Wheel Alignment
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
PRE-WHEEL ALIGNMENT INSPECTION
Before any attempt is made to change or correct the wheel alignment, the following inspection and necessary corrections must be made to ensure proper alignment.
1. Verify that the fuel tank is full of fuel. If the tank is not full, the reduction in weight will affect the curb height of the vehicle and the alignment angles.
2. The passenger and luggage compartments of the vehicle should be free of any load that is not factory equipment.
3. Check the tires on the vehicle. All tires must be the same size and in good condition with approximately the same amount of tread wear. Inflate all the tires to the recommended air pressure.
4. Check the front wheel and tire assemblies for excessive radial runout.
5. Inspect lower ball joints and all steering linkage for looseness, binding, wear or damage. Repair as necessary.
6. Check suspension fasteners for proper torque and retighten as necessary.
7. Inspect all suspension component rubber bushings for signs of wear or deterioration. Replace any faulty bushings or components before aligning the vehicle.
8. Check the vehicle's curb height to verify it is within specifications. Service and Repair
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SETUP
1. Position the vehicle on an alignment rack.
2. Install all required alignment equipment on the vehicle per the alignment equipment manufacturer's instructions. On this vehicle, a four-wheel alignment is recommended.
NOTE: Prior to reading the vehicle's alignment readouts, the front and rear of vehicle should be jounced. Induce jounce (rear first, then front) by grasping the center of the bumper and jouncing each end of vehicle an equal number of times. The bumper should always be released when vehicle is at the bottom of the jounce cycle.
3. Read the vehicle's current front and rear alignment settings. Compare the vehicle's current alignment settings to the vehicle specifications for camber, caster and toe-in. [1][2]Alignment
4. If front camber and caster are not within specifications, proceed to CAMBER AND CASTER below. If caster and camber are within specifications, proceed to TOE which can be found following CAMBER AND CASTER. Rear camber and caster are not adjustable. If found not to be within specifications, reinspect for damaged suspension or body components and replace as necessary. If rear toe is not within specifications, adjust rear toe before proceeding to adjust front toe.
CAMBER AND CASTER
Camber and caster settings on this vehicle are determined at the time the vehicle is designed, by the location of the vehicle's suspension components. This is referred to as NET BUILD. The result is no required adjustment of camber and caster after the vehicle is built or when servicing the suspension components. Thus, when performing a wheel alignment, caster and camber are not normally considered adjustable angles. Camber and caster should be checked to ensure they meet vehicle specifications.
If front camber is found not to meet alignment specifications, it can be adjusted using an available camber adjustment bolt package. Before installing a camber adjustment bolt package on a vehicle found to be outside the specifications, inspect the suspension components for any signs of damage or bending.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to adjust the vehicles wheel alignment by heating, bending or by performing any other modification to the vehicle's front suspension components or body.
If front camber readings are not within specifications, use the following procedure to install a camber adjustment bolt package, then adjust front camber.
CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION
The camber adjustment bolt package contains two flange bolts, two cam bolts, two dog bone washers, and two nuts. This package services both sides of the vehicle. Use the package to attach the strut clevis bracket to the steering knuckle after the strut clevis bracket has been modified. To install and adjust the camber adjustment bolt package, follow the procedure below.
NOTE: Use the following steps to service each side of the vehicle as necessary.
1. Raise the vehicle until its tires are not supporting the weight of the vehicle.
2. Remove wheel mounting nuts (3), then tire and wheel assembly (1). Tires and Wheels - Removal
CAUTION: When removing the steering knuckle from the strut clevis bracket, do not put a strain on the brake flex hose. Also, do not let the weight of the steering knuckle assembly be supported by the brake flex hose when removed from the strut assembly. If necessary use a wire hanger to support the steering knuckle assembly or if required remove the brake flex hose from the caliper assembly.
CAUTION: The strut clevis-to-knuckle attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Proper removal is required. Refer to the following steps for the correct method.
3. If servicing left strut assembly:
a. While holding bolt heads stationary, remove two nuts (3) from bolts (2) attaching strut (1) to knuckle.
b. Remove two bolts (2) attaching strut (1) to knuckle using a pin punch.
4. If servicing right strut assembly:
a. While holding bolt heads stationary, remove two nuts (3) from bolts (2) attaching strut (1) to knuckle.
b. Remove two bolts (2) attaching strut (1) to knuckle using a pin punch.
5. Separate the steering knuckle from the strut clevis bracket and position steering knuckle so it is out of the way of the strut.
