A New Optical Axle Measuring Instrument for Wheel Alignment in Assembly-Line Production

The newly developed optical measuring system allows adjustment of front and rear wheel angularities - toe, camber, caster - in assembly-line production. There is no need to align the car, since the measuring base for the angle alignment is formed by the car itself. Defined spring compression values and direct caster angle determination lead to higher accuracy. Adjustment is carried out directly on the assembly line. Measuring pits are not required. The working time for each car and the working area required, which are important cost factors, are markedly lower than with conventional instruments. The axle measuring system was developed for the VW Vanagon, but can also be used for passenger car chassis. This present paper describes the measuring principle, the optical and mechanical design of the device, and a statistical analysis of over 100 cars aligned by means of this system, in comparison with conventional measuring instruments.