RIDING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
Note. Prior to performing wheel alignment, perform preliminary visual and mechanical inspection of wheels, tires and suspension components. See PRE-ALIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS in WHEEL ALIGNMENT THEORY & OPERATION article in GENERAL INFORMATION.
Before adjusting alignment, check riding height. Check riding height with vehicle on level floor and tires properly inflated. Bounce vehicle several times and allow suspension to settle.
Visually inspect vehicle for signs of abnormal height from front to rear or side to side. Check passenger and luggage compartments for extra heavy items and remove if present. On all models, riding height between right and left sides should vary less than .60" (15 mm).
FLOOR JACK
| CAUTION | Place chocks against both right and left wheels on ground. Place safety stands under chassis frame or hoist contact points. Ensure vehicle is stable. |
On Esteem and Swift, front of vehicle can be raised by positioning jack under center crossmember lifting pad. To raise rear of vehicle, position jack under rear sub frame. (Scheme 1) and (Scheme 2). On Grand Vitara and Vitara, raise front and rear of vehicle by placing jack under differential housing.
BUMPER JACK
| CAUTION | DO NOT raise vehicle by bumper at any time. |
HOIST
| CAUTION | Follow hoist manufacturer's instructions. DO NOT allow hoist or adapters to contact suspension, exhaust or steering components. |
Place adapters at 4 contact points. (Scheme 1)- (Scheme 3). Position adapters so they are centered on contact area. All 4 contact points must contact adapters. Ensure vehicle is stable. Raise vehicle
Scheme 1
Scheme 2
Scheme 3
CAMBER & CASTER ADJUSTMENT
Camber is pre-adjusted at factory and cannot be adjusted. If camber is out of specification, check for damaged, loose, bent or worn suspension parts. Check body for damage. Repair as needed to attain specification.
Front
Note. Before rotating tie rods, apply grease between tie rods and rack boots to prevent boots from twisting.
Toe is adjusted by changing tie rod length. Loosen tie rod end lock nuts and adjust to specification. Tighten lock nuts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
Rear (Esteem & Swift)
Loosen rear control rod cam bolt lock nuts. To adjust toe, turn left and right control rod cam bolts equal amounts. After adjustment, tighten cam bolt lock nuts to specification, while holding cam bolt with wrench to prevent cam bolt from turning. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
STEERING ANGLE (TOE-OUT ON TURNS)
If steering angle is not correct, ensure right and left tie rods are equal in length. If not, adjust by changing length of tie rods. If tie rod lengths are changed to adjust steering angle, reinspect toe adjustment.
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
| Application | Ft. Lbs. (Nm) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Control Rod Cam Lock Nut | ||
| Esteem | 66 (90) | |
| Swift | 59 (80) | |
| Tie Rod End Lock Nut | ||
| Esteem & Swift | 33 (45) | |
| Vitara & Grand Vitara | 48 (65) | |
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS
| Application | Preferred | Range | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esteem | ||||
| Camber (1) | ||||
| Front | 0 | 1 To 1 | ||
| Caster (1) | 2.7 | .7 To 4.7 | ||
| Toe-In (2) | ||||
| Front | 0 (0) | .08 To .08 (-2 To 2) | ||
| Rear | .08 (2) | 0 To .16 (0 To 4) | ||
| Toe-Out On Turns (1) | ||||
| Inside | 39 | 36-42 | ||
| Outside | 34 | 31-37 | ||
| Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) | (3) | (3) | ||
| Grand Vitara | ||||
| Camber (1) | ||||
| Front | 0 | 1 To 1 | ||
| Caster (1) | 2-40' | 1-40' To 3-40' | ||
| Toe-In (2) | ||||
| Front | 0 (0) | .08 To .16 (-2 To 2) | ||
| Toe-Out On Turns (1) | ||||
| Inner | 34.5 | 31.5-37.5 | ||
| Outer | 32.5 | 29.5-35.5 | ||
| Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) | (3) | (3) | ||
| Swift | ||||
| Camber (1) | ||||
| Front | .5 | .5 To 1.5 | ||
| Rear | 0 | .5 To .5 | ||
| Caster (1) | 3 | 1 To 5 | ||
| Toe-In (2) | ||||
| Front | .08 (2) | 0 To .16 (0 To 4) | ||
| Rear | .177 (4.5) | .118 To .236 (3 To 6) | ||
| Toe-Out On Turns (1) | ||||
| Inner | 38 | 35-41 | ||
| Outer | 32 | 29-35 | ||
| Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) | (3) | (3) | ||
| Vitara | ||||
| Camber (1) | ||||
| Front | 0 | 1 To 1 | ||
| Caster (1) | 2-40' | 1-40' To 3-40' | ||
| Toe-In (2) | ||||
| Front | 0 (0) | .08 To .08 (-2 To 2) | ||
| Toe-Out On Turns (1) | ||||
| Inside | 34.5 | 31.5-37.5 | ||
| Outside | 32.5 | 29.5-35.5 | ||
| Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) | (3) | (3) | ||
| (1) Measurement is in degrees. (2) Measurement is in inches (mm). (3) Information not available from manufacturer. | ||||
| (1) | Measurement is in degrees. |
| (2) | Measurement is in inches (mm). |
| (3) | Information not available from manufacturer. |
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS
See also:
• TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS