Vehicle alignment apparatus and methods

Wheel alignment measuring apparatus comprising:

• a pair of frames, each adapted for engaging a sidewall of a tire;
• and,
• biasing means for engaging said frames with the tire sidewalls of coaxially mounted tires while the coaxially mounted tires are supporting the vehicle on a road surface or the like,
• said biasing means including a first and a second spring and a first and a second elastic member, said first spring and first elastic member being connected in parallel between a front portion of each frame, said second spring and second elastic member being connected in parallel between a rear portion of each frame.

A method for determining if a pair of coaxially mounted tires are parallel to one another while said coaxially mounted tires are supporting a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• disposing a frame against an outside sidewall of each of two coaxially mounted tires;
• extending first biasing means between a front portion of each frame, said first biasing means including first wire means for attaching said first biasing means to said frames, said first wire means including a plurality of regularly space apart stops fixed thereon for removably attaching said first biasing means to said frames,
• extending second biasing means between a rear portion of each frame, said second biasing means including second wire means for attaching said second biasing means to said frames, said second wire means includes a plurality of regularly spaced apart stops fixed thereon for removably attaching said second biasing means to said frames;
• measuring the distance between the regularly spaced stops in the first wire means between the tires,
• measuring the distance between the regularly spaced stops in the second wire means between the tires;
• and,
• comparing the results of the two herein above recited measurements.

A method for measuring vehicle wheel bearing wear comprising the steps of:

• rolling a vehicle having coaxially mounted tires in one direction and braking the vehicle to a stop;
• disposing a frame against an outside sidewall of each of two coaxially mounted tires;
• extending first biasing means between a front portion of each frame, said first biasing means including first wire means for attaching said first biasing means to said frames, said first wire means including a plurality of regularly space apart stops fixed thereon for removably attaching said first biasing means to said frame;
• extending second biasing means between a rear portion of each frame, said second biasing means including second wire means for attaching said second biasing means to said frames, said second wire means including a plurality of regularly spaced apart stops fixed thereon for removably attaching said second biasing means to said frames;
• including,
• measuring the distance between the regularly spaced stops in the first wire means between the tires,
• measuring the distance between the regularly spaced stops in the second wire means between the tires;
• removing the frames from the coaxially mounted tires;
• rolling the vehicle in an opposite direction and braking the vehicle to a stop;
• disposing a frame against the outside sidewalls of each of two coaxially mounted tires;
• extending the first biasing means between front portions of each frame;
• extending the second biasing means between rear portions of each frame;
• measuring the distance between the regularly spaced stops in the first wire means between the tires;
• measuring the distance between the regularly spaced stops in the second wire means between the tires;
• and,
• comparing the results of the four hereinabove recited measurements.

A method for making alignment measurements relative to front and rear sets of tires of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

• disposing a frame against an outside sidewall of each of one set of coaxially mounted tires;
• extending first biasing means between a front portion of each frame, said first biasing means including center marker means including a pointer having an apperature therein;
• extending second biasing means between a rear portion of each frame, said second biasing means including center marker means including a pointer having an apperature;
• disposing a frame against an outside sidewall of each of another set of two coaxially mounted tires;
• extending third biasing means between a front portion of each frame on said second set of coaxially mounted tires, said third biasing means including center marker means including a pointer having an apperature therein;
• extending fourth biasing means between a rear portion of each frame on said second set of coaxially mounted tires, said fourth biasing means including a pointer having an apperature therein;
• projecting a straight line defined by optically sighting a pointer of one of the first or second biasing means through the apperature of another of the first or second biasing means;
• projecting a straight line defined by optically sighting a pointer of one of the third or fourth biasing means through the apperature of another of the third or fourth biasing means;
• and,
• comparing the hereinabove projections.

A method for making alignment measurements relative to front and rear sets of tires of a vehicles comprising the steps of:

• disposing a frame against an outside sidewall of each of one set of coaxially mounted tires;
• extending first biasing means between a front portion of each frame, said first biasing means including center marker means including a pointer having an apperature therein;
• extending second biasing means between a rear portion of each frame, said second biasing means including center marker means including a pointer having an apperature;
• projecting a straight line defined by optically sighting a pointer of one of the first or second biasing means through the apperature of another of the first or second biasing means;
• recording the projected straight line;
• removing the frames from the one set of coaxially mounted tires;
• disposing a frame against an outside sidewall of each of another set of coaxially mounted tires;
• extending the first biasing means between a front portion of each frame, said first biasing means including center marker means including a pointer having an apperature therein;
• extending the second biasing means between a rear portion of each frame, said second biasing means including a pointer having an apperature;
• projecting a second straight line defined by optically sighting a pointer of one of the first or second biasing means through the apperature of another of the first or second biasing means;
• recording the second projected straight line;
• and,
• comparing the hereinabove recorded straight line projections.