Front Suspension & Wheel Alignment: Adjustments Dodge Avenger II facelift

PRE-WHEEL ALIGNMENT INSPECTION

Before any attempt is made to change or correct the wheel alignment, the following inspection and necessary corrections must be made to the vehicle to ensure proper alignment.

1. Verify the fuel tank is full of fuel. If the fuel tank is not full, the reduction in weight will affect the curb height of the vehicle and the alignment specifications.
2. The passenger and luggage compartments of the vehicle should be free of any load that is not factory equipment.
3. Check the tires on the vehicle. The tires are to be inflated to the recommended air pressure. All tires must be the same size and in good condition with approximately the same tread wear.
4. Check the front tire and wheel assemblies for excessive radial runout.
5. Inspect all suspension component fasteners for looseness and proper torque.
6. Inspect the lower front ball joints and all steering linkage for looseness and any sign of wear or damage.
7. Inspect the rubber bushings on all the suspension components for signs of wear or deterioration. If any bushings show signs of wear or deterioration, they should be replaced prior to aligning the vehicle.
8. Check vehicle curb height to verify it is within specifications. Refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE»(ref-485471-S16167757252012071300000) .

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SETUP

1. Position the vehicle on an alignment rack.
2. Install all required alignment equipment on the vehicle, per the alignment equipment manufacturer's instructions. On this vehicle, a four-wheel alignment is recommended. NOTE: Prior to reading the vehicle's alignment readouts, the front and rear of vehicle should be jounced. Induce jounce (rear first, then front) by grasping the center of the bumper and jouncing each end of vehicle an equal number of times. The bumper should always be released when vehicle is at the bottom of the jounce cycle.
3. Read the vehicle's current front and rear alignment settings. Compare the vehicle's current alignment settings to the vehicle specifications for camber, caster and toe-in. Refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT, SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-485471-S30183329742012071300000) .

ADJUSTMENT BY SHIFTING CROSSMEMBER

1. Loosen the four bolts fastening the front crossmember to the frame just enough to allow movement of the crossmember. Refer to «CROSSMEMBER, FRONT FORE AND AFT, REMOVAL»(ref-485477-S17979691932012071300000) or «CROSSMEMBER, FRONT SUSPENSION, REMOVAL»(ref-485477-S35953511442012071300000) or «CROSSMEMBER, REAR SUSPENSION, REMOVAL»(ref-485477-S22760813262012071300000) .
2. Loosen the bolts fastening the fore/aft crossmember to the frame just enough to allow movement of the crossmember. Refer to «CROSSMEMBER, FRONT FORE AND AFT, REMOVAL»(ref-485477-S17979691932012071300000) or «CROSSMEMBER, FRONT SUSPENSION, REMOVAL»(ref-485477-S35953511442012071300000) or «CROSSMEMBER, REAR SUSPENSION, REMOVAL»(ref-485477-S22760813262012071300000) . CAUTION: When shifting the front crossmember, keep in mind that the front and rear engine mounts are attached to the front crossmember and fore/aft crossmember and should be inspected following the crossmember shift to make sure they are properly aligned.
3. Shift front crossmember as necessary (See following tables) to bring camber or caster into specifications. When shifting crossmember, use care not to move other angles (camber or caster) that are within specifications, out of specifications. FRONT CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BY SHIFTING CROSSMEMBER* Left Camber Below Specification Move crossmember to the right Left Camber Above Specification Move crossmember to the left Right Camber Below Specification Move crossmember to the left Right Camber Above Specification Move crossmember to the right Cross Camber Below Specification Move crossmember to the right Cross Camber Above Specification Move crossmember to the left * For every move to adjust one side of the vehicle, a countermove on the opposite side will occur. FRONT CASTER ADJUSTMENT BY SHIFTING CROSSMEMBER Left Caster Below Specification Move left side of crossmember forward Left Caster Above Specification Move left side of crossmember rearward Right Caster Below Specification Move right side of crossmember forward Right Caster Above Specification Move right side of crossmember rearward Cross Caster Below Specification Move left side of crossmember forward and right side rearward Cross Caster Above Specification Move left side of crossmember rearward and right side forward
4. Tighten all previously loosened fasteners (bolts) securing the crossmember to the vehicle to specifications. Refer to «CROSSMEMBER, FRONT FORE AND AFT, INSTALLATION»(ref-485477-S30914186772012071300000) or «CROSSMEMBER, FRONT SUSPENSION, INSTALLATION»(ref-485477-S39011195842012071300000) or «CROSSMEMBER, REAR SUSPENSION, INSTALLATION»(ref-485477-S04203009532012071300000) .
5. Jounce the rear, then front of the vehicle an equal amount of times.
6. Measure camber and caster. If camber and caster are within specifications, proceed to TOE. If camber cannot be brought into specifications, perform the CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION below.

CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION

Note. When using a camber adjustment bolt package to adjust the front end camber, service struts with oversized holes can be used to adjust camber instead of grinding the clevis holes on the front struts.

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

1. Remove the front strut from the vehicle and discard the strut clevis bolts. Refer to «STRUT, SUSPENSION, ASSEMBLY, REMOVAL»(ref-485471-S15088437972012071300000) . NOTE: Production struts have a round lower hole (1) in the strut clevis bracket. NOTE: Service struts have an elongated lower hole (1) in the strut clevis bracket which will be used with the service bolt package to adjust front camber.
2. Install a NEW service strut with elongated bottom clevis holes in the vehicle while following the steps below: Refer to «STRUT, SUSPENSION, ASSEMBLY, INSTALLATION»(ref-485471-S18209828212012071300000) . Use the service package bolts and not the standard clevis bolts. Be sure to place the bolt with the eccentric cam in the bottom (slotted) hole on strut clevis bracket. Install the dog bone washers provided in the service package and nuts on the replacement bolts. Tighten each nut just enough to hold the knuckle in position while adjusting camber, but still allows the knuckle to move in the clevis bracket.
3. Install the tire and wheel assembly (1). Refer to «INSTALLATION»(ref-485473-S08436569672012071300000) . Install and tighten the wheel mounting nuts (3) to 135 N.m (100 ft. lbs.).
4. Perform the above procedure to opposite side strut as required.
5. Lower the vehicle and jounce the front and rear of the vehicle.
6. Adjust the front camber to the preferred setting using the cam bolt in the lower mounting hole. Once camber is set to specifications, tighten the upper and lower strut service package bolt nuts to 140 N.m (103 ft. lbs.). Again jounce the front and rear of the vehicle, then verify the camber settings.
7. Once camber is within specifications, adjust toe to meet the preferred specification setting. Refer to 1 for FRONT TOE within this wheel alignment service procedure.

Scheme 4

Scheme 5

Scheme 6

1. Center the steering wheel and lock it in place using a steering wheel clamp. NOTE: When setting toe, make sure to set rear toe to the preferred specifications before setting front toe to the preferred specifications REAR TOE NOTE: Perform the following at each rear wheel as necessary. While holding the cam bolt head (4) stationary, loosen the toe link mounting cam bolt nut (3). Rotate the cam bolt head (4) left or right until the rear wheel toe for that rear wheel is set to the preferred specification. Refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT, SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-485471-S30183329742012071300000) . While holding the cam bolt head (4) stationary, tighten the toe link mounting cam bolt nut (3) to 100 N.m (74 ft. lbs.). FRONT TOE NOTE: Perform the following at each front wheel as necessary. CAUTION: Do not twist the inner tie rod-to-steering gear boot (bellows) while turning the inner tie rod during front toe adjustment. It may be necessary to remove the clamp where the boot meets the inner tie rod. Loosen the tie rod adjusting jam nut (1). Grasp the inner tie rod (3) and rotate it one way or the other until the front wheel toe is set to the preferred specification. Refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT, SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-485471-S30183329742012071300000) . Tighten the tie rod adjusting jam nut to of 75 N.m (55 ft. lbs.). Make sure the inner tie rod-to-steering gear boot is not twisted. If removed, reinstall the clamp where the boot meets the inner tie rod.
2. Remove the steering wheel clamp.
3. Remove the alignment equipment.
4. Road test the vehicle to verify the steering wheel is straight and the vehicle does not pull or wander.