Wheel Alignment

CASTER

Effects of Caster

High Positive Caster increases ( + )

Straight ahead stability Steering effort required is high Steering wheel return to center Road Shock felt from bumps

More Negative Caster ( -- )

No Straight ahead stability Steering effort is light Wheel not returning to center Smooth ride, little road shock

Uneven Caster will cause the vehicle to pull towards the side with less Caster (more Negative -) degree or more

Not a tire wearing angle!!!!

Caster can be set unevenly to

counter act for road crown pull.

Usually degree or more on the downhill side. Caster trail is the distance between the caster line and the tire point of contact.

CAMBER

Camber = The inward or out

ward tilt of the centerline of the tire.

Camber

The more camber you have, the more the load is placed on the outside of the tire. Excessive positive or negative camber can cause tire wear on the edges

Camber can cause a car to

pull to one side

Effects of Camber

Tire wearing angle Directional control angle

Pull towards the side with more positive camber

Excessive Camber Accelerates bearing wear

Load is not evenly set on bearings. Positive wears the inner bearing Negative wears the outer bearing

Influences on Camber

Uneven Loading Body roll during turns Road Crown Rough road Surfaces Suspension Wear Suspension Damage Tire size Caster

Faster cornering wears out edges of tires!!!!

Camber can be set unevenly to

counter act for road crown pull.

Cross Camber should never exceed degree Camber will pull to the most positive side Camber Roll
Caster angle may produce a change in the camber angle when the wheels are turned

Camber is adjustable on most vehicles

Toe

Toe in Toe out

Darting

Darting

Wanter

Toe

Toe in = Darting

Toe out = Wander

Effects of Toe

Tire wear
Scuffing sideways
Scuffing is Drag and hop!

Wear tends to be the same on both tires, unlike Camber wear

Directional control angle Can cause shimmy! Diagonal Wipe on the rear tires if toe is excessive
Lots of rotations!

Toe Change can occur as suspension travels up and down.

Measure toe change at 1 inch increments Should be no change! Check length and height of tie rods!!!

City driving can cause unusual tire wear that might be blamed on Toe problems!!

SAI
Steering Axis Inclination

SAI

The inward tilt at the top of the strut.

(looking from the front)

SAI

The inward tilt at the top of the strut.

(looking from the front)

SAI and Included angle

Include angle = SAI + pos. camber

Effects of SAI

Ensures Steering stability

FWD use more SAI because of small Caster

Helps with Steering Wheel returnability

Uses Gravity to assist

Diagnosis with SAI SLA & Strut/SLA

SAI Correct Camber < spec Included Diagnosis Angle < spec Bent steering Knuckle Correct Bent lower control arm > Spec Bent lower arm & Knuckle or spindle Correct Bent upper control arm

< Spec
< Spec > Spec

> Spec
> Spec < spec

Diagnosis with SAI Strut Suspensions SAI Correct Correct < spec < spec Camber < spec > Spec > Spec >Spec IA < spec > Spec Correct > Spec Diagnosis Bent spindle or strut Bent spindle or strut Bent control arm or strut Bent control arm or strut or spindle. strut tower out at top strut tower in at top

< spec < spec > Spec < spec > Spec > Spec

< spec correct Strut tower in at top > Spec Strut tower in at top And bent spindle & strut

0 bump steer

No toe angle change.

Need to Check for this at 1 inch increments

3 factors affect bump steer Tie rod length Relative heights of inner and outer tie rod ends Steering arm length

Zero SAI would = Major bump steer

Positive Scrub Radius

Positive scrub radius RWD vehicles Sport cars Feel the steering wheel tug when braking Road feel Driver Involvement needed

Negative Scrub radius

Used on Split diagonal braking systems Self Correcting when braking No driver involvement needed No road feel

Effects of: Larger tire smaller tire deep dish wheel Larger Scrub = harder to turn and increased wear Smaller Scrub = easy turns Braking stability - Negative has greater directional stability Positive decreases braking stability (aftermarket rims)

Turning Angle, Setback, Thrust Angle.

Turning Angle

Setback

Thrust

The End