Chapter 25

Wheel Alignment
 Objectives

• Define the term “wheel alignment”

• Inspect tires, steering, and suspension systems
before alignment
• Check and adjust caster, camber, and toe
• Summarize alignment equipment variations
 Introduction
• Wheel alignment involves positioning the
vehicle's tires so they roll properly
• Essential to safety, fuel economy and tire life
• A vehicle may require an alignment if:
– Damage to any steering or suspension parts or
mounting locations
– Engine cradle damage or position change or
suspension or steering parts removed
– Damage to major structural components
 Wheel Alignment Basics

• Caster is the angle of the steering axis of a wheel

from true vertical, and has little effect on tire wear
• Positive caster tilts the tops of the steering
knuckles toward the rear of the vehicle
• Negative caster tilts the tops of the steering
knuckles toward the front of the vehicle
• Unequal caster will cause the vehicle to steer
toward the side with less caster
• Most common problem affecting caster is worn
strut rod and control arm bushings
Figure 25-2. Note the difference between positive and negative caster. Caster
affects whether the car’s steering wheel pulls to the left or right while driving.
 Camber
• Camber is the angle represented by the tilt of the
wheels inward or outward from the centerline
• Positive camber has the top of the wheel tilted
out, when viewed from the front
• Negative camber has the top of the wheel tilted
inward when viewed from the front
• Camber is controlled by the control arms and
their pivots
• Camber is affected by worn or loose ball joints,
control arm bushings, and wheel bearings
Figure 25-3. Camber is the tilt of the wheel in or out from the
centerline when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Check with
vehicle manufacture specs for camber settings. Camber affects
whether the whole tire tread or just the edges of the tread wears.
 Toe

• Toe is the difference in the distance between the

front and rear of the left- and right-hand wheels
• Toe is critical to tire wear
• Toe-in: front of the wheels are set closer than
the rear
• Toe-out: front of the wheels farther apart than
the rear
• Rear-wheel-drive vehicles are often adjusted to
have toe-in, front-wheel-drive vehicles are
adjusted to have a slight toe-out
 Steering Axis Inclination

• Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) is the angle

between true vertical and the line through the
upper and lower pivot points
• SAI can be used in structural measurements to
diagnose:
– Strut lower misalignment
– Shifted engine cradle or crossmember
– Control arm mounting location damage
– Misalignment frame or body structure
 Turning Radius

• Turning radius is the different amount each

wheel moves during a turn
• Turning radius allows the inside wheel to turn a
few degrees more than the outside wheel
• Tracking is the parallel alignment of the rear
wheels
• Rear-wheel tracks should be an equal distance
from the front-wheel tracks
• Geometric centerline of the vehicle should
parallel the road direction
 Thrust Angle

• Thrust angle is the angle between the thrust line

and the vehicle centerline
• Positive thrust angle results if the thrust line
projects to the right of the centerline
• Negative thrust angle results if the thrust line
projects to the left of the centerline
• Included angle is the sum of both camber and
SAI angles
 Wheelbase

• Wheelbase is the measurement between the

center of the front and rear wheel hubs
• Wheelbase is measured to determine the forward
and rearward position of each wheel
 Set-Back

• Set-back is when one wheel is moved back

– May be caused by an impact to a front wheel
assembly that moves a lower control arm, engine
cradle, or radius rod backwards
– May be designed into some suspension systems
 Prealignment Checks
• Visually inspect everything while the vehicle sits
on the shop floor
– Reading tires involves inspecting the tire tread
wear and diagnosing the cause
• Measure the ride height from the shop floor to
specific points on the vehicle
• Vehicle load affects the weight on the front
suspension and affects alignment angles
• Load in the trunk takes weight off the front and
changes caster and camber angles
 Prealignment Checks (continued)

• Inspect the underside of the vehicle with the

vehicle raised
• Damaged parts must be repaired before adjusting
alignment angles
• Road test the vehicle – check that the steering
wheel is straight
• Feel for vibration in the steering wheel and floor
of seats
• Notice any pulling or handling problems, and
make sure the steering wheel is centered
 Diagnostic Checks

• First diagnostic check should be a visual

inspection of the entire vehicle
• Jounce-rebound check
– Jounce is the motion caused by a wheel going
over a bump and compressing the spring
– Rebound is the motion caused by a wheel going
into a dip and extending the spring
• Jounce-rebound check determines if there is
misalignment in the rack-and-pinion gear
Figure 25-9. Bent wheels are a common problem in
collision repair. A dial indicator will let you accurately
check axial and radial runout of the wheels.
 Wheel Alignment Procedures

• The order of adjustment – caster, camber, and

then toe – is recommended for all vehicles
• Refer to the manufacturer’s service manual for
details
• Mount the alignment equipment, following the
equipment manufacturer's instructions
• Check steering and axis inclination and camber,
caster, turning radius and toe
• Document your readings and adjustment values
 Alignment Equipment Variations

• Most modern wheel alignment equipment is

computer controlled
– Greatly simplifies the wheel alignment process
• Approximately 80 percent of today's vehicles
require front- and rear-wheel alignment
• Collision repair usually requires at least a four-
wheel alignment check
 Road Test After Alignment

• After making wheel alignment adjustments, road

test the vehicle
• Make sure the vehicle does not pull to one side
of the road, vibrate, or exhibit other troubles
 Summary

• Wheel alignment involves positioning the

vehicle's tires so they roll properly over the road
– Essential to safety, handling, fuel economy and
tire life
• Caster is the angle of the steering axis of a wheel
from true vertical as viewed from the side
• Camber is the angle presented by the tilt of the
wheels when viewed from the front of the vehicle
 Summary (continued)

• Camber assures that all of the tire tread contacts

the road surface
• Camber is usually the second angle adjusted
during wheel alignment
• Toe is the difference in the distance between the
front and rear of the left- and right-hand wheels
• Toe is critical to tire wear