WHEEL ALIGNMENT

•51-30 BASICS OF WHEELALIGNMENT

• The basic purpose of a wheel alignment is to restore

the vehicle suspension to the original or

manufacturer's specifications.

• It is the proper adjustment of all the related

suspension angles affecting the running and steering

of the vehicle.

• Many types of meters, gauges, and wheel aligners

are available to measure the alignment angles.

• Figure 51-19 shows a mechanical camber-caster

gauge that attaches to the wheel spindle.

The angles are read directly from the gauge.

Some wheel aligners have light beams that display the measurements on a screen in front of the vehicle.

A computerized four-wheel aligner all together displays the alignment measurements for all wheels (Figs. 51-20 and 51-21).

it has rim-mounted heads or sensors on each wheel that feed information to a computer in the console.

The specifications,readings, and corrections needed are displayed on meters, screens, or paper printouts Some computerized

wheel aligners provide video instruction on how to make the adjustment or repair
51-31 PRE-ALIGNMENT INSPECTION
Some parts and conditions can affect vehicle steering.
These must be checked and corrected before aligning the wheels.
Pre-alignment checks include
Checking for unusual loads in the vehicle or trunk.
Checking tire pressure and condition.
Checking wheel bearings for condition and adjustment.
Checking wheel and tire balance and runout (Chap. 54).
Checking ball joints and steering for looseness.
Checking rear suspension condition.
Checking front suspension condition.
Follow the procedures in the vehicle service manual to correct any abnormal condition found.
A full tank of fuel and bouncing the front and rear of the vehicle may be recommended before taking the readings.
The vehicle service manual includes the procedure.

51-32 FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENT

To prevent rear-wheel misalignment causing drift or pull after alignment of the front wheels, many vehicles should have

a four-wheel alignment (Fig. 51-20).

This is the aligning of the rear wheels and then the front, so the vehicle has a common vehicle centerline, geometric

centerline, and thrust line (50-32).

The wheel aligner should measure all four wheels all together (Fig. 51-20) and display the specific toe of each rear

wheel (Fig. 51-21).

Rear-wheel setback (50-31) or unequal rear-wheel toe creates a thrust angle (50-32).

This causes the vehicle to pull in the opposite direction >50.1. ).

A four-wheel alignment is usually recommended for 1980 and later-model vehicles, and vehicles with front-wheel drive
or independent rear suspension.
Always align the rear wheels first when performing a four-wheel alignment.

51-33 CHECKING FRONT-WHEEL ALIGNMENT ANGLES

The six basic wheel-alignment factors are suspension height (51-17), caster, camber, toe, steering axis inclination, and
turning radius.
These along with setback and thrust angle are described in Chap. 50. Caster, camber, and toe are the adjustable
angles.
On some vehicles, only camber and toe-or only can be adjusted.
The other angles are not adjustable.
Correction is usually made by replacing bent parts.

Figures 51-19 and 51-22 show a mechanical camber caster gauge is attached to the wheel spindle. This gauge is a
level. The position of a bubble in a
graduated liquid-filled tube shows horizontal.

Another bubble shows the angle the spindle makes in tilting away from horizontal.

The following steps describe how to use the gauge to measure camber, caster, steering-axis inclination, and turning

radius.

1. Measuring Camber, The wheels should point straight ahead when the gauge is horizontal.

Read camber directly from the bubble in the tube marked CAMBER.

Repeat the procedure on the other wheel

2. Measuring Caster Checking caster requires placing the tires on turning-radius gauges (Fig. 51-19).

Watch the scale on the turning radius gauge and turn each wheel in 20 degrees.

Adjust the gauge until the caster bubble reads zero.

Turn the wheel until it is pointing out 20 degrees.

Read the caster from the positive or negative side of the caster scale. Repeat the procedure on the other wheel.
3. Measuring Steering-Axis Inclination Steering-axis inclination can be read when the caster readings are taken.
When the turning-radius gauge shows the wheel points in 20 degrees, zero the bubble in the tube showing steering-
axis inclination.

This is marked KINGPIN ANGLE in Fig. 51-22.

When the wheel is turned out 20 degrees, read the steering-axis inclination.

4. Measuring Turning Radius Toe-out on turns or turning radius is checked with a turning-radius page under each front

tire (Fig. 51 19).

Adjust the degree scales to zero.

Then turn each wheel in 20 degrees and read the angle shown on the other turning radius gauge.
5. Measuring Toe can be measured with a mechanical toe gauge (Fig. 51-23).
Measure the distance between the center of the treads at the front of the tires.
Then move the toe gauge and measure the distance. between the centers at the back of the tires.
The difference is the total toe (Fig. 51-21).
Wheel aligners with gauges or sensors on both wheels measure the individual toe of each wheel.
When wheel-alignment angles must be adjusted, make the adjustments in the specified order.

This is usually caster, camber, and toe Adjust caster first if it is adjustable. Then adjust camber (if adjustable). Adjust

toe last.

When wheel-alignment angles must be adjusted, make the adjustments in the specified order.

This is usually caster, camber, and toe Adjust caster first if it is adjustable.

Then adjust camber (if adjustable). Adjust toe last.