3.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel Alignment
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Topics covered in this presentation:
Caster
Camber
Steering Axle Inclination
Tracking and Toe Adjustment
ClassAct SRS enabled.
3. Wheel Alignment
Alignment Principles - Caster
There are two types of caster:
negative and positive.
Positive caster - a bicycle front wheel.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Front forks tilt to the rear – wheel
centre is in front of the mount point.
Negative caster - a shopping trolley.
Wheel mount tilts to the front – wheel
centre trails behind the mount point.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Question 1
The bicycle front wheel is an example of positive castor.
Is this true or false?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Answer True or False.
3. Wheel Alignment
Caster
A steering knuckle can be set up with positive or
negative caster.
Steering knuckle tilts to the rear for positive caster.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Wheels resist turning and return to straight ahead.
Steering knuckle tilts to the front for
negative caster. Wheels turn more easily
but follow road imperfections.
The caster is measured in
degrees from the vertical.
Front
Positive caster is normally used with
power steering and negative caster is
more common on manual steering.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Road Crown Effect
Most roads are crowned.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Crowned roads could
cause vehicles to pull
off the road.
Caster is directional angle.
An offset caster can be used
to counteract the pull caused
by a crowned road.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Camber
The camber is the vertical inward
or outward tilt of wheels and tyres.
It helps prevent uneven tyre
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
wear on the outer or inner tread.
It loads the larger inner
wheel bearing.
It aids steering by putting
weight on inner of spindle.
Positive camber - top of wheels
tilt outward.
Negative camber - top of wheels
tilt inward. Next >
3. Wheel Alignment
Toe
Setting the correct toe is
critical for even tyre wear.
Toe-in - the wheels point
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
inward. A small toe-in can
compensate for the effect
of rear-wheel drive.
Toe-out - the wheels
point away from each
other. A small toe-out is
normally required by front-
wheel drive vehicles.
Zero toe - required when
the vehicle is moving. This causes
less tyre wear (scuffing or feathering). Next >
3. Wheel Alignment
Question 2
A Positive castor. B Negative castor. C Toe-in. D Toe-out.
Which of the above would you expect on a front wheel drive
vehicle with power steering?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
A) A and D
B) A and C
C) B and D
D) B and C
3. Wheel Alignment
Question 3
What term is used to describe the effect where the top of the
wheels tilt outwards?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
A) Negative castor
B) Toe-out
C) Positive camber
D) Road crown effect
3. Wheel Alignment
Swivel Axis / Kingpin Inclination
This is the vertical axis of the wheel mount.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
It is generally an inward tilt.
It aids directional stability.
On some vehicles, small
adjustments are possible.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Turning Radius (Ackerman Principle)
The inside wheel turns on tighter radius than the outer wheel.
The steering system design compensates for this.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
It sets for toe-out on turns.
Any errors are normally due to bent or damaged components. Next >
3. Wheel Alignment
Question 4
When a car turns, both wheels move in circles of equal radius.
Is this true or false?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Answer True or False.
3. Wheel Alignment
Tracking
Tracking is the ability of the
rear wheels to follow in the
tracks of the front wheels.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
When they do not follow
it is called crabbing.
Crabbing causes
increased tyre wear,
low fuel economy and
poor handling.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Question 5
Which of the following is an effect of crabbing?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
A) Better fuel economy
B) Lower vibration
C) Better handling
D) Increased tyre wear
3. Wheel Alignment
Pre-alignment Inspection
Bad strut
Bent frame
member Fatigued coil
Dragging Play in springs
brakes steering gear (kerb height)
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Proper tyre size
and inflation
Loose track Loose
rod ends wheel
Worn ball bearings
joints
Worn Damaged
bushes suspension
arms Next >
3. Wheel Alignment
Reading Tyre Wear
Tyre tread inspection can indicate the nature of faults.
Too much positive camber causes
wear on the outer tread.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Too much negative camber
causes wear on the inner tread.
Excessive toe-in causes (feathering)
wear on the outer edge of the tyre.
Random bald spots is an
indication of faulty wheel balance.
Regular scalloped edge pattern
requires the alignment to be checked.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Question 6
If the tyre tread shows a feathered edge on the outside, what
might be its cause?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
A) Excessive positive caster
B) Excessive negative camber
C) Excessive toe-in
D) Excessive toe-out
3. Wheel Alignment
Caster Adjustment
The caster is adjusted by
moving the control arm.
Control Arm
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Shims
Shims can be
added or removed.
It can also be adjusted by:
Adjusting a strut rod.
Turning an eccentric bolt.
Moving shaft bolts in slotted holes. Next >
3. Wheel Alignment
Camber Adjustment
The camber is adjusted after the caster has been set.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Shims or slots are used to
move the control arm out.
Some strut types
provide adjustments.
The steering knuckle
may be pivoted with
eccentric adjusters.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Question 7
Which of the following should be adjusted first?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
A) Camber
B) Caster
3. Wheel Alignment
Toe Adjustment
Track rod lengths are varied for toe
adjustment. Track rod adjustment is
dependent on where the track rod is
situated, it could be either in front
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
or behind the centre of the wheel.
All track rods have an adjustment
locking device for safety.
Linkage type systems have
adjustable sleeves.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Question 8
How is the toe adjustment made?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
A) By varying the track rod length
B) By the addition of shims
C) By adjusting the control arm angle
D) By adjusting the control arm height
3. Wheel Alignment
Centring Steering Wheel
With the wheels straight ahead, the
wheel spokes must be centred.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
When adjusting toe, alter the track
rods equally on both sides.
Take special care with
vehicles fitted with airbags.
Always follow the manufacturer’s
procedures detailed in the
service manual.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Rear Wheel Alignment
Rear-wheel alignment
may require adjustment.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Eccentric washers, shims,
threaded rods and sleeves
can be used to adjust rear
wheel alignment.
Making adjustments to any
of the angles can alter the
others, because all of these
angles are interrelated.
Eccentric washer
Shims are available in
various thickness.
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3. Wheel Alignment
Question 9
What is an eccentric washer?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
A) A device for cleaning a wheel properly
B) A shim of different thickness
C) A rod and sleeve combination
D) A metal disc with a hole not in the centre
3. Wheel Alignment
Alignment Tools and Equipment
Many specialist tools are required for wheel alignment:
Track rod separators
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Caster-camber gauges
Special caster-camber tools
Graduated turntables
Steering wheel steady
Brake pedal depressor
Tyre inflation equipment
Alignment gauges
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3. Wheel Alignment
Wheel Alignment Equipment
Specialist tools are required
to accurately check and
measure wheel alignment.
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Wheel alignment data is
normally supplied by the
vehicle manufacturer.
Follow the correct procedures
when checking alignment,
and always check results with the
manufacturer’s specifications.
If the alignment readings are very different from the vehicle
specifications check for obvious causes, such as accident damage,
and loose or incorrect fittings. Next >
3. Wheel Alignment
Question 10
Which of the following might be responsible if a vehicles alignment
readings are very different from the manufacturer's specification?
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
A) Excessive tyre wear
B) Accident damage
C) Over-inflated tyres
D) Lack of specialist tools
3. Wheel Alignment
Summary
You should now be aware of:
Caster
Automotive – Wheels & Tyres
Camber
Steering Axle Inclination
Tracking and Toe Adjustment
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