How to do wheel alignment using string Honda, Acura Toyota, Lexus , Kia, Hyundai any and all cars

Due to factors beyond the control of RB The Mechanic, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information. RB The Mechanic assumes no liability for property damages or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. RB The Mechanic recommends to follow safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, chemicals, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of RB The Mechanic, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not RB The Mechanic.
#wheel #wheelalignment #howtodowheelalignment #carpullstooneside #carpullstoleft #carpullsright #badwheelaligment #howtofixwheelaligment #honda #acura #acuratl #acuratsx #tl #tsx

[@jptrainor]

I've done a string alignment after doing suspension work on an old car of mine that had well worn tires. I didn't want to spend money on an alignment when the tires were already nearly finished. It was fine. I got it close with the string and then tweaked it after a drive test until I was happy with it. Later when I purchased new tires, I got a professional alignment and it went from good enough to sweet. Definitely an improvement, but that also cost me.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah I did my cars like this no issues I do recommend if u got expencive tired to get it officially done but I like my way

[@brianborell4469]

So kool to see you doing this. I was a technician for 16+ years and did this a couple times on my own cars after lowering the suspension. I even did a close family friend's daughter's car after a local Goodyear said they couldn't set the rear toe because of rust. I set the string 2" off the tires on jack stands and square it to the pinch welds.

[@RBTheMechanic]

I always try to make best to keep the car straight as possable after replacing parts so it works great and then do recommend official wheel alignment I had bad experience before I was 💯 % experience mechanic I had work done on my car and then car pulled to side so violently they shouldn’t had done that it was dangerous I would never do that to anyone

[@jmcmelendez1654]

Thank you so much I save my time taking to mechanic and wait the whole day to get my car wheel alignment and I did it for just an hour as a beginner

[@RBTheMechanic]

Nice but this is only temporary it will not be 100% safe for tires I would still get alignment

[@frankrenteria4370]

I did this on my 91 Cherokee! Came out pretty good. Sure beats 100 dollars every 3 months 💯👍

[@RBTheMechanic]

Nice job!!

[@atomiclife9900]

where can I get an alignment for 100 😮 Payed 300 the last time . 😢

[@deanmeyer1815]

Why would you have an alignment every 3 months?

[@deanmeyer1815]

Sounds like you had repairs done in addition to the alignment. If not, you might want to look for another shop.

[@cjackfly]

@@atomiclife9900 300 here too

[@mohammada6472]

you a beast bro. No shop does this for there customers. Dudes be like hold the wheel with two hands to the alignment shop haha

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah I do my best try to make it straight as possable

[@CallMeAllan]

Thanks for sharing this method for aligning the rear wheels

[@RBTheMechanic]

No problem 👍

[@thecoach1683]

It was the front wheels

[@adrianalanis20000]

We all know the customar wont take the truck to do the proper alighment 😂you did a great job !

[@RBTheMechanic]

Welll I made sure after my work the car ran straight enough to have it driven to alignment place I see mechanic leave tires one facing left other right and car not derivable

[@RBTheMechanic]

@theory816 yup

[@justinchapman6383]

I've seen it done like this but with 2 pieces of tile with grease in-between so that wheels are where they would be if on the ground. Kinda like a real alignment. I guess that would be the way to really do it if an alignment rack wasn't an option. Im sure this will get your customer to the alignment machine without any premature tire ware

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup always good tricks to hear

[@robertcarter4649]

Saw another way 4 pieces of cardboard 2 on top of each other put them under the wheel same results Thanks

[@M4V3RiCkU235]

@@robertcarter4649 and grease between cardboards.

[@bossworldsvideos]

thank you for your videos man it was such a awsome help . easy cheap way to get around till i was able to take to a shop .....

[@RBTheMechanic]

Ok cool!!

[@RBTheMechanic]

You are welcome!

[@brandonsalmon4438]

Nice i just replaced the rack,lower control arm,tie rods, struts and power steering pump on a 2010 honda civic lx the tie rods where about 12 rotation for center for me biggest problem i had was getting those jam nuts off

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah those get locked up

[@zullzull9163]

This method so coll ...I always do this method for 8x4 tipper truck front whell ....

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup

[@Askyfullofeyes]

This is a nice trick and very well explained. Thanks :)

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup thank you!!

[@joeybuddy96]

Thanks for the demonstration and detailed walkthrough!

