ACR Package Only
STANDARD PROCEDURE - WHEEL ALIGNMENTPRE-WHEEL ALIGNMENT VEHICLE INSPECTION
CAUTION: If during the inspection the front suspension crossmember shows any sign of impact damage, the steering column lower coupling must be inspected.
Before any attempt is made to change or correct the wheel alignment, the following inspection and necessary corrections must be made to the vehicle to ensure proper alignment.
1. Be sure the fuel tank is full of fuel. If the fuel tank is not full, the reduction in weight will affect the curb height of the vehicle and the alignment specifications.
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. The tires are to be inflated to the recommended air pressure. All tires must be the same size and in good condition with approximately the same tread wear.
4. Check the front tire and wheel assemblies for excessive radial runout.
5. Inspect all suspension component fasteners for looseness and torque.
6. Inspect the lower front ball joints and all steering linkage for looseness and any sign of wear or damage.
7. Inspect the rubber bushings on all the suspension components for signs of wear or deterioration. If any bushings show signs of wear or deterioration, they should be replaced prior to aligning the vehicle.
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.
4. If the rear alignment is out of specification, adjust it first before proceeding to the front.
CAMBER AND CASTER
Front and rear 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 either front or rear 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.
No adjustment can be made to the caster setting on this vehicle. If the vehicle's caster is not within alignment specifications, check for damaged suspension components or body parts.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to adjust the vehicles wheel alignment by heating or bending any of the suspension components.
CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION - ACR PACKAGE
NOTE: The following procedure should only be used on the front suspension of vehicles WITH the ACR competition package.For installation of the adjustment bolt package on the ACR rear suspension, refer to CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION (non-ACR). No modification to the rear strut is required.
The camber adjustment bolt package contains new bolts and nuts for attaching the strut clevis bracket to the steering knuckle. The bolts contained in the package are slightly undersize allowing for movement between the strut clevis bracket and the steering knuckle. The movement allowed by the undersize bolts provides approximately one degree of camber adjustment per side of the vehicle. Additional modification will also be necessary to gain a proper camber setting for ACR competition. To modify the strut and install and adjust the camber adjustment bolt package,follow the procedure below.
CAUTION: There are separate camber adjustment bolt packages for the front and rear of the vehicle. Be sure to use the correct package.
1. Raise the vehicle until its tires are not supporting the weight of the vehicle.
CAUTION: The knuckle to strut assembly attaching bolt shanks are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Remove the nuts while holding the bolts stationary.
2. Remove the wheel and tire assembly at the strut requiring modification.
3. Remove the original upper bolt attaching the strut clevis bracket to the knuckle (Fig. 7) (Fig. 8).
4. Seperate the knuckle from the strut clevis bracket.
5. Draw an imaginary line from the center of the clevis bracket upper bolt hole down throughthe center of the clevis bracket lower bolt hole.Pivoting the line at the center of the lower hole,move the upper end of the line inward so as to follow an arc past the inner edge of the upper bolt hole approximately 3.0 mm (0.12 in). Mark the bracket showing what area of the surface needs to be removed to form the elongated hole. Remember,this elongation must follow the arc. Repeat this step on the opposite side of the clevis bracket..
6. Using an appropriate grinding tool,elongate the upper hole as indicated by the markings until the neccesary material is removed. Repeat this step on the opposite side of the clevis bracket.
7. Place the knuckle back in the clevis bracket.
8. Install bolts from the adjustment package into the holes where the original boltswere removed. Install the bolts from the rear.
9. Install a nut provided in the adjustment package on each replacement bolt. Tighten the nuts until snug,but still allowing the knuckle to slide in the clevis bracket.
10. Reinstall the tire and wheel assembly.
11. Perform the procedure to the remaining front strut as required.
12. Lower the vehicle and jounce the front and rear of the vehicle.
NOTE: If when adjusting camber the desired specification cannot be met, further modification to the strut clevis bracket can be performed and special bolts installed,refer to ADDITIONAL CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION below.
13. Adjust front camber to the preferred setting by pushing or pulling on the top of the tire.Once camber is set to the preferred specifications,tighten the front camber adjustment (strut clevis-to-steering knuckle) bolt nuts to 53 Nm (40 ft lbs), plus an additional 1/4(90°) turn after the torque is met. Again jounce the front and rear of the vehicle,then verify the camber settings.
14. Once camber is within specifications, adjust toe to meet the preferred specification setting. Refer to TOE within this wheel alignment service procedure.
