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 the 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. After removing hub cap and bearing cap, hub gauge will snap into place on brake drum. Magnetic mounting toe gauges may also be installed in the same manner. Always perform wheel alignment on a level alignment rack. Before doing
alignment, check the following items:
1. Worn suspension parts.
2. Standing curb height.
3. Remove heavy weights from trunk.
4. Wheel bearings.
5. Full tank of gas.
6. Place front seats in full rear position.
7. Check rear toe adjustment.
8. Always road test vehicle after adjusting alignment. If vehicle still pulls, switch front tires. If vehicle still pulls in same direction, check alignment and rear tracking. If vehicle pulls in opposite direction, rotate tires, then road test again.

FRONT CASTER
While caster is preset at the factory and not adjustable, it should be checked as a possible cause of suspension complaints. When checking caster ensure tires are properly inflated. 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 front suspension is unloaded.
2. Remove tire and wheel assembly.
3. Loosen and remove four top strut attaching nuts from mounting studs.
4. Lower strut, then rotate strut and rotate bearing 180°.
5. Install strut in strut tower.
6. Install and tighten four attaching nuts.
7. Check camber is set correctly.

FRONT TOE-IN
1. Loosen jam nuts at tie rod ends, then release clips at small ends of steering gear boots.

NOTE: Ensure boots are free on tie rod ends so they will not be twisted when tie rods are turned.

Fig. 1 Front Toe-in Adjustment:

2. Turn tie rods into or out of tie rod ends an equal amount on each side, to keep steering wheel centered.
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. The angle of each front wheel in relationship to rear wheels must be the same.
4. Check toe setting after setting tracking.
5. When toe is correct, Torque tie rod end locknuts to 26-28 ft lb. Verify that steering gear boot ends are positioned in the reduced diameter sections of tie rods and install boot clips.

Fig. 2 Rear Toe Adjustment:

REAR TOE
Rear toe should always be checked whenever an alignment on the front wheels is required. Rear toe should be adjusted prior to setting the front alignment angles. Rear toe is adjusted by loosening the locknuts and rotating the adjustment link on the rear control arms. One turn of the link will change toe 0.044 in.