Front Wheel Alignment
FRONT WHEEL CAMBERIMPORTANT: Rear wheel alignment angles must be set to correct specifications before front wheel alignment angles are adjusted.
1. Lock steering wheel in the straight ahead position.
2. Loosen two strut-to-knuckle fasteners and pull or push knuckle in direction of desired change. This will allow up to 1.5 degrees of adjustment.
NOTICE: If more than 1.5° of camber adjustment is required, check for bent suspension components or body structure.
3. If more than 1.5° of camber adjustment is required and no bent components are observed:
CAUTION: MAKE SURE VEHICLE IS PROPERLY SUPPORTED AND SQUARELY POSITIONED ON HOIST. TO HELP AVOID PERSONAL INJURY, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE VEHICLE THAT COMPONENTS WILL BE REMOVED FROM.
A. Raise vehicle on hoist.
B. Remove road wheel.
C. Remove two strut-to-knuckle fasteners and separate knuckle from strut bracket.
D. The strut mounting bracket consists of two layers of metal, an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer has a round 14.4 - 14.8 mm (0.57 - 0.58 inch) hole through it at the mounting locations, while the outer layer has a 18.4 - 18.8 mm (0.72-0.74 inch) slot through it.
Using a round file or grinder, remove material from the inner layer of the strut bracket lower hole. The round hole may be increased to the size and shape of the slot in the outer layer. Do this on both sides of the strut bracket.
To increase negative camber, remove material from the outside of the lower strut hole.
To decrease negative camber, remove material from the inside of the lower strut hole.
IMPORTANT: If strut was filed or ground, paint exposed metal with primer.
E. Position knuckle back into strut with fasteners.
4. Tighten strut-to-knuckle fasteners.
Torque: 170 Nm (126 ft. lbs.)
NOTICE: Before installing wheels, remove rust or corrosion from wheel mounting surfaces and brake rotors/drums. Failure to do so can cause wheel nuts to loosen in service.
5. Position wheel onto hub.
6. Install wheel nuts and tighten in a crisscross pattern. Repeat tightening pattern to make sure torque is correct.
Torque: 140 Nm (103 ft. lbs.)
7. Lower vehicle from hoist.
8. Check camber angle and adjust if necessary.
FRONT WHEEL CASTER
IMPORTANT: The front wheel caster setting is fixed by body structure geometry and the fixed lengths of suspension components. Therefore, front caster should not vary under normal circumstances. If the caster angle is found to be out of specification, check for bent suspension components, bent body structure, worn front stabilizer bar bushings and proper alignment measuring techniques. Only when the above criteria are found to be correct, perform the following procedure:
1. Lock steering wheel in the straight ahead position.
2. Remove and discard strut assembly to body attachment nuts.
3. Slide strut forward or rearward in the body in the direction of desired caster angle change.
Move the top of the strut forward to decrease positive caster. Move the top of the strut rearward to increase positive caster. Moving the top of the strut 4 mm (0.157 inch) will result in approximately 1/2° of change in caster angle.
IMPORTANT: The body attachment holes may need to be filed or ground into oval slots to allow enough front/rear strut movement to adjust caster to specifications. Do not exceed 9 mm (0.354 inch) in the width of the slot.
IMPORTANT: If body was filed, paint exposed metal with primer.
4. Install new strut assembly-to-body attachment nuts.
Torque: 29 Nm (21 ft. lbs.)
5. Check caster angle. Re-adjust if necessary.
FRONT WHEEL TOE
NOTICE: When performing the toe adjustment, the steering wheel must be locked in the straight ahead position.
1. Lock steering wheel in the straight ahead position.
2. Loosen left and right outer tie rod lock nuts.
NOTICE: Make sure steering gear boots do not become twisted.
3. Turn inner tie rods (by flats) in direction of desired toe change.
4. After adjustment, tighten left and right outer tie rod lock nuts.
Torque: 100 Nm (74 ft. lbs.)
5. Check toe angle. Re-adjust if necessary.