Dogtracking

INSPECTION

Tread Width Diagram:

1. Vehicle front tread (track) is wider than rear tread.
2. "Tread" is the distance between two front or two rear tires, as shown on image.

Dogtracking Diagram:

3. When a vehicle with these tread differences is driven on a crowned road, front end may tend to ride higher than the rear. This makes the vehicle appear to dogtrack. Perform inspection to determine if a problem actually exists.

DIAGNOSIS

Dogtracking Measurement:

1. Use an empty stretch of road or parking lot.
2. While sighting down hood or body style line, drive vehicle to see if it is going straight or dogtracking.
3. Stop vehicle when you notice dogtracking. Have an assistance mark center tread of both front tires with chalk on the ground.
4. Slowly pull vehicle forward until rear tires are at same position as marks made for front tires.
5. Have an assistance mark the ground as was done for front tires. Identify which marks are for each set of tires.
6. Move vehicle out of way and measure total amount of dogtracking as follows:
^ Measure distance A between front tire marks.
^ Measure distance halfway between these two marks.
^ Measure distance B between rear tire marks.
^ The distance between the two center marks, C, is the amount of dogtracking present in the vehicle.