Alignment Fundamentals PT1

Introduction

• Suspension and steering system components have to be

aligned correctly with one another and with the vehicle’s centerline.

• The wheels must be in proper alignment from the factory.

Wheel Alignment Fundamentals

(1 of 3)

• Explain the purpose and function of wheel alignment and the alignment angles.

• Little effort should be needed to turn the vehicle into curves or to let it return to the straight-ahead position

• Wheels are positioned on the suspension at certain angles to provide for easy driving of the vehicle

• The alignment of the wheels is maintained by the control arms, strut rods, tie rods, knuckles, and the vehicle frame to
obtain the proper angles

Wheel Alignment Fundamentals

(2 of 3)

• Alignments performed for:

- When handling issues related to alignment angles

– When tire wear shows any tire wearing angle issue

– When components are replaced that could affect the alignment

– Whenever new tires are being installed

A technician checking the alignment on a vehicle.

Wheel Alignment Fundamentals

(3 of 3)

• Primary and secondary alignment angles

• Primary angles consist of camber, caster, and toe, and are

more likely to be adjustable, but not always

• Secondary angles consist of toe-out-on-turns, steering axis inclination, included angle, scrub radius, thrust angle, centerlines, setbacks, and ride height

Camber

(1 of 2)

• Explain camber, its purpose, and effects.

• Side-to-side vertical tilt of the wheel

• A wheel that leans away from the center of the vehicle at the top is said to have positive camber

• A wheel that leans toward the center of the vehicle is said to have negative camber

Camber

(2 of 2)

• Camber tends to pull in the direction of the most positive

camber

• Affected by ride height


• Zero camber, or no tilt, to provide maximum tire patch contact with the road, as well as long tire life

Caster

(1 of 3)

• Forward or backward tilt of the steering axis from vertical when viewed from the side of the vehicle

• Backward tilt from the vertical is positive caster and forward tilt is negative
caster

Caster

(2 of 3)

Positive caster has a self-straightening effect on steering when the wheels are turned.

Caster

(3 of 3)

• Most vehicles have positive caster, because it causes the tires to travel in a straight line with minimal driver input

• As positive caster increases, more and more effort is needed to turn the steering wheel

• Differences in caster cause a pull to the side with the most negative caster

Toe-In and Toe-Out

(1 of 2)

• Toe is the angle of the tires relative to one another when viewed from above

• The condition in which the fronts of the wheels are closer together than the rears of the wheels is called
toe-in

• The condition in which the fronts of the wheels are farther apart than the rears is called toe-out

Toe is viewed from above the tire.

Toe-In and Toe-Out

(2 of 2)

• Designed into the vehicle based on several factors, such as front-wheel drive versus rear-wheel drive, front/rear brake system split versus diagonal brake system split, and specific desired handling characteristics

• Improper toe settings cause much faster tire wear than camber or caster

• Can be measured in inches, millimeters, or degrees

• Static toe setting is designed to compensate for slight wear in steering joints and components

Dropdown

Primary angles consist of camber,​ ​

Select answer

and toe, and are more likely to be adjustable, but not always.

Multiple Choice

A wheel that leans away from the center of the vehicle at the top is said to have_______.

• positive camber

• Negative camber

• Positive caster

• Negative caster

Multiple Choice

Forward or backward tilt of the steering axis from vertical when viewed from the side of the vehicle is _______.

• Caster

• Camber

• Toe

• Steer

Labelling

Label the Caster Measurements.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Positive Caster

Center Line

Negative Caster

Dropdown

Secondary angles consist of toe-out-on-turns, steering axis inclination, included angle, scrub radius, ​

Select answer

, centerlines, setbacks, and ride height

Multiple Choice

The alignment of the wheels is maintained by the control arms, strut rods, tie rods, knuckles, and the vehicle frame to obtain the proper angles

• True

• False

Labelling

Label the Camber

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Positive camber

Right vertical

Negative camber

Left vertical

Multiple Choice

A wheel that leans toward the center of the vehicle is said to have _______.

• negative camber

• Positive camber

• Toe-in

• Toe-out

Multiple Choice

Side-to-side vertical tilt of the wheel is_______.

• Camber

• Caster

• Toe-in

• Toe-out

Multiple Choice

Camber tends to pull in the direction of the most __________.

• Negative camber

• Neutral camber

• positive camber

• Zero camber

Multiple Choice

Backward tilt from the vertical is __________.

• Negative caster

• Positive camber

• positive caster

• Negative camber

Multiple Choice

_________has a self-straightening effect on steering when the wheels are turned.

• Positive caster

• Negative caster

• Negative camber

• Positive camber

Labelling

Label these points.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Road surface point

Caster line

Tire contact center patch

Caster pivot Point

Multiple Choice

Improper toe settings cause much faster ______ than camber or caster.

• Tire wear

• Brake wear

• Suspension wear

• Alignment issues

Multiple Choice

_______setting is designed to compensate for slight wear in steering joints and components.

• Caster

• Static toe

• Camber

• Thrust

Multiple Choice

Can be measured in inches, millimeters, or degrees.

• Toe-in/toe-out

• Positive / Negative Camber

• Positive / Negative Caster

• Ride height point

Multiple Choice

The condition in which the fronts of the wheels are farther apart than the rears is called ______.

• toe-out

• Toe-in

• Camber

• Caster

Labelling

Label the toe.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Zero Toe

Tow-in / positive toe

Tow-out / Negative toe

Multiple Choice

The condition in which the fronts of the wheels are closer together than the rears of the wheels is called ______.

• Toe-in

• Toe-out

• Caster

• Camber