Setting Toe
 

Without serious modifications, my 91 Civic (among other
Honda models) permits only one alignment angle to be
adjusted: Toe.

Has anyone here set the toe themselves? If so, what tools
did you use or devise? Was your effort successful as
indicated by tire wear and steering feel?

I have googled and there are some reports on this, but they
are a bit vague. Also, I see tools like the toe gage plates
advertised at http://www.quickcar.net/chassis/ch_tp.html and
Ebay Motors. Is it a big deal to find my own very flat
plates, apply them to the tire sides, devise a way to take
measurements, etc.? I am sure tempted to do so.

On rear toe --
Having just replaced the trailing arm bushings in my 91
Civic, I know there are little "compensator arms" attaching
to the front of the trailing arm. At one end, the
compensator arm is bolted to the car. The bolt, when
loosened, can move in a slot so that some adjustment is
possible. Hash marks are etched prominently into the body of
the car at this point to facilitate adjustment. The factory
service manual describes this under "Rear Toe
Inspection/Adjustment." See for example
http://media.honda.co.uk/car/owner/m...SH200/12-5.pdf

The other end of the compensator arm is free-floating. That
is, it rides on air. It seems a rather flimsy arrangement
for adjusting toe with any precision. The design seems to
explain the following three comments:

"... usually only the front suspension [wheel alignment] is
adjustable." Chilton's 1984-1995 Honda Civic/CRX/del Sol
manual, page 8-12

"A unique feature of [the 1984-1995 models'] suspension
system is the compensator arm. This component allows a
certain amount of side-to-side movement of the trailing arm.
This helps to maintain a better toe angle of the wheel
throughout the suspension travel." Chiltons, page 8-16

"The [new at the time 1993 Integra] trailing arm's front end
is located by a short transverse compensating arm which
cancels unwanted toe changes."
http://dwolsten.tripod.com/articles/sep93b.html

ISTM the free end of that compensator arm will move in a
radius around its other (adjusting bolted) end. So it moves
in and out somewhat, changing toe according to driving
conditions and wear on the car. As a result of all this
commentary, I get the feeling that rear toe need not be
sweated too much. Thoughts?