Tools
- Alignment machine
- Toe plates (optional but helpful)
- Camber/Caster gauge
- Adjustable wrench
- Socket set
- Allen/Hex key set
- Tape measure
- Level
Instructions
1. Prepare your vehicle. Park your vehicle on a level surface. Turn the engine off and allow it to cool down. Engage the parking brake.
2. Inspect the steering and suspension components. Look for any loose or damaged parts, such as ball joints, tie rods, and control arms. If you find any damage, repair or replace the parts before proceeding.
3. Inflate your tires to the proper pressure. The correct tire pressure is listed on the sidewall of your tires.
4. Take initial measurements. Use the tape measure to measure the distance from the center of the front wheel to the center of the rear wheel on both sides of the vehicle. Write down these measurements.
5. Adjust the toe. Toe is the angle of the front wheels in relation to each other. To adjust the toe, loosen the lock nut on the tie rod end and turn the tie rod until the toe is correct. Toe is correct when the distance from the center of the front wheel to the center of the rear wheel is the same on both sides of the vehicle.
6. Adjust the camber. Camber is the angle of the front wheels in relation to the ground. To adjust the camber, loosen the bolts on the upper control arm and turn the eccentric bolt until the camber is correct. Camber is correct when the wheels are perpendicular to the ground.
7. Adjust the caster. Caster is the angle of the steering axis in relation to the vertical. To adjust the caster, loosen the bolts on the lower control arm and turn the eccentric bolt until the caster is correct. Caster is correct when the steering axis is tilted back slightly from the vertical.
8. Retighten the bolts and nuts. Once you have made the adjustments, re-tighten all the bolts and nuts that you loosened.
9. Test drive the vehicle. Take the vehicle for a test drive to make sure that the alignment is correct. The vehicle should drive straight and not pull to one side.
If at any you step you are unsure of how to proceed or do not feel comfortable making these adjustments, please take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic to have your front end