Wheel Alignment Specifications & Adjustment Procedures: Adjustments Pontiac Aztek I

Measuring Wheel Alignment

Satisfactory vehicle operation may occur over a wide range of alignment settings. If settings vary beyond the specifications, correct the alignment angles.

1. Measure the front alignment angles.
2. Install the alignment equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Jounce the front and rear bumpers lightly three times in order to normalize the suspension prior to measuring the angles.
4. Measure the alignment angles and record the readings. If adjustments are required, make the adjustments in the following order: 4.1. Camber 4.2. Caster 4.3. Toe

Scheme 3

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to «JACKING AND LIFTING - AZTEK & RENDEZVOUS»(ref-181104) .
2. Remove the tire and wheel.
3. Remove the strut lower bolt in order to inspect for an oblong strut lower hole (3). If the strut lower hole is oblong, loosen the strut upper bolt in order to allow for camber adjustment. If the strut lower hole is NOT oblong, perform the following steps: 3.1. Remove the strut from the vehicle. Refer to «STRUT ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT»(ref-180873-S35993427572005073000000) in Front Suspension. 3.2. Secure the strut in a vise. 3.3. File the strut lower hole laterally (3) in order to allow for camber adjustment. 3.4. Install the strut to the vehicle. Refer to «STRUT ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT»(ref-180873-S35993427572005073000000) in Front Suspension. 3.5. Install the strut bolts.
4. Adjust the camber. Tighten Tighten the strut lower nuts to 123 N.m (91 lb ft).
5. Install the tire and wheel.
6. Lower the vehicle.

Scheme 4

1. Remove the power steering gear seal small clamps.
2. Ensure that the steering wheel is centered and the wheels are in the straight ahead position.
3. Loosen the left and right tie rod jam nuts (2). Important: Ensure that the number of threads showing on both inner tie rod ends are approximately equal.
4. Rotate the inner tie rods in order to obtain the proper toe angle of 0 degrees.
5. Install the tie rod end jam nuts. Tighten Tighten the left and right tie rod jam nuts (2) to 68 N.m (50 lb ft). Important: Ensure the power steering gear seal is not twisted.
6. Install the power steering gear seal small clamps.

Scheme 5

1. Place vehicle on alignment machine with rear wheels supported by Weaver plates.
2. Loosen rear lower control arm mounting nuts (3, 4).
3. Adjust camber with cam bolt (1).
4. Confirm correct camber value.
5. Check toe alignment and adjust if required.

Scheme 6

1. Tighten the lower control arm mounting nuts (3, 4). Tighten Tighten the nut (3) 125 N.m (107 lb ft); tighten (4) to 50 N.m (37 lb ft).
2. Test drive the vehicle.

Rear Toe Adjustment

Important: Make any adjustments to camber before setting toe.

Scheme 7

1. Loosen the jam nut (6) at the rear wheel tie rod.
2. Adjust the toe to the proper setting by turning the inner link adjustment hex (4). Refer to «WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-180832-S30581198412005072900000) .
3. When the toe adjustment is correct, tighten the jam nut. Tighten Tighten the nut to 62 N.m (45 lb ft).
4. Recheck the toe alignment.

Scheme 8

Caster is the tilting of the uppermost point of the steering axis either forward or backward, 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 the tire wear. Caster is affected by the vehicle height, therefore it is important to keep the body at its designed height. Overloading the vehicle or a weak or sagging rear spring will affect caster.

When the rear of the vehicle is lower than its designated trim height, the front suspension moves to a more positive caster. If the rear of the vehicle is higher than its designated trim height, the front suspension moves to a less positive caster.

With too little positive caster, steering may be touchy at high speed and wheel returnability may be diminished when coming out of a turn. If one wheel has more positive caster than the other, that wheel will pull toward the center of the vehicle. This condition will cause the vehicle to pull or lead to the side with the least amount of positive caster.

Scheme 9

Camber is the tilting of the wheels from the vertical when viewed from the front of the vehicle. When the wheels tilt outward at the top, the camber is positive (+). When the wheel tilts inward at the top, the camber is negative (-). The amount of tilt is measured in degrees from the vertical. Camber settings influence the directional control and the tire wear.

Too much positive camber will result in premature wear on the outside of the tire and cause excessive wear on the suspension parts.

Too much negative camber will result in premature wear on the inside of the tire and cause excessive wear on the suspension parts.

Unequal side-to-side camber of 1 degree or more will cause the vehicle to pull or lead to the side with the most positive camber.

Scheme 10

Toe is a measurement of how much the front and/or rear wheels are turned in or out from a straight-ahead position. When the wheels are turned in, toe is positive (+). When the wheels are turned out, toe is negative (-). The actual amount of toe is normally only a fraction of a degree. The purpose of toe is to ensure that the wheels roll parallel.

Toe also offsets the small deflections of the wheel support system that occur when the vehicle is rolling forward. In other words, with the vehicle standing still and the wheels set with toe-in, the wheels tend to roll parallel on the road when the vehicle is moving.

Improper toe adjustment will cause premature tire wear and cause steering instability.