Toe Plates
00 · About this guide
Contents.
This guide covers the three measurement modes of the ASTPSETX Toe Plates (front toe, steer-ahead angle, and rear thrust angle), plus the hub-mount method for when the wheel is removed. Read the safety section before first use.
- 01Anatomy & specs01
- 02Setup & safety02
- 03Understanding toe03
- 04Measure toe · Sidewall04
- 05Hub-mount method05
- 06Steer ahead angle06
- 07Thrust angle07
- 08Troubleshooting08
- 09Care & warranty09
!Read first
- Park on a dry, flat, level surface. Engine off, parking brake on, rear tires chocked.
- Center the steering wheel before measuring. Use ASSTL1 (steering wheel level) and ASSWH1 (steering wheel lock) if you have them.
- Toe plates measure toe. You adjust it at the tie rods, then measure again.
- For the hub-mount method, the vehicle must be supported on jack stands or a lift before the wheel comes off.
01 · Anatomy
Know the plates.
String tabTape slotsHub slotsCenter lineParts
- Toe plate (×2). Aluminum. Vertical center line for hub registration.
- String tab. Tab at one end of each plate. The string runs through it for the string method (Steer Ahead and Thrust Angle).
- Hub slots. Two machined slots that drop over the lower wheel studs when the wheel is removed.
- Tape measure. Self-locking, with hook that engages plate slots.
- String. For Steer Ahead and Thrust Angle measurements.
Tech specs
| Plate material | Aluminum |
| String tab height off floor | 7.5" |
| Hub-mounted slot width | 0.57" / 1.45 cm |
| Tape resolution | 1/16", ideally 1/32" |
| Measurement modes | Toe · Steer ahead · Thrust |
What’s in the box
- 2× Toe Plate
- 2× Measuring Tape
- 1× String Kit
- 1× User Guide (this booklet)
02 · Safety
Before you measure.
This manual covers measurement. If toe reads off-spec, you adjust it at the tie rods, then measure again. If you would rather not make the adjustment yourself, have a qualified technician do it.
Surface & vehicle
- Park on a dry, flat, level surface. Uneven, icy, oily, or greasy ground will skew every reading.
- Engine off. Parking brake on. Rear tires chocked.
- Remove hub caps so they do not contact the plates.
Steering & tires
- Center the steering wheel. Use ASSTL1 (steering wheel level) and ASSWH1 (steering wheel lock) to hold it straight.
- Set all tires to the door-placard pressure.
- For tight readings, simulate normal driving load, with the fuel tank half full and driver (and typical passenger) weight in the seats.
Working under a lifted vehicle
- Never go under a vehicle without jack stands or a proper lift. Never raise a vehicle on a surface that is not level and solid.
- For the Hub-Mount Method (Section 05), confirm the vehicle is firmly supported before pulling a wheel.
!Scope of this tool
- Toe plates measure toe, steer-ahead, and thrust. They do not adjust anything.
- AutoSolo is not responsible for misuse of the equipment or issues caused by incorrect alignment adjustment.
03 · Toe
Understanding toe.
Toe is the angle of the wheels when viewed from directly above the vehicle. The Sidewall Method (Section 04) reads toe with the vehicle on its wheels. The Hub-Mount Method (Section 05) reads toe with the wheel removed.
!Measure toe last
- Set caster and camber first, because a camber change moves toe. If you change camber or caster after this, measure toe again.
Toe in · positive
Front of the wheels on the same axle point inward, toward each other. Most road cars are set up with a small amount of toe in for stability.
Toe out · negative
Front of the wheels point outward, away from each other. Excess toe out causes tire wear and twitchy steering.
Polarity rule
Rear-vehicle measurement longer than front = toe IN. Front longer than rear = toe OUT.
Degrees to inch conversion chart
| Total toe | Inches | mm |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00° | 0 | 0 |
| 0.08° | 1/32" | 0.794 |
| 0.16° | 1/16" | 1.588 |
| 0.24° | 3/32" | 2.381 |
| 0.32° | 1/8" | 3.175 |
| 0.40° | 5/32" | 3.969 |
| 0.48° | 3/16" | 4.763 |
The toe plates measure total axle toe. A rear-minus-front difference of 1/8" is 0.32° total toe IN.
04 · Sidewall method
Read toe in 6 steps.
Vehicle on its wheels. Tapes under spring tension between the plates. One reading at the front of the plates, one at the rear. Subtract.
Steering centered
Flat, level surface. Engine off. Parking brake on. Rear tires chocked. Steering wheel locked straight.
Three points of contact
Plate flat against outer sidewall. Top left, top right, and center bottom of the plate must touch the tire. Center line aligned to the hub.
String tab toward bumper
For front-axle toe, both string tabs face the front bumper. If a string tab faces back, swap plates side-to-side.
Two tapes, same slots
Hook one tape into front-edge slots, one into rear-edge slots. Use identical slot positions on both plates. Larger tires may need the lower slots.
Leave the tape locks off
With the locks off, the tapes apply spring tension that holds the plates against the sidewalls. Read both to 1/16", ideally 1/32".
Rear minus front
Subtract front from rear. Convert the difference to degrees with the chart on page 03. Rear longer = toe IN. Front longer = toe OUT.
05 · Hub-mount
Wheel off · plate on studs.
When the wheel is removed and the vehicle is on jack stands or a lift, the plate mounts directly to the lower wheel studs. This isolates toe from tire deformation. The slots fit common passenger cars, light trucks, vans, and select heavy-duty applications.
