MAHLE RTI Laser 4 - Manual (Page 3)

Page 3
EASY START GUIDE FOR THE TECHNICIAN
(continued)
V. Front Toe
The major feature of the Laser 4 is that the desired toe angle of each wheel is “set” with the calibrated
tapered magnets on each wheel. Then, the tie rods of the vehicle (steering wheel straight) are set so
the side-to-side laser beam reflects back to zero. This makes the two gauges parallel to each other and
the wheels are pointing away from parallel (usually inward) by the angle that the magnets were set to
initially. The toe in inches or millimeters is the automatic result of the angle and the wheel diameter.
IT’S THAT EASY!
VI. Thrust Angle
Once the front toe is set, it’s important to ensure that the front wheels are pointing in the same
direction as the rear wheels. Otherwise the vehicle will “self-steer” or pull in one direction, and/or the
steering wheel will not be centered. Like the front, the rear toe is set the same for each wheel with the
special tapered magnets. When the rear laser beams are reflected back to the front scales, with both
sides of the front scales reading the same, and the front toe still zero on the side to side scale (by
adjusting the front tie rods as necessary) a “thrust-angle” alignment is complete. If caster and camber
are also compensated, as mentioned earlier, the vehicle will go perfectly straight, with NO PULL! On
cars where front camber and caster are not adjustable, with practice and experimentation, the
technician can even compensate and offset the pull created by caster or camber with thrust angle
settings. If Caster, Camber, and Toe are all within specs, there will be no unnecessary tire wear. IT’s
THAT EASY USING THE LASER 4!
VII. Four Wheel Alignment
The only difference is that the rear toe is adjusted, as necessary, so that the reflected laser beams not
only read the same on both scales, but also read “5" on each side or exactly in the middle. This means
that the rear toe is exactly the figure “dialed in” to the rear toe mirrored gauges. Again, IT’s THAT
EASY USING THE LASER 4!
VII. Print-out
The Smart Laser Module gives tremendous capability. Before and After readings can be recorded and
stored. (Caster and Camber directly from the Caster/Camber gauge. Specifications are entered
manually. Toe readings for Before, Specifications, and After are entered manually. Remember that
the “After” toe figures should be the same as the “Spec” since these are “dialed in” with the special
magnets.) The fast and easy way is to record the “After” readings and tear off the bottom of the
printout with the customer data to show the customer that the job was done right. Rear Toe is either
“Compensated” if doing a Thrust Angle Alignment or “Adjusted” if doing a Four Wheel Alignment.
THE LASER 4 CAN BE USED TO DO PROPER ALIGNMENTS FASTER
AND EASIER, WITH MORE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION THAN ANY
OTHER SYSTEM AVAILABLE!
REMEMBER THE GOAL IS NOT JUST TO SET TO SPECIFICATIONS,
BUT TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY TIRE WEAR AND TO MAKE THE
VEHICLE GO STRAIGHT!