[bobcowan]

The tools are relatively inexpensive, and pretty darned accurate. You just need to be patient - take your time and make single small adjustments between measurements. I use a bubble gauge, and change the alignment about 12 times a year (track and street).

If you're on a smooth surface, you can fold up a plastic trash bag and put that under the tires to act like toe plates. As long as everything in the suspension is working correctly, that's all the setteling it will need.

Doing the rear toe is a real pain. Especially with those spacers. BUT, you don't need to keep putting the washers/spacers back in between each measurement. Put in them to hold the other joint in place, but you don't need them for the end you're adjusting. That saves a bunch of time.