Wheel Alignment Specifications
| Wheel Alignment Angle | Suspension | |
|---|---|---|
| Front | Rear | |
| Camber | 1.15 to +0.35 degrees | 2.00 to -1.00 degrees |
| Caster | 1.75-3.25 degrees | |
| Toe-in - unloaded 45 L (11.9 gal) fuel | 0.10 to +0.24 degrees | 0.08 to +0.58 degrees |
| Toe-in - 2 person load 68 kg (150 lb) per front seat + 22.5 L (5.9 gal) fuel | 0.14 to +0.20 degrees | 0.08 to +0.58 degrees |
| Toe-in - 5 person load 68 kg (150 lb) per seat position + 45 L (11.9 gal) fuel + 35 kg (77 lb) luggage | 0.17 to +0.17 degrees | 0.08 to +0.58 degrees |
Wheel Alignment Specifications
Fastener Tightening Specifications
| Application | Specification | |
|---|---|---|
| Metric | English | |
| Tie Rod Lock Bolts | 64 N.m | 47 lb ft |
Fastener Tightening Specifications
Preliminary Alignment Inspection
| Checks | Actions |
|---|---|
| Check the tires for proper inflation pressures and normal tread wear. | Inflate the tires to the proper tire pressure. Replace the tires as needed. |
| Check the wheel bearings for looseness. | Tighten the axle nut to the proper specification. Replace the strut wheel bearing as needed. |
| Check for loose ball joints and tie rod ends. | Tighten the ball joints and the tie rods. |
| Check the runout of the wheels and the tires. | Measure and correct the tire runout. |
| Check the vehicle trim heights. | Correct the trim heights. Make the correction before adjusting the toe. |
| Check for loose rack and pinion mounting. | Tighten the mounting brackets for the rack and pinion assembly. |
| Check for improperly operating struts. | Replace the strut assembly. |
| Check for loose control arms. | Tighten the control arm attachment bolts. Replace the control arm bushings as needed. |
Preliminary Alignment Inspection
Front Caster and Camber Adjustment
The front camber and caster are not adjustable. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications . Jounce the bumper 3 times before measuring the camber or the caster in order to prevent an incorrect reading. If the front camber or caster measurements deviate from the specifications, locate and replace or repair any damaged, loose, bent, dented, or worn suspension part. If the problem is body related, repair the body.
Front Toe Adjustment
- Loosen the right and the left rod lock bolts.
- Turn the right and the left tie rod adjusters to align the toe to 0 degrees +/-10 minutes.
- Tighten the tie rod lock bolts. Tighten: Tighten the tie rod lock bolts to 64 N.m (47 lb ft).
Rear Camber Adjustment
The rear camber is not adjustable. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications . If the rear camber deviates from the specification, locate the cause and correct it. If damaged, loose, bent, dented, or worn suspension parts are found, they should be repaired or replaced. If the problem is body related, repair the body.
Rear Toe Adjustment
The rear toe is not adjustable. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications . If the toe deviates from the specification, check the rear axle assembly and the wheel spindle on vehicles without an anti-lock braking system (ABS), or the rear axle assembly and the hub and bearing assembly on vehicles with ABS for possible damage.
General Description
The first responsibility of engineering is to design safe steering and suspension systems. Each component must be strong enough to withstand and absorb extreme punishment. Both the steering system and the front and the rear suspension must function geometrically with the body mass.
The steering and the suspension systems require that the front wheels self-return and that the tire rolling effort and the road friction be held to a negligible force in order to allow the customer to direct the vehicle with the least effort and the most comfort.
A complete wheel alignment check should include measurements of the rear toe and camber.
Four-wheel alignment assures that all 4 wheels will be running in precisely the same direction.
When the vehicle is geometrically aligned, fuel economy and tire life are at their peak, and steering and performance are maximized.
Caster Description
Caster is the tilting of the uppermost point of the steering axis either forward or backward from the vertical when viewed from the side of the vehicle. A backward tilt is positive, and a forward tilt is negative. Caster influences directional control of the steering but does not affect tire wear. Weak springs or overloading a vehicle will affect caster. One wheel with more positive caster will pull toward the center of the car. This condition will cause the car to move or lean toward the side with the least amount of positive caster. Caster is measured in degrees and is not adjustable.
Camber Description
Camber is the tilting of the top of the tire from vertical when viewed from the front of the vehicle. When the tires tilt outward, the camber is positive. When the tires tilt inward, the camber is negative. The camber angle is measured in degrees from the vertical. Camber influences both directional control and tire wear.
If the vehicle has too much positive camber, the outside shoulder of the tire will wear. If the vehicle has too much negative camber, the inside shoulder of the tire will wear.
Camber is not adjustable.
Toe Description
Toe-in is the turning in of the tires, while toe-out is the turning out of the tires from the geometric centerline or thrust line. The toe ensures parallel rolling of the wheels.
The toe serves to offset the small deflections of the wheel support system which occur when the vehicle is rolling forward. The specified toe angle is the setting which achieves 0 degrees of toe when the vehicle is moving.
Incorrect toe-in or toe-out will cause tire wear and reduced fuel economy. As the individual steering and suspension components wear from vehicle mileage, additional toe will be needed to compensate for the wear.
Always correct the toe dimension last.
Steering Axis Inclination Description
Steering axis inclination (SAI) is the tilt at the top of the steering knuckle from vertical. Measure the SAI angle from the true vertical to a line through the center of the strut and the lower ball joint as viewed from the front of the vehicle.
SAI helps the vehicle track straight down the road and assists the wheel back into the straight ahead position. SAI on front wheel drive vehicles should be negative.
Included Angle
The included angle is the angle measured from the camber angle to the line through the center of the strut and the lower ball joint as viewed from the front of the vehicle.
The included angle is calculated in degrees. Most alignment racks will not measure the included angle directly. To determine the included angle, subtract the negative or add the positive camber readings to the SAI.
Scrub Radius
The scrub radius is the distance between true vertical and the line through the center of the strut and lower ball joint to the road surface. Scrub radius is built into the design of the vehicle. Scrub radius is not adjustable.
Setback
The setback is the distance in which one front hub and bearing assembly may be rearward of the other front hub and bearing assembly. Setback is primarily caused by a road hazard or vehicle collision.
Turning Angle
The turning angle is the angle of each front wheel to the vertical when the vehicle is making a turn.
See also:
• Wheel Alignment Specifications