How much do you know about vehicle alignment and adjustment?

Study Notes

Rear camber is the first step in the four-wheel alignment process.
Rear camber can be corrected using aftermarket alignment kits or shims.
Incorrect rear camber can affect vehicle handling and tire life.
Rear toe adjusts the thrust angle and can be adjusted using an adjustable tie rod end or an eccentric cam.
Toe-out setting is used in front-wheel-drive vehicles to compensate for the toe-in effect of engine torque.
Caster and camber can be adjusted using shims or eccentric cams.
Toe is always adjusted after caster and camber are set.
Centerline steering should be accomplished by adjusting the tie rod length on both sides of the vehicle while the toe is set.
Autocrossing or road racing vehicles require increased caster, negative camber, and slight toe-out position.
Tolerance adjustment can be made by moving suspension attachment points within the build tolerance.

Accurate alignments are possible on vehicles without factory methods of adjustment using alignment kits or parts.
Aftermarket alignment kits are available for most vehicles.
Sometimes the range of adjustment is not enough to compensate for faults caused by sagging frame members or accidents.
Additional steps may be required when aligning a vehicle equipped with electronic suspension.
The steering wheel angle and radar cruise control sensor may need to be recalibrated.
The steering angle sensor (SAS) monitors the driver's steering input and is an input to various systems.
Analog and digital steering angle sensors are used in vehicles.
Many vehicles require the SAS to be reset or recalibrated after an alignment or steering system parts replacement.
There are two basic types of reset procedures: self-calibration and scan tool calibration.
The text includes a chart listing common alignment problems and their probable causes.