Help: Turbo Tie Rod Alignment after install

[Dauner]

Hi everyone,

I successfully completed the install of new ball joints and Turbo Tie Rod kit in my '89 911 3.2 targa. Wanted to take out for initial drive, but toe was so bad, tires hopping while backing out of garage. Found string alignment instructions on forum, and methodically went thru the procedure. As I suspected, toe was way off, with more than half inch toe in. My problem is using the guideline of 1/4 turn equates to 1/8" of toe adjustment, i calculated that 1 1/8 turns should get me close. Unfortunately, I only got about 6/32" movement, as opposed to my expected 18/32". Two questions:

Is the 1/4 turn = 1/8" of toe adjustment correct for turbo tie rods as well, or are there more threads per inch?

Is it possible that not driving around the block to "set" the suspension is my problem? Doesn't seem like it could possibly reset that much?

Here is a pic of my notes. When there is no denominator, it's 32nds of an inch. Maybe I'm missing something? Any help or words of advice from similar experieces appreciated.

Mark

[Racekar]

String is a fine method but if you want a quick easy method just to get you to the shop,

Pick a groove to use on each front tire
Measure from left to right tire as high up as possible from the ground without interference from the body
Now measure the same groove the same hight, but now behind the tire. If you have no toe the number will be the same.
Toe in the front measurement will be smaller
Toe out the front measurement will larger.

Quick and easy.

You can also make up some toe plates with some spare plate material. You put them against the outside of the tire and read the distance between plates front and rear.
This is a quick track method to check or change toe.

[Dauner]

As a note, I forgot to mention that I did try measuring zero'ing out both sides (driver first and then passenger) and got identical readings.

[john walker's workshop]

straighten the steering wheel and eyeball down the sides of the front tires to the rears. narrow body, line them up, SC body eyeball about 1 inch in on the rear tread. that will get you going. finish at the alignment shop.