Wheel alignment info

[ray-holan]

This is a good question, Douglas. Hadn’t thought about it. My guess is there will be alignment specs for the front wheels only.

[llewellyn-evans]

I am just thinking about the rear wheel.

Yaw misalignment would still cause crabbing.

Camber misalignment would cause uneven tyre loading.

Toe issues not applicable because there is only one rear tyre.

[UnidentifiedDrivingObject]

Minus 1 wheel behind, is it even doable?

[ROMAD]

Do trikes need to be aligned? If so, then it should be similar.

I just checked on a Can-Am forum and toe-in is critical. On the Can-Am the sweet spot supposedly is about 1/2″ (12 – 13mm).

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Dennis Swaney.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by  Gabriel Kemeny.

[UnidentifiedDrivingObject]

You mean, this is how you do it?

https://youtu.be/Ho12zpOkAPAhttps://youtu.be/Ho12zpOkAPA

Seriously, you have got to be kidding right.. 😄

Front wheel alignment service on an Aptera, seems to be a very grey area..

[ROMAD]

Well, he made his own measuring jig, plus the Can-Am is open air. There is also the Rolo Laser Alignment Kit for the Can-Am Spyder. However, when the design is FINALIZED, I’m sure Aptera will publish alignment specs and procedures. Heck, maybe if there is enough demand you might convince Rolo to make a laser alignment kit for the Aptera.

James, I replied to your reply to this post about checking with Morgan dealers, but on my screen it is covered up by a “What About Alignment” graphic.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Dennis Swaney.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Dennis Swaney.

[UnidentifiedDrivingObject]

I know. We’ll see when this gets FINALIZED. It was discussed before, but was left open ended.

https://aptera.us/community/discussion/what-about-alignment/

Performing the procedure, is a whole different ball game in itself..

We will see. 🤣

Wheel alignment info

[ROMAD]

Agreed. However, there have been three wheel cars around for years, like the Morgan Super 3. There are Morgan dealers in the Denver, CO and in Costa Mesa & Santa Monica, CA areas so maybe some one in the vicinity could stop in and ask how they do wheel alignments.

[UnidentifiedDrivingObject]

Dennis, unfortunately I am nowhere near any Morgan dealer. Yes, someone in the community who is close to one could possibly inquire from Morgan, on proper 3 wheel alignment info (if there ever was). It’s ridiculous that there is no info at all, from the internets..

Btw, I should’ve titled this thread as “3 Wheel Tire Alignment”..

[993cc]

Back in the late pleistocene when I first learned to drive, it was quite common to align the front wheels without reference to the rear wheels. It was only when independent rear suspensions became commonplace that four wheel alignment became a thing. In theory there’s no reason it shouldn’t be possible, although alignment systems that put the vehicle up on beams would present a problem for the rear wheel.

[UnidentifiedDrivingObject]

Yes that too, Bob. There is no 3 wheel alignment lift that I know of. Possibly, a shop can gerry rig improvise a moveable/sliding rear perpendicular metal plank, for the rear wheel tire to rest on? It is possible though, just to do the front wheels. However, the front tires has to be parallel, in relation to the one rear. I’d hate to see a feathered tire wear on the rear (dragging it sideways) due to wrong tire geometry alignment. Besides, there is no question that misaligned tires on an Aptera would definitely affect it’s range efficiency.

I am amazed, that this common regular tire maintenance item, was not brought up before by anyone for the Aptera folks to address, beyond these forums.

The (poor) single rear wheel tire, seems to be neglected.. 🤣

[kerbe2705]

I believe the term for this is “Front End Alignment” – as opposed to “Wheel Alignment”.

[UnidentifiedDrivingObject]

Same thing. No need to be a word police.

[seth]

Highways around me seem to have plenty of 2+ inch potholes which always throws my alignment off by my next tire change. Of course I also expect aptera to be even worse to try avoiding potholes with since you probably have to completely change lanes with the 3 wheels. I’ve seen the motor testing, and it looks like they can take an impact, but I’m curious how imbalanced/misaligned wheels will affect them long term

[Shawgrin]

Seth, the affect on 3 wheels is minor compared to 4 wheels. If a front wheel becomes out of balance due to wear or loss of a weight, the feel in the steering will change the same amount as any other vehicle with 2 front wheels. If the rear becomes unbalanced, the average driver will not notice until a tire rotation.

Alignments are a different story. As far as I know, there are no racks for 3 wheeled vehicles to be aligned on. So the alignment will most likely be performed on the ground with the wheel covers off and using a 2 wheel setting on a 4 wheel machine or manually with a compass (digital preferred) and a string. Both types of alignments should only take about 30 minutes.

[Kamakiri]

Will there be any complications for having an Aptera aligned?

That’s going to largely depend on the adjustments that they make available. If only the toe links are adjustable, it should be easy by anyone or any shop that can or will do alignments on the ground. As mentioned by others, the rear wheel may make it difficult to get them up on a rack. I’m hoping for caster/camber adjustability, but I don’t know what’s planned in that regard and most owners won’t care about that. I plan on doing my own alignments regardless to minimize rolling resistance and tire wear, and of course maximize efficiency/mileage/range. (When not on a race track 😉)

I imagine the only rear wheel adjustment will be when it comes time to overhaul and replace bushings or such long term consumables. Otherwise I don’t see the point and I hope there is no need for adjustment there.