Clean the hub face
Position the plate
Slide on
Hand-tighten with existing lug nuts
Hang plumb · measure front + rear
!Finger tight only
- Never use a wrench on the lug nuts holding a toe plate. Over-torque will permanently deform the aluminum plate.
- If the plate wobbles excessively under tape tension, the hub face is dirty or one nut is uneven. Re-clean and re-seat.
06 · Steer ahead angle
Check steer ahead in 6 steps.
Steering wheel centered, string looped all four corners at 7.5". Measure one gap per front plate. Equal both sides means the wheel sits straight when the tires do.
Lock it straight
Lock with ASSWH1. Confirm level with ASSTL1. Steering must be centered before the string goes on. Do not skip this step.
String tabs face the bumper
Same sidewall-contact setup as Section 04. Flat against the outer sidewall. Three-point contact. Center line on the hub. The string tab on each plate points toward the front bumper.
Four corners
Run the string through the string tab on the left front plate, around the outside of the left rear tire, across the rear, around the right rear tire, and through the string tab on the right front plate.
7.5" at the rear tires
At the rear of each rear tire, position the string at 7.5" off the floor. That matches the string tab height on the front plates, so the string runs level corner to corner. Pull both ends taut with no sag. A slack string introduces error.
Both ends at the back
Both free ends of the string run to the back. Tie them to a tow hook, trailer hitch, or a heavy floor anchor positioned in the rear of the vehicle. Any anchor works as long as the string stays tight. Never tie to the sides of the vehicle.
Rear edge to string
On each front plate, measure the distance from the rear edge of the plate to the string. Equal on both sides = steering wheel will sit centered when the tires point straight.
Unequal readings
Unequal readings mean the steering wheel will sit crooked when the car drives straight, or vice versa.
07 · Thrust angle
Check thrust angle in 6 steps.
Plates move to the rear axle, string tabs flip to face the rear bumper. String circles all four corners at 7.5". Compare the string-to-plate gap side to side.
Same sidewall setup
Move both plates to the rear tires. Flat against the outer sidewall. Three-point contact with the center line on the hub.
String tabs face rear bumper
Rotate the plates so the string tab on each plate points toward the rear bumper. This is the opposite of the Steer Ahead setup.
Four corners
Run the string through the string tab on the left rear plate, around the outside of the left front tire, across the front, around the right front tire, and through the string tab on the right rear plate.
7.5" at the front tires
At the front of each front tire, position the string at 7.5" off the floor. Pull both ends taut with no sag before measuring.
Both ends at the rear
Both free ends of the string exit the string tabs on the rear plates. Tie them to the trailer hitch or a heavy floor anchor positioned behind the vehicle. Never tie to the sides of the vehicle.
Front edge to string
On each rear plate, measure the distance from the string to the front edge of the plate. Equal both sides = thrust angle is zero. Unequal = the rear axle is angled off centerline.
Non-zero thrust angle
A non-zero thrust angle is rarely a DIY fix. It usually indicates a frame, subframe, or rear-suspension issue from a prior impact. Have a qualified technician inspect before doing further alignment work. Adjusting front toe against a crooked rear axle just hides the symptom.
08 · Troubleshooting
Steering wheel off-center?
If toe checks within spec but the steering wheel still does not sit straight on the road, work through these seven causes.
Camber or caster changed after toe was set?
Measure toe again.
Road crown
Roads slope to drain water. Test on several straight roads. If the steering pull changes, road crown is the cause and not the alignment.
Worn suspension or steering
Ball joints, tie rod ends, and bushings let geometry shift under load. Inspect and replace before re-measuring.
Electric power steering bump
Newer EPS systems nudge the steering wheel off-center at engine start. Recheck toe with the engine running, transmission in Park, chocks in place.
Rear thrust angle not zero
A crooked rear axle steers the car even when front toe is correct. Run Section 07 to confirm. Fix the rear before re-adjusting the front.
Toe not at factory spec
All four wheels must be at factory toe with the steering wheel centered. Re-check front and rear toe against the manufacturer’s spec.
Camber or caster off
Other angles influence steering feel and tire wear. Check with the ASCCKG 3-angle gauge, or have a technician verify.
Alignment is highly specialized work. If you cannot rule out the cause, consult a qualified automotive technician. AutoSolo is not responsible for issues caused by incorrect adjustments.
09 · Care
Keep them square.
Toe plates only give clean readings if they stay flat and undamaged. A bent plate or kinked tape will offset every measurement.
Inspect before each use
- Cracks or fractures on the plates.
- Dents or deformations that affect the contact edges.
- Loose or missing parts. Tape hooks bent or burred.
If any of these are present, stop using the plates and contact AutoSolo. Do not measure with damaged equipment.
Care & storage
- Store in a dry, clean spot. Out of extreme heat or humidity.
- Avoid drops, impacts, and rough handling. The plates rely on staying flat.
- Wipe down with a damp cloth and mild detergent. No flammable solvents.
- Dry completely before storage.
Tape measure handling
- Do not let the tape kink. Watch for sharp edges along the side of the blade.
- Do not let the tape retract uncontrolled. Hold the lock button partially down to slow the return.
1-year replacement warranty
AutoSolo warrants the ASTPSETX Toe Plate set against manufacturing defects for one year from original retail purchase. Non-transferable. Coverage excludes abuse, modification, shipping damage, use of non-AutoSolo parts, and damage from natural disasters or force majeure events. Email support@autosolotools.com with proof of purchase and photos of the defect within 30 days of discovery. This warranty does not affect your statutory rights.