Alignment: Service and Repair

PRELIMINARY INSPECTION
Before measuring and setting front wheel alignment, rest front wheels on turn plates. Before setting rear toe, rest rear wheels on slider plates or turn plates. Before setting any alignment angle, jounce vehicle three times at each end to establish trim height.

Special adapters are available for using a magnetic hub gauge at rear wheels. Depending on type of equipment used, these may not be necessary. Hub gauge will snap into place on brake drum after hub cap and bearing cap are removed. Magnetic mounting toe gauges may also be installed in same manner.

Always perform wheel alignment on a level alignment rack. Do not attempt to check or adjust front wheel alignment without first inspecting front end components.

Check all factors of front wheel alignment except turning angle before making any adjustments. Check turning angle only after camber and toe have been adjusted to specification. Check front wheel alignment under following curb load conditions:
1. Establish standing curb height.
2. Remove heavy weights from trunk.
3. Ensure all tires are inflated to specification (cold).
4. Ensure Fuel tank, oil reservoir and radiator are filled to specification. If necessary, add six pounds of weight to trunk for each gallon of gasoline missing from tank.
5. Place front seats in full rear position.
6. Check rear toe adjustment.
7. Always road test vehicle after adjusting alignment. If vehicle still pulls, switch front tires. If vehicle still pulls in same direction, recheck alignment and rear tracking. If vehicle pulls in opposite direction, rotate tires, then road test again.
8. Always adjust rear toe before setting front alignment angles.

FRONT CASTER
Front caster adjustment is not a separate procedure on this vehicle. Front caster should fall within specification when front camber is adjusted. If caster does not fall within specification, check control arms, stabilizers and bushings. If these components are satisfactory, check vehicle body for distortion at suspension mounting points.

FRONT CAMBER
1. Raise vehicle and support at body so that front suspension is unloaded.
2. Remove tire and wheel assembly.
3. Remove upper strut attaching nuts.
4. Lower strut, then rotate strut mounting block until camber is within specification.
5. Reinstall strut in strut tower.
6. Torque strut attaching nuts to 34-46 ft lb, then recheck camber adjustment.

FRONT TOE-IN
1. Loosen jam nuts at tie rod ends, then release clips at small ends of steering gear boots. Ensure boots are free on tie rod ends so that they will not be twisted when tie rods are turned.

Front Toe-In Adjustment:

2. Turn tie rods into or out of tie rod ends an equal amount on each side. To increase toe-in, turn right tie rod toward front of vehicle, and turn left tie rod toward rear of vehicle. To decrease toe-in, turn tie rods in opposite direction. One turn of each side tie rod changes toe-in by approximately 0.28 inch.
3. Check front tracking. Always set tracking immediately after setting toe. Set tracking by using rear wheels as a reference point. Follow equipment manufacturer's instructions to check tracking. Angle of each front wheel in relationship to rear wheels must be same.
4. Ensure toe-in is still within specifications, then torque jam nuts to 51-72 ft lb. Ensure steering gear boot ends are correctly positioned on appropriate sections of tie rods, then install boot clips.
5. Measure turning angle by placing front wheels on a turning-radius gauge and fully turning wheels to left, then right.

REAR TOE-IN
1. Loosen cam nut on rear lateral link.
2. Turning adjusting cam bolt one graduation mark changes toe-in about 0.13 inch. Turning left cam bolt counterclockwise increases toe-in, turning cam bolt clockwise increases toe-out. Turning right cam bolt clockwise increases toe-in, turning cam bolt counterclockwise increases toe-out.
3. Adjust toe-in to correct setting.
4. Torque cam nut to 58-86 ft lb.