Alignment - Rear Wheel Adjusting Tips
90subaru03NUMBER 05-25-90
DATE 08-22-90
APPLICABILITY ALL LEGACY MODELS
SUBJECT: REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT ADJUSTING TIPS
USE THIS INFORMATION TO SUPPLEMENT THE SERVICE MANUAL
I. MEASUREMENT CONVERSION AND CLARIFICATION OF SPECIFICATIONS
1~ = 60 ' or one degree equals sixty minutes. The service manual gives specifications in degrees and minutes for camber and toe angles. Rear wheel camber is not adjustable, only toe. Adjusting toe will affect the camber angle. The service manual specifications can be converted into a range. Example:
Legacy FWD Sedan
A. Camber specification is -0~30 ' +/- 1~ or another wax to read is +1/2~ to -1-1/2~, the optimum specification is -0~30 ' or -1/2~.
NOTE: After setting toe to specifications and observing camber angles right and left, the difference between both sides cannot exceed one full degree.
B. Toe specification is 0~ to approximately 1/8" in to 1/8" out. The optimum specification is 0. Toe angles are critical to tire wear.
II. REAR WHEEL INSPECTION AT PDI
Use one of the following methods to inspect:
A. Visually inspect the tires' relationship to the wheel well area.
B. Side slip or wheel scrub tester
C. Use a tape measure and measure the center of the front of the two rear tires. Then measure the center of the back of the two rear tires and subtract one measurement from the other. Zero toe will equal the same measurement for the front of the tire as the rear of the tire. This information can be found in the Genuine Subaru Legacy Service Manual Section 4-1 [SOBO].
2) On FWD models use the outer cam to make major toe changes and the inner cam to make finite changes.
To adjust toe hold the inner cam bolt while turning the outer cam using a spanner wrench such as Snap-On Stock Number AHS300 or adjustable joint pliers such as Snap-On Stock Number HL506P or equivalent, and obtain the closest to proper spec as possible. Then, hold the outer cam and turn the inner bolt cam until the exact or closest, but within the range, spec can be reached and tighten the retaining nut while holding the inner bolt cam from turning. Repeat on the opposite side. Then, push up and down on the bumper to allow the suspension to settle into the new position and re-check the toe gauges.
Next, remove the toe gauges and re-install the caster/camber gauge and verify correct camber specifications. If not within specification examine the vehicle for damaged or bent suspension components, i.e., lateral links, retaining bolts, crossmember, etc.
CAUTIONS:
DO NOT LIFT THE VEHICLE BY THE SUSPENSION.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO, IN ANY WAY, ALTER OR BEND ANY SUSPENSION COMPONENT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
THOSE VEHICLES THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO PROPER ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATION SHOULD BE PUT ON A FRAME ALIGNMENT MACHINE AND INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE.