Originally Posted by Sydney_A_Muppet

There are fork alignment tools for this exact problem. They are called "dropout alignment tools" or something to that effect.

Primitive, accurate and many older and more established shops with well trained mechanics use the Campagnolo versions that cost a few hundred bucks or so.


The concept is so simple and easy to duplicate that a wise and adept Sydney Muppet could do the exact same job using simple axle bolts and an old 2 dollar axle cut in half.

if, when bolted to the fork dropouts, the axles don't line up in the middle, you use crude leverage tools to bend the fork blades (while cold) until the broken halves are in perfect alignment. It's not the tools so much as the skill, knowledge, judgement and expertise required to do this this well.

this skill could be had for about 12 bucks an hour at a long time reputable shop or you could get it for for free from a common muppet like myself or from the ultimate God of Bike Forum "No Nonsense" Muppets.