The difference in caster between left and right is called Cross-Caster. Then, for setting the camber, make equal adjustments to each eccentric, so that caster is not affected during the camber adjustment. When camber and/or toe are out of adjustment, they can do the most damage to your tires and suspension components. I think caster is adjusted using the same points, if not then it's probably not adjustable unless you adjust the t-bars to change the angle of the truck relative to the road, changing caster … This type of alignment is also used to check the straightness of older frames or those that have been in accidents as it shows the direction the wheels will drive the car (hence, “thrust” alignment). In order to properly set camber, you’re going to need a few tools. Right: Control arm with shims installed showing how they cause caster and camber to adjust. Rotate each adjuster one full turn and then bounce on the suspension. As far as the camber adjustment goes, that can be affected by adjusting the torsion bars as so many of us do. Camber is the inward or outward lean of the tire from vertical, while toe is the inward or outward orientation of the tire in relation to the car’s front-to-rear centerline. Toe and camber only effect wear. Torque nuts to 75---90 ft. lbs. The IFS Chevy guys are the lucky winners here, since caster and camber are easily set with adjustment bolts on the upper control arms. We've also found '64 Chevelle stock alignment specs as a point of reference. Toe is perhaps the easiest to understand. Repeat until you get the adjustment you are looking for. Again International increased their specs from 0.5 to 1.5 degrees. Modern steering and suspension systems are great examples of solid geometry at work. Place the end of a tape measure in the tread just to the outside of the string at the front of the tire and stretch it to the opposite tire and read the distance, let’s say it measures 65 3/16 inches. Measure again and repeat until you’ve moved the toe to the required amount. However, let’s presume our measurement was off by 7/16-inch toe-in. ​. Typical Correction: Shim both sides or bend axle King Pin Inclination – checked to determine if a spindle or axle is bent Most domestic cars use left- and righthand threads with a threaded sleeve and locking nuts to prevent the adjustment from changing. If you look at a bicycle from the side, the top of the spindle is angled rearward toward the rider. To accomplish this, the tire must properly inflated to eliminate the “bulge” of the tire as it rests on the ground. as stated earlier, any camber change is going to have a drastic change on toe in! This is done by splitting the measurement distance in half, and moving each adjuster just enough to move half of the required distance. An interesting point is that the 20-degree turn-in and turn-out figure is not critical. Light Truck/SUV Camber/Caster Sets 375 23220 & 23230 SLEEVE SETS • Ford changed the axle design in 2005 on their Heavy Duty trucks. As far as alignment shims, you can usually find them at a number of locations. Let's say the gauge reads 1/2 degree positive camber. 2000 2500 HD Silverado regular cab 4X4 Took in for front end alignment at local shop, they adjusted the toe-in but advised they were unable adjust camber/caster due to the fact a special tool is needed to notch the frame as well as an hour and a half of labor. What is important is moving the tire the same number of degrees in and out. First, place the long leg of the square against the sidewall of the tire (at the top and bottom of the tire), with the shorter leg sticking straight out perpendicular to the tire. Turn the bolt with the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket until the alignment pin is lined up with the mark on the alignment cam that you want your camber set to. Don’t Make Big Adjustments. If the car still pulls with accurate alignments, try switching tires side to side to eliminate a bad tire as a possible cause. Front wheel alignment is described in terms of angles formed by steering and suspension components. I think caster is adjusted using the same points, if not then it's probably not adjustable unless you adjust the t-bars to change the angle of the truck relative to the road, changing caster … When done at a shop, alignment technicians have an expensive rack, and an even more-expensive alignment machine. Traditionally, five alignment angles are […] There are plenty of sources that claim you need a set of turn plates to do an alignment correctly, but while handy, they are not essential. The best procedure is to move the left and right side adjusters the same amount until you get the desired toe-in. Be sure the wheel is equal on the front and back sides of the wheel, on the driver side and passenger. I wrecked this truck a few months back on the driver side and they claimed the frame had to be pulled just a tad. Shims of different thicknesses are used to adjust caster and camber. A little toe-in, of up to about 3/16-inch is okay for our purposes. Adjust camber and caster to specifications by rotating bolt head. Caster can be a pain in the ##### to adjust since you can run into seized ubolts or a center bolt that is too short to accept a thicker shim. Positive caster creates an aligning torque by positioning a portion of vehicle weight behind the tire, which helps position the tire straight ahead. This creates a grocery cart-like situation, where the wheel centerline is behind the spindle centerline. A bubble level with horizontal level capabilities also works. Once you've done your first alignment, you'll realize how easy it is and that you've now climbed another rung on the gearhead master mechanic's ladder. Wiki User Answered . If the shims are of different thicknesses, both caster and camber will be affected. (Negative castor gives greater stability on the suspension impacting oncoming bumps.) Now turn the tire 20 degrees out and the gauge will read the amount of positive or negative caster. Set it against the tire as such and check the bubble. They use precision computerized equipment to perfectly align all 3 – toe, caster, and camber on all 4 tires. On early Mustangs, for example, Ford employed a strut rod attached to the lower control arm that can be moved either in or out to adjust the caster. Left-Center: Use a tape measure and straight edge to measure the distance from the sidewall to the string. Front-End Alignment SpecsSince this story is not aimed at a specific vehicle, we'll fling you a set of generic alignment specs that will work for most '60s street-driven vehicles. Again, make sure the tire pressure is adequate. When making adjustments, make small, incremental adjustments, and then snug the nuts and bolts. This is a serious tire-wear angle that has a huge impact on vehicle handling in a corner with minimal effect on straight-line driving. Install adjusting cams (49) to bracket (44). This will probably affect camber, so you will want to check it again after modifying the caster. Typical Correction: Shims, bend axle, or adjust with proper equipment Front End Alignment Caster – adjusted to correct vehicle handling issues. Repeat on the other tire and then lower the vehicle. If working on a car with rack-and-pinion steering, loosen the lock nut on both outer tie rods. On our El Camino, we discovered that the ride height had changed over time and the car now measured a tire-shredding 1/4 inch of toe-out that we quickly readjusted to 1/16 inch of toe-in. You might actually find this stuff fascinating-we do... Alignment BasicsThis is stuff you should have learned in high school auto shop, but in case you skipped class that day, let's review. How to Set a Camber on a Chevy Z71. That being said, we are technically doing a partial alignment, adjusting the most important part of the steering system on the front end. Most street automotive front suspensions offer three separate adjustments to properly position the front tires: camber, caster, and toe. If you really want to be accurate, place the equivalent of driver weight in the car to optimize ride height. Now, subtract the smaller measurement from the bigger one, which in our example yields a difference of 1/8-inch. Use the torpedo level or a protractor as in the images above to determine the inward or outward slant of the tire. To adjust the castor angle we go back to the slots (the same slots adjust the castor and the camber angles). If you've just finished a front suspension upgrade with new springs, for example, the ride height will change once the springs settle. Repeat until you get the adjustment you are looking for. Cars equipped with an upper control arm are generally mounted with a cross-shaft. Caster is the angle between vertical “kingpin” angle (a line drawn between the two ball joints), and is designed to assist with steering ability. Image by Sam Goodman. We'll send you the most interesting Chevy Hardcore articles, news, car features, and videos every week. 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