Front Suspension & Wheel Alignment: Adjustments Dodge Challenger III рестайлинг

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 ensure proper alignment.

1. Verify that the fuel tank is full of fuel. If the tank is not full, the reduction in weight will affect the curb height of the vehicle and the alignment angles.
2. The vehicle's passenger and luggage compartments should be free of any load that is not factory equipment.
3. Check the tires on the vehicle. All tires must be the same size and in good condition with approximately the same amount of tread wear. Inflate all the tires to the recommended air pressure.
4. Check the wheel and tire assemblies for excessive radial runout.
5. Inspect lower ball joints and all steering linkage for looseness, binding, wear or damage. Repair as necessary.
6. Check suspension fasteners for proper torque and tighten as necessary.
7. Inspect all suspension component rubber bushings for signs of wear or deterioration. Replace any faulty bushings or components before aligning the vehicle.
8. Check the vehicle's curb height to verify it is within specifications. Refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE»(ref-489278-S17595379302012072600000) .

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SETUP

Note. Confirm the wheel alignment equipment is calibrated to the manufacturers requirements prior to attempting any wheel alignment.

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 (suspension compressed/released). 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. Refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT, SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-489278-S14187173202012072600000) .
4. If front camber and caster are not within specifications, proceed to CAMBER AND CASTER below. If caster and camber are within specifications, proceed to TOE which can be found following CAMBER AND CASTER. Rear camber can be adjusted. Refer to «CAMBER AND CASTER»(ref-489278-S17709763832012072600000) below. Rear caster is not adjustable. If found not to be within specifications, reinspect for damaged suspension or body components and replace as necessary. If rear toe is not within specifications, adjust rear toe before proceeding to adjust front toe.

LOWER CONTROL ARM ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION

The adjustment bolt package contains 2 special bolts (1). These bolts can be identified by the offset grooves cut into the thread section (2). These bolts are designed to replace the inboard mounting bolts of the lower control arm. Each bolt allows approximately 0.3 degrees of movement to adjust caster only.

Scheme 15

1. Raise the vehicle by the frame until the tires are not supporting the weight of the vehicle.
2. Remove the belly pan as necessary. Refer to «BELLY PAN, REMOVAL»(ref-489280-S30394301252012072600000) .
3. Lower control arm bolt: Remove the screws fastening the heat shields covering the stabilizer bar bushing retainers to the cradle. Remove the heat shields. Remove the four bolts (two each) fastening the stabilizer bar bushing retainers to the cradle. Swing the stabilizer bar rearward and down out of the way of the control arm mounting bolts. CAUTION: Wheel alignment adjustment bolts have offset grooves cut into the length of the bolt (2). If removing or installing lower control arm mounting bolts that have these grooves, DO NOT ROTATE THE BOLT. To remove the bolt, hold the bolt head stationary and rotate the nut, then slide the bolt straight out of the bushing. This is necessary to avoid damaging the bat wings in the bushing inner metal or cradle.
4. Hold the head of the control arm mounting bolt stationary and remove the nut. Slide the bolt straight out of the bushing and discard. CAUTION: When installing an adjustment bolt, be sure to install it in the correct direction. Lower control arm bolts must be installed from the rear-forward to avoid contact with the stabilizer bar upon installation. NOTE: The grooves on the adjustment bolts are off-center forcing the bolt to be installed in one of two ways depending on whether more positive or negative camber or caster is necessary. The Bolts must be rotated 180° to achieve either more positive or negative camber or caster. DO NOT force the adjustment bolt. NOTE: The original (non-grooved) mounting bolt (3) lies through the center of the hole (1), between the "bat wings" (c).
5. Camber Adjustment - The adjustment bolts are designed to work in conjunction with "bat wing" holes that are formed into the inner metal of the lower control arm bushing (1) allowing for lower control arm movement approximately 0.3° in either direction. To achieve more positive camber, refer to (a) in the figure. Move the control arm in the desired direction, then insert the adjustment bolt (2) with a washer installed through the round hole in the engine cradle and bat wing hole (1) in the bushing inner metal. To achieve more negative camber, refer to (b) in the figure. Move the control arm in the desired direction, then insert the adjustment bolt (2) with a washer installed through the round hole in the engine cradle and bat wing hole (1) in the bushing inner metal.
6. Start a NEW nut and a washer on the end of the mounting bolt by hand, then while holding the head of the bolt stationary, install the nut. Do not tighten the nut at this time.
7. Lower the vehicle to curb position. Jounce the rear, then the front of the vehicle an equal amount of times.
8. Using a crowfoot wrench, tighten the adjustment bolt nut to 176 N.m (130 ft. lbs.) while holding the bolt stationary.
9. Reinstall the stabilizer bar and heat shields.
10. Measure camber and caster. If camber and caster are not within specifications, inspect the suspension components for any signs of damage or bending. If camber and caster (and cross-camber and cross-caster) are within specifications, proceed with «TOE»(ref-489278-S28634000262012072600000) to check and adjust toe.
11. Install the belly pan. Refer to «BELLY PAN, INSTALLATION»(ref-489280-S17933819552012072600000) .

Scheme 16

Camber be adjusted by grinding out the tension strut mounting holes in the cradle and installing a camber bolt kit. The camber bolt (2) has an eccentric washer (1) built into the shoulder of the bolt head. There is an eccentric washer (3) that is keyed to a flat machined into the threads of the bolt. The keyed washer rotates in exactly the same way that the washer on the bolt head end rotates.

Scheme 17

Scheme 18

1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Remove the belly pan as necessary. Refer to «BELLY PAN, REMOVAL»(ref-489280-S30394301252012072600000) .
3. Remove nut and bolt (2) securing tension strut (1) to engine cradle (3).
4. Slide tension strut out of cradle bracket and discard. CAUTION: Do not remove more than 5mm (0.2 in) (2) of material on either side of the existing mounting hole so that the strength of the tension strut mounting area is maintained. Also do not exceed the original height (1) of the mounting hole. NOTE: Grind out both the front and rear holes of the tension strut mounting area.
5. Grind out the area in the figure that is represented with dotted lines. Remove 5 mm (0.2 in) of material (2) from each side of the existing bolt hole. While cutting the material, maintain the original height (1) of the bolt hole.
6. Install the camber bolt (1) into the front hole and install the eccentric washer on the bolt on the rear side of crossmember.
7. To adjust the camber, rotate the camber bolt (1) until the desired camber values are obtained.
8. Once the desired camber values are obtained, tighten the camber bolt (1) to 176 N.m (130 Ft. lbs.).