[@perplexed2352]

Just a psa, you shouldnt tie the rope off of anything on the vehicle, your front and rear track width can be different, giving a bad toe measurment if not corrected for, a 5mm difference in front and rear track width could be a degree or two out. Proper way to do this is with the suspension loaded get a set of jackstands and square them off the vehicle a distance away from the side of the vehicle, what distance doesnt matter as long as its the same in each sides (so if its 100mm off the rear right its 100mm off the rear left and it could be 150mm on the front right as long as the front left matches that 150mm its fine) And then measure from the string to the rim, not the tyre as tyres are more likely have high and low spots

[@urbz200]

Good video my friend. Ill be using this in the next couple of days

[@unanimous5678]

It’s the only need two more turns and turns it six to eight more time lol. But I get it. I got to go do mine today after I put a new/used suspension in. Only thing is my Honda is 05 so the dang bolts feel like they are melted lol

[@PiotrowskiGD]

Very good tutorial.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@IntegraDIY]

Wheels must be in the ground with the weight settling the suspension. One you lower the vehicle the alignment you just did will be off.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Understandable but this is just temporally some time once u do some work it be super off I have seen where mechanic left tire like totally off u can’t even drive to alignment shop

[@MrFartyman44]

@@RBTheMechanic I know you’re a decent mechanic because you can’t spell

[@rowanmcnair425]

ty for this

[@cjackfly]

@@RBTheMechanic I had my tires put on at one place and another dude was trying to be all fancy and get studs in his winter tires. I noticed the mechanics huddling up by his truck. The dude left right before me and when he pulled out on to the road BOTH his rear tires fell off! So yeah... You gotta watch your shops!

[@RBTheMechanic]

@@cjackfly damnnn how they fell off

[@ralfsautomotive]

Nice to do that for your customers

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup customers been happy with my service since 12 years!!

[@mitchellschroeder6660]

This is how I did it and it came out perfectly everyone’s taking measurements at the time and offsetting string from tires and making the gaps the same I don’t get it!!

[@robertcarter4649]

Thank You I learned something today

[@RBTheMechanic]

Glad to hear it!!!

[@chienle7063]

very good explained thanks

[@RBTheMechanic]

Thank u!!

[@ahmed-wy9yq]

Nice work

[@jimmiller6704]

From below "Thank you very much for the detailed walkthrough. This maybe a silly question but to perform this trick, I need to have all four wheels up in the air with jack stands?" Could a person do one side at a time with two jacks instead of four?

[@RBTheMechanic]

No u need to have all up

[@breakbeats93]

Easy. Thank you.

[@RBTheMechanic]

You're welcome!

[@airborneleads1981]

I used to do humvees alignment this way, they’ll be on the ground and the string would loop all 4 wheels.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Oh I see

[@_Sayvo_]

Thanks for the No Bs video

[@RBTheMechanic]

Welcome!! 🤗

[@markojamesdimen7238]

after the manual wheel alignment, do i need to adjust the steering wheel?

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yes u should lock it up straight before doing it

[@Hissael]

Hi, can you please tell me the measurements of the two tools required for this specific model (1998-2002 Accord) in order to do an alignment? The measurement for the nut and the measurement for the actual tie rod. Thanks in advance & great video

[@RBTheMechanic]

Well this is temporary alignment after some repairs but I use adjustable wrench size maybe 21 or 22 mm u should take ur car for alignment with alignment machine

[@azmyin]

Thank you very much for the detailed walkthrough. This maybe a silly question but to perform this trick, I need to have all four wheels up in the air with jack stands?

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup but u can check on floor as well but to adjust it would be good on jacks

[@cjackfly]

@@RBTheMechanic just thinking if you measure where dey at on duh ground, then measure again in the air, wouldn't half way be 100% correct when you put it back on duh ground?

[@No_Transitory]

I'm taking it this would only work with a regular suspension set up and stock rims... I got a 06 acura tl that had 20's (dude destroyed the fenders trying to get them to fit) I pulled the 20's and put 18's. There's no camber on the front or rear. So I'll need upper control arms for the front a and a rear upper control arm for the rears since I'm still getting negative camber. The steering wheel is way off so the car needs an alignment anyway and I'm assuming it can't be done without the camber kits for the fronts and rear tires. I'd also need to find out what suspension is currently on the car as it's bouncy every time I hit a speed bump, and there's no way for me to adjust the dampening

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah but it should still work but however this is just to get it straight so ur car is not going sideways after repairs tie rods or somthing related to alignment going off

[@cjackfly]

@@RBTheMechanic now I see why my alignment dude say he wanna inspec it firs. He wanna see if it needs part replace?

