rail rider alignment

[hotrod]

Question concerning alignment while on alignment board. When you release car to travel down board, where should the front wheel ride? Should it ride against the body or should it ride against the axle head?

Another question concerning polishing axles. How much difference in performance will one see polishing axle up to 8000 grit compared to say 2000 grit and finishing with your favorite metal polish (mothers)?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Ed

[srcracing]

you definatly want the wheel to ride against the axle head,,not only the front wheels but the back also ,remember less friction is better,,now ive read some posts of builders getting the wheel to rub niether ,the wheel stays center but ive tried its very difficult ,but the results would probably be worth it,but most builders go for axle head..on polishing again i would say go all the way to the 8000 and then polish,,i use jewlers rouge ,,make sure you clean them up after your done,,,,just my two cents worth..

[hotrod]

hey srcracing,

thanks for your 2 cents...every bit helps!

For this particular build, I have only spent time on the alignment board and have yet try car on test track. I can use alignment board in house (air conditioning), but test track is in my shop where it's very hot these days. Hopeful more time on alignment board would pay dividends on track. I knew what I was seeing was not right and wanted to correct if before I tested it on track. It looks like the front end and front steer wheel are fighting against each other. The front of body seems to moves opposite direction from desired steer.

My first thought was rear wheel/axle was causing problem..maybe a higher friction coefficient? Back wheels are canted and move toward axle head rolling car forward and backward. Will probably move wheels around on car to eliminate wheel axle problems.