ADDITIONAL CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION - ACR PACKAGE
NOTE: The following procedure should only be used as a supplement to CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION - ACR PACKAGE above.
If the camber adjustment bolt package installed in th e Camber Adjustment Bolt Package Insatllation - ACR Package procedure did not allow for the desired amount of front suspension camber, the following procedure can be used to acquire additional camber adjustment. Cam head bolts and nuts froma seperate camber adjustment bolt (service) package and an independent dog bone washer,both avaliable as supplements to the Camber Adjustment Bolt Package used in the preceding procedure must be used. To modify the strut and install these parts,follow the procedure below.
1. Raise the vehicle until its tires are not supporting the weight of the vehicle.
2. Remove the wheel and tire assembly at the strut requiring modification
3. Remove the upper and lower bolts attaching the strut clevis bracket to the knuckle (Fig. 7) (Fig. 8).
4. Seperate the knuckle from the strut clevis bracket.
5. Draw an imaginary line from the center of the elongated clevis bracket upper bolt hole down through the center of the clevis bracket lower bolt hole.Pivoting the line at the center of the elongated upper hole,measure outward at the lower bolt hole up to 4 mm past the edge of the original bolt hole. To acquire negative camber,measure toward the outboard side of the strut from the center line.Mark the bracket showing what area of the surface needs to be removed to form the elongated hole. Remember this elongation must follow the arc. Repeat this step on the opposite side of the clevis bracket..
6. Using an appropriate grinding tool,elongate the lower hole as indicated by the markings until the neccesary material is removed. Repeat this step on the opposite side of the clevis bracket.
7. Position the knuckle back into the strut clevis bracket. Using the direction indicated in the above note,install a flanged bolt from the service package into the upper mounting hole.Using the direction indicated in the above note,install a cam head bolt from the service package into the bottom mounting hole. Install the bolts from the rear.
8. Install the independent dog bone washer over the ends of the service package bolts,then install the nuts that came with those bolts. Push inboard at the top of the knuckle wher the bolt is positioned in the elongated upper bolt hole,then tighten the bolts just enough to hold the knuckle in position while adjusting th camber,yet still allowing the knuckle to slide in the clevis bracket.
9. Install the tire and wheel assembly
10. Perform the above procdure for the remaining front strut as required.
11. Lower the vehicle and jounce the front and rear of the vehicle.
12. Adjust the front camber to the preferred setting by rotating the lower eccentric cam head bolt.Once camber is set to the preferred specifications,tighten the front camber adjustment(stut clevis-to-steering knuckle)bolt to 81 Nm (60 ft lbs),plus an additional 1/4(90°)turn after the torque is met. again jounce the front and rear of the vehicle,then verify the camber settings.
13. Once the camber is within specifications,adjust the toe to meet the preferred specification setting.Refer to TOE within this wheel alignment procedure.
TOE
1. Center the steering wheel and lock it in place using a steering wheel clamp.
NOTE: When performing the toe setting procedure, make sure the rear toe is set to the preferred specification before setting the front toe to the preferred specification.
REAR TOE
1. Loosen the nuts on the left and right rear lateral link attaching bolts at the rear crossmember as necessary to allow rotation of the rear toe adjustment cams (Fig. 9).
CAUTION: When adjusting rear toe, the notches on the toe adjustment cams are not to be facing down. The notches in the adjustment cams are only to be facing up or toward one side.
2. Rotate each toe adjustment cam until the preferred rear toe specification is obtained (Fig. 9). Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS.
3. While holding the toe adjustment cams from turning, tighten the attaching bolt nuts. This will securely hold the adjustment cams in position. Tighten the attaching bolt nuts to a torque of 88 Nm (65 ft. lbs.).
4. Proceed to FRONT TOE to set the front toe.
FRONT TOE
CAUTION: Do not twist the inner tie rod-to-steering gear rubber boots while turning the inner tie rod during the front toe adjustment.
1. Loosen the tie rod adjusting jam nuts (Fig. 10). Grasp each inner tie rod at its hex and rotate it one way or the other until the front wheel toe is set to the preferred specification. Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS.
2. Tighten tie rod adjusting jam nuts to a torque of 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.).
3. Make sure the inner tie rod-to-steering gear rubber boots are not twisted. If twisted, loosen the boot clamp at the inner tie rod and move the boot as necessary.
4. Remove steering wheel clamp.
5. Remove the alignment equipment.
6. Road test the vehicle to verify the steering wheel is straight and the vehicle does not pull or wander.