Alignment: Description and Operation

Wheel Alignment Adjusting Locations, Part 2 Of 2:

DESCRIPTION
Caster and camber are adjusted by means of eccentric cams on the upper control arm mounting bolts. Toe is adjusted by the use of the front wheel spindle tie rod adjusting sleeve.

The three basic alignment angles are camber, caster and toe. Camber and toe affect tire wear and directional stability, caster affects directional stability only. Camber, caster and toe settings change when the vehicle is loaded. The specifications given are static settings with the vehicle unloaded.








CAMBER
Camber is the inward or outward tilting of the wheels at the top. When the wheels tilt out at the top the camber is positive (+). When the wheels tilt in at the top the camber is negative (-). The amount of camber is measured in degrees from vertical.

Steering axis inclination (included angle) is the center line drawn through the ball joints when viewed from the front.





CASTER
Caster is the tilting of the steering axis either forward or backward from vertical. A backward tilt is positive (+) and a forward tilt is negative (-).





TOE
Toe is a measurement of how much the front of the wheels are turned in or out from the straight-ahead position. When the wheels are turned in, toe is positive (+)(toe in). When the wheels are turned out, toe is negative (-)(toe out). Toe is measured in degrees, from side to side and totaled.

Toe should only be checked and adjusted after the camber and caster have been set to the proper specifications.

Wheel Track:

WHEEL TRACK
By design the vehicle has a front track that is wider at the front than the rear. Front track is the distance between the two front tires; rear track is the distance between the two rear tires.

Dogtracking:

DOGTRACKING
Dogtracking is the condition where the rear axle is not square to the chassis. Heavily crowned roads may give the illusion of dogtracking.