FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
Courtesy of Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Preliminary Check


Toe-in
Adjusting with the toe-in beam





1. Roll the car slowly straight ahead on a level floor and let it come to a stop without using the brakes.
2. Measure A with the toe-in beam 88 19 031 between the edges of the rims at axle height. Make a chalk mark at the measuring points. Roll the car forwards until the chalk mark is again at axle height. Measure B. With this method, the toe-in beam 88 19 031 is at the same point relative to the floor when measuring both A and B. In this way, any unevenness in the floor surface will not affect the result.
3. If adjustment is necessary, adjust the distance between the track-rod ends and the track rod on both sides. Undo the lock bolts on the track rod and track-rod ends.
4. Turn the adjusting screw with a spanner to the right or left and as shown in the table, until the correct toe-in is obtained. Tighten the lock bolts with a torque wrench.
Tightening torque: 22 Nm (16 ft. lbs.).

IMPORTANT: Before tightening the clamp bolt, the track-rod end must be at the correct angle, that is 90° to the MacPherson strut.

5. Check the length of the track rod, see a.
6. Test drive and check that the steering wheel position is correct.


Toe-in at edge of wheel rim





LEGEND
A = Nominal Value (15 inch wheel)
B = mm
C = Number Of Turns

Example of how to use the table.
1. Secure the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.
2. When checking toe-in, read "0.5 toe-out".
3. Follow the top line of the table to "0.5 toe-out". An imaginary line perpendicular to "0.5 toe-out" gives a reading of just under 1/8 turn. Turn the adjusting screw this amount on both sides.
Tightening torques: Adjusting screw 22 Nm (16 ft. lbs.)

IMPORTANT: Turn the adjusting screw equally on both sides.

Track rod length





1. Adjust toe-in.
2. Measure A. The measurement must not under any conditions exceed 52 mm (2.0 inch).
3. Perform step 2 on the other side of the car.
4. Maximum allowable difference between B and C is 3 mm.
5. Adjust if necessary. After adjusting the length of the track rod, toe-in must again be checked.
6. Check the position of the steering wheel.

Camber





Camber is not adjustable. It it is not within the specified limits, defective components must be replaced.

Caster





Caster is not adjustable. If it is not within the specified limits, defective components must be replaced.

Swivel-pin inclination





Swivel pin inclination is not adjustable as it is determined by the steering swivel member.
If it is not within the specified limits despite the camber being correct, the steering swivel member is at fault and will have to be replaced.

Steering angle





Toe-in must be correctly adjusted before checking the steering angle.
Turn the steering wheel, to the left for example, until the right wheel, i.e. the outer wheel, is at an angle of 20°. If the steering angle is correct, the other wheel, i.e. the inner wheel, should be at an angle of 20.9° ± 0.5.
Measurement of the steering angle is carried out using two standard, graduated turntables combined with optical measuring equipment, see illustration. Each turntable should be centered as accurately as possible underneath the pivot center of the respective wheel. the measurements show the steering angle to be incorrect, then one or both steering swivel members have become distorted. Defective steering swivel members must be changed.