Preliminary Inspection

Steering and vibration problems are not always the results of poor alignment. An additional problem to be checked is tire lead due to worn or improperly manufactured tires. ``Lead'' is the deviation of the vehicle from a straight path on a level road without hand pressure on the steering wheel.
Refer to SPECIFICATIONS/MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS/REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS, to insure correct specifications, if vehicle is within specification the following checks and inspections should be performed.
1. Check tires for proper inflation and tread wear.
2. Check for loose ball joints and tie rod ends. If excessive looseness is noted, replace defective parts before adjusting toe.
3. Check for wheel and tire assembly run-out.
4. Check trim heights. If not within specifications, correct before adjusting toe.
5. Check for loose control arms.
6. Check for loose or missing stabilizer bar components.
7. Consideration must be given to excess loads. If excess load is normally carried in vehicle, it should remain during alignment checks.