CAUTION: When slotting the bottom mounting hole on the strut clevis bracket, do not enlarge the hole beyond the indentations (2) on the sides of the strut clevis bracket (4).
6. Using an appropriate grinder and grinding wheel, slot the bottom hole (3) in both sides of the strut clevis bracket (4).
CAUTION: After slotting the strut clevis bracket hole, do not install the original attaching bolts when assembling the steering knuckle to the strut assembly. Only the flange bolts, cam bolts, and dog bone washers from the service package must be used to attach the steering knuckle to the strut after the mounting hole is slotted.
NOTE: The strut clevis-to-knuckle bolts are installed differently on each side. Left hand side bolts are to be installed from vehicle rear to front. Right side bolts are to be installed from vehicle front to rear.
7. If servicing left knuckle:
a. Position lower end of strut assembly (1) in line with upper end of knuckle, aligning mounting holes. Install two service package bolts (2). Be sure to place bolt with eccentric cam in bottom (slotted) hole on strut clevis bracket.
b. Install service package strut clevis-to-knuckle nuts (3) on two service package bolts (2). While holding bolts in place, tighten nuts just enough to hold steering knuckle in position when adjusting camber, but still allowing steering knuckle to move in clevis bracket when needed.
8. If servicing right knuckle:
a. Position lower end of strut assembly (1) in line with upper end of knuckle, aligning mounting holes. Install two service package bolts (2). Be sure to place bolt with eccentric cam in bottom (slotted) hole on strut clevis bracket.
b. Install a dog bone washer on the over the ends of the two mounting bolts.
c. Install service package strut clevis-to-knuckle nuts (3) on two service package bolts (2). While holding bolts in place, tighten nuts just enough to hold steering knuckle in position when adjusting camber, but still allowing the steering knuckle to move in clevis bracket when needed.
9. Install tire and wheel assembly (1) Tires and Wheels - Installation. Install and tighten wheel mounting nuts (3) to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
10. Lower vehicle.
11. Jounce front and rear of vehicle an equal amount of times.
12. Adjust front camber to preferred setting by rotating service package lower eccentric cam bolt (3) against cam stop areas (2) on strut clevis bracket. Once camber is set, lightly tighten upper and lower strut clevis-to-knuckle nuts.
13. Jounce front and rear of vehicle an equal amount of times and verify front camber setting.
14. While holding the service package bolts in place, tighten the strut clevis-to-knuckle nuts to 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.) plus an additional 90° turn after torque is met.
15. If the toe readings obtained are not within the required specification range, adjust toe to meet the preferred specification setting. Proceed to TOE below to set the vehicle's toe.
TOE
1. Center the steering wheel and lock in place using a steering wheel clamp.
NOTE: When performing the toe adjustment procedure, set rear toe to specifications before setting front toe.
REAR TOE
NOTE: Perform the following steps to each side of the vehicle as necessary.
2. Loosen the cam bolt nut (5) securing the toe link to the rear crossmember (3) just enough to rotate the cam bolt.
NOTE: When adjusting rear toe, the eccentric lobes on the toe adjustment cam bolts and washers are not to be facing downward. The lobes should only be facing upward or up to 90° to one side or the other from the 12 O'clock position.
3. Rotate the cam bolt head (2) on the opposite side (front) of the crossmember (1) in either direction until the preferred specification is obtained. [1][2]Alignment
4. While holding the cam bolt from turning, tighten the cam bolt nut (5) to specifications. Rear Suspension
5. Once rear toe is set, proceed to FRONT TOE to set the vehicle's front toe.
FRONT TOE
NOTE: Perform the following steps to each side of the vehicle as necessary.
CAUTION: Do not twist inner tie rod-to-steering gear boots during front wheel Toe adjustment. Remove boot clamps at the inner tie rods and make sure boots moves freely on inner tie rod.
6. Loosen jam nut (2) at inner-to-outer tie rod connection.
7. Grasp inner tie rod at serrations (3) and rotate as necessary to adjust front toe to preferred toe specification. [1][2]Alignment
8. Tighten tie rod jam nut (2) to specifications. Front Suspension
9. Make sure inner tie rod-to-steering gear boot is not twisted, then reinstall boot clamp at inner tie rod.
10. Adjust front toe on opposite side of vehicle using above procedure as necessary.
11. Remove steering wheel clamp.
12. Remove alignment equipment.
13. Road test vehicle to verify steering wheel is straight and vehicle does not wander or pull.