[@RBTheMechanic]

@@cjackfly yup

[@danielguzman1560]

Tanks amigo

[@RBTheMechanic]

Welcome

[@t-money10]

Does the car front end need to be jacked up? I don't have a lift

[@mikesecondo2254]

This is improper...the wheels must be on level floor with the vehicle weight just as it's going down the road.

[@chadrose]

What Mike said, especially if you have coil overs and camber. When you do it on the ground just put cardboard or metal cookie sheets under each tire so the move easier

[@glasser2819]

100% correct Mike: WHEELS ON THE GROUND else it's a waste of time dealing with alignment. Realize that... the wheel traveling up/down from where the steering tie rod is horizontal, THIS AFFECTS TOE-IN/OUT. Can't adjust nothing with wheels dangling on the air 😂

[@joeybuddy96]

Y'all...just get the rough alignment in the air and the fine tuning on the ground, get it to the dealer and let them finish the precision alignment.

[@deegee2416]

I want to know why my honda 1990 accord is not upper control arm adjustable needs to be changed on passenger side. What do we need to do for a alignment, you don't know, so you wont answer my question?

[@RBTheMechanic]

U need camber kit to do that

[@deegee2416]

@@RBTheMechanic Thank you. Looks like I can rent one out.

[@deegee2416]

what about when I change a upper control ball joint on passenger side? How do I adjust that? Jack up the car and measure how far the tire is down? on the other side to make it match?

[@RBTheMechanic]

What car u have cuz this car has control arm part of ball joint all togather is changed and no adjustment required

[@deegee2416]

@@RBTheMechanic 1990 honda accord, oh I forget to mention it does have an adjustable ball joint on the control arm. If I hold steering wheel straight, it goes left. It was higher up than the other tire when I installed it. It is the same part on the other side.

[@deegee2416]

@@RBTheMechanic why are you not answering my question?

[@deegee2416]

@@RBTheMechanic answer my question please

[@AutodidactEngineer]

What about cars that have wider front axle?

[@RBTheMechanic]

Wheel alignment or go by eye like I said u gotta end up doing it by machine so this is to get the car straight as possable after repairs

[@JMgmkh]

Good alignment man, Terrible camera man LOL

[@RBTheMechanic]

Ok it was me My Self and i

[@1peanut]

Help. 94 honda accord. I slid sideways into a curb with passenger front wheel while turning left. now the alignment is pigeon toed in on that side. What could i have possibly bent ? Or what parts are most like bent ?

[@RBTheMechanic]

Control arms tie rod spindle!! Start checking and comparing to opposite side

[@1peanut]

@@RBTheMechanic Thank you. i will try to fix it as soon as snow clears off.

[@NOSKiDD]

The suspension is sagging tho? Once you drop the car to the ground it’s gonna change the angles

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yes

[@metrox5044]

It work in Scion xB 2006?

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup

[@reza_dc2]

So the string attached at the rear is just to hold the string in place , nothing more right. Great video

[@RBTheMechanic]

No it holds there but it looped over rear wheels to give it straight light to match front lifts of tires

[@davidplays6286]

Question why when adjusting my inner tie rod why is it pulling the whole thing

[@RBTheMechanic]

Pulling what? Suppose to retract outter tie rod

[@davidplays6286]

@@RBTheMechanic when I turn counter clock wise or clock wise it won't turn at all and just pulls the whole thing instead while trying to adjust my alignment

[@RBTheMechanic]

@@davidplays6286 but push what?

[@junglejackbeats]

"14 minus 6... yeah thats about 11 threads" 🤣

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup

[@dannykk360]

he said “sorry 17”

[@ahmed-wy9yq]

Axel Hubs and rims should also be in good condition not damaged Chasis from down of car 🚙 suspension must also be straightforward

[@shittubasirah251]

👍

[@mikesecondo2254]

What if rear toe is off?.. false ft reading?? Shouldn't vehicle be on level floor??

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yeah some cars don’t have adjustment kit in rear

[@mikesecondo2254]

@@RBTheMechanic 80% of today vehicles require a 4 wheel alignment and also must do wheel runout which no back yard diy is capable of doing.The weight of vehicle must be on level floor with wheels on!!!

[@RBTheMechanic]

@@mikesecondo2254 yeah I understand this is just somthing that can let ur car be drivable to go get alignment if saying what I have seen I had customers that had done work at another shop and the car wheels were so offfff that when u make turn car wants to just go out of control I mean even if u count the threads it will be at lease some straight but they just jam on tie rods no care no nothing

[@mikesecondo2254]

@@RBTheMechanic ok...the only reason why I have responded to your feed is because I worked for Chevrolet for 35 years and I did all the FEA back then....however now these day half these guys will drive on the rack,set up the heads,walk around make some noise and just hide under car for about 20 minutes and not even touch a front end component.Then back car off and say it's all set!!!!.... Then again it's hard to find a good tech.these days!!!! The ones that make me laugh are the....Buy 4 tires and get a FREE alignment!!!

[@RBTheMechanic]

@@mikesecondo2254 yeah true most shops are shady I see all kinds of crap I had lady come to me years back she wanted to change head light fluid cuz some shop recommended

[@ketobeast8489]

Important tip: RWD 1/8 toe in FWD 1/8 toe out

[@Xzacktly22]

What about awd?

[@ketobeast8489]

Never done an AWD, but my guess would be 1/8 toe out because fronts are still pulling. It could be zero toe so don’t quote me on that. Good question.

[@brahilly]

Unlike most commenters here, I think the way he's using the string is wrong and dangerous. The string method can be used effectivley, but this isn't it. The way he ties the string to the front control arm, wrapping it around the tire then passing it over the hub, is not an accurate reference to do the job.

[@RBTheMechanic]

It’s fine like I said in this video this is to get ur car back on road and be able to drive around not like mechanics that leave ur car turning left when ur trying to make right turn after repairs

[@ketobeast8489]

Yes definitely not the right way to do it. You want to be on the flat ground actually and his string is resting on the wheel as well as the tire so it’s gonna be very inaccurate, but he said it’s just to get dude to get a real alignment so let’s hope he made it. 🙏🏼 😂

[@Broken_AK47]

goot try at informing people. but its a fail, sadly. the geometry of wheels change ALOT depending on wheel height relative to suspenssion travel. look at truphy truck/baja its abusive but easy to see. not talking about positive camber but TOE ( in and out ). gotta play in slow motion. they have agressive toe-in when on the track ( where its needed ) and they become straight and sometime agressive toe-out ( useless when in the air ). and all car must have minor toe-in to keep going straight. 0 toe at all = good luck keeping it straight on the road. a car on the lift make the shocks reach max travel. so the toe AND camber are heavily changed from its normal sitting height. if you need to align it, its all 4 wheel on the floor. or on the ground... ive heard some very rare car doesnt change toe relative to suspenssion travel, but in over 20 different model, ive never seen any of those. just google "car suspension geometry". but at least you just failed you didnt say nosense crap all day long like scotty kilmer. anything better than this mentally disabled peice shit deserve respect so RESPECT !

[@RBTheMechanic]

Well I don’t think u listen to every thing I stated when some mechanic changes ur outter and inner tie rods they leave ur wheels one facing east coast one west coast car by doing this to ur best of ability it get ur alignment back to almost close but not 100%

[@RJAH355]

I can assure you the seat belt wouldn’t stop the steering from moving and you can’t do any alignment with the wheels in the air.

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yes it wount but if u pay attention and listen. As mechanics do repairs like new tie rods they don’t bring the alignment back and one wheel be facing north other south and customer can’t even drive out of shop this is to just get it back in place and it’s not fanalized alignment only mechanic can be accurate

[@RJAH355]

@@RBTheMechanic and you can do it properly in the same amount of time and effort with the wheels on the floor and a jack holding the steering wheels. I’ve done it more times then I can remember.

[@luision5061]

Mate the car has to be on the ground

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yes and no and yes or maybe but this is to fix the car for meanwhile

[@VolvoLaplanderCamper]

This gives more accurate reading for toe adjustment and are easyer done : kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJWtmoJ5r76Xndk

[@doodlebug8673]

Before u remove the outer tie rods count the number of threads and you will not have to go thru this bs

[@RBTheMechanic]

Yup I do that in my videos I show when ever I change the tie rods