Wheel Alignment Procedures
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 the vehicle to ensure proper alignment.
1. Verify 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 proper 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.
8. Check vehicle curb height to verify it is within specifications. Wheel Alignment Procedures
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. Wheel Alignment
REAR CAMBER
Rear camber 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 after the vehicle is built or when servicing the suspension components. Thus, when performing a wheel alignment, rear camber is not considered an adjustable angle.
CAUTION:
Do not attempt to adjust the vehicle's wheel alignment by heating or bending any of the suspension components.
FRONT CAMBER AND CASTER
NOTE:
There are service struts available that have elongated bottom holes for front camber adjustment.
Front 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 but some adjustment can be made. Camber and caster should be checked to ensure they meet vehicle specifications. Wheel Alignment
If individual front camber or caster is found not to meet alignment specifications, each can be adjusted by shifting the front crossmember or by using an available service adjustment bolt package. If an adjustment bolt package installation is necessary, inspect the suspension components for any signs of damage or bending first.
CAUTION:
Do not attempt to adjust the vehicle's wheel alignment by heating or bending any of the suspension components.
ADJUSTMENT BY SHIFTING CROSSMEMBER
CAUTION:
Always use care when shifting crossmember to avoid damaging other components on the vehicle.
1. Loosen the four bolts fastening the front crossmember to the frame just enough to allow movement of the crossmember. Crossmember - Removal
2. Loosen the bolts fastening the fore/aft crossmember to the frame just enough to allow movement of the crossmember. Crossmember - Removal
CAUTION:
When shifting the front crossmember, keep in mind that the front and rear engine mounts are attached to the front crossmember and fore/aft crossmember and should be inspected following the crossmember shift to make sure they are properly aligned.
3. Shift front crossmember as necessary (See following tables) to bring camber or caster into specifications. When shifting crossmember, use care not to move other angles (camber or caster) that are within specifications, out of specifications.
4. Tighten all previously loosened fasteners (bolts) securing the crossmember to the vehicle to specifications. Crossmember - Installation
5. Jounce the rear, then front of the vehicle an equal amount of times.
6. Measure camber and caster. If camber and caster are within specifications, proceed to TOE. If camber cannot be brought into specifications, perform the CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION below.
CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION
1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. If replacing one strut-to-knuckle bolt, remove lower bolt by striking bolt directly and loosen upper bolt. If replacing both bolts, replace bolts one at a time so wheel weight is supported by a bolt at all times.
3. Install standard bolt or bolts in same orientation as the removed bolts and thread nuts but do not torque. Wheel should be loose in camber direction.
4. Have an assistant hold the wheel in the direction of desired camber change (push on top of tire and pull on bottom of tire for more negative camber or pull on top of wheel and push on bottom of tire for more positive (camber). Tighten both nuts to 140 Nm (103 ft. lbs.).
5. Repeat for other side if needed.
6. Lower vehicle.
7. Perform wheel alignment as necessary
8. If more adjustment is required proceed with the camber adjustment with service strut procedure.
CAMBER ADJUSTMENT WITH SERVICE STRUT
NOTE: When using a camber adjustment bolt package to adjust the front end camber, service struts with oversized holes can be used to adjust camber instead of grinding the clevis holes on the front struts.
Production struts have a round lower hole (1) in the strut clevis bracket.
NOTE: Service struts have an elongated lower hole (1) in the strut clevis bracket which will be used with the service bolt package to adjust front camber.
1. Remove the front strut from the vehicle Front Suspension Strut Assembly - Removal and discard the strut clevis bolts.
2. Install a NEW service strut with elongated bottom clevis holes in the vehicle Front Suspension Strut Assembly - Installation while following the steps below:
a. Use the service package bolts and not the standard clevis bolts. Be sure to place the bolt with the eccentric cam in the bottom (slotted) hole on strut clevis bracket.
b. Install the dog bone washers provided in the service package and nuts on the replacement bolts. Tighten each nut just enough to hold the knuckle in position while adjusting camber, but still allows the knuckle to move in the clevis bracket.
3. Install the tire and wheel assembly (1) Tires And Wheels - Installation. Install and tighten the wheel mounting nuts (3) to 135 Nm (100 ft. lbs.).
4. Perform the above procedure to opposite side strut as required.
5. Lower the vehicle and jounce the front and rear of the vehicle.
6. Adjust the front camber to the preferred setting using the cam bolt in the lower mounting hole. Once camber is set to specifications, tighten the upper and lower strut service package bolt nuts to 140 Nm (103 ft. lbs.). Again jounce the front and rear of the vehicle, then verify the camber settings.
7. Once camber is within specifications, adjust toe to meet the preferred specification setting. Refer to FRONT TOE within this wheel alignment service procedure.
TOE
1. Center the steering wheel and lock it in place using a steering wheel clamp.
NOTE:
When setting toe, make sure to set rear toe to the preferred specifications before setting front toe to the preferred specifications
2. Remove the steering wheel clamp.
3. Remove the alignment equipment.
4. Road test the vehicle to verify the steering wheel is straight and the vehicle does not pull or wander.
REAR TOE
NOTE:
Perform the following at each rear wheel as necessary.
1. While holding the cam bolt head (4) stationary, loosen the toe link mounting cam bolt nut (3).
2. Rotate the cam bolt head (4) left or right until the rear wheel toe for that rear wheel is set to the preferred specification. Wheel Alignment
3. While holding the cam bolt head (4) stationary, tighten the toe link mounting cam bolt nut (3) to 100 Nm (74 ft. lbs.).
FRONT TOE
NOTE:
Perform the following at each front wheel as necessary.
CAUTION:
Do not twist the inner tie rod-to-steering gear boot (bellows) while turning the inner tie rod during front toe adjustment. It may be necessary to remove the clamp where the boot meets the inner tie rod.
1. Loosen the tie rod adjusting jam nut (1). Grasp the inner tie rod (3) and rotate it one way or the other until the front wheel toe is set to the preferred specification. Wheel Alignment
2. Tighten the tie rod adjusting jam nut to of 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.).
3. Make sure the inner tie rod-to-steering gear boot is not twisted. If removed, reinstall the clamp where the boot meets the inner tie rod.