probably need those wheel turning tables you bought for that, not sure I will at this point. Also look at measuring the BMW 535d. That still drives beautiful straight and has even tire wear and has never been aligned at 69k miles. Let me share more tomorrow or when I get back to this.

Great, I'll take those tips. I'm using an Android and not sure if that'll make any difference to experience. I actually need to check my wife's car as it seems to be pulling to the right.

 

[2021 LC200]

So I took some measurements on the 535d also to see how the toe relative to body looks like...

Toe front within spec. Toe rear within spec. Again not able to achieve toe relative to body alignment with all 6 measurement points green. Used the front windows rear bottom corner. Vehicle never in an accident. Door panels look perfect aligned, at least visual... Rear wheels relative to body does look good. Kept asking me to go in circles between body and wheels so I stopped.

Camber front slightly more positive than within spec. Will have to repeat measurements. Wear is even on all tires and car tracking perfect straight, not worried about it and symmetric on each side. Camber rear within spec. Again need to take more measurements to see how the spread works out.

Toe and Toe with body alignment

Camber

 

[2021 LC200]

Thank you and maybe this will motivate me to get at it. Pretty intuitive and easy to use?

Any update using your gyraline?

 

[TeCKis300]

Any update using your gyraline?

Nothing yet. Too many things on. A lot of it has been camping!

 

[gasman4u]

How about now? I’m asking because I am about to get new tires due to the outside of my current set almost being bald. I’m guessing the camber bolt (?) wasn’t torqued to spec on my most recent alignment 30k ago and I’ve been pidgeon toeing for an unknown amount of time. It’s hard for me to find an alignment shop (or any shop for that matter) around me that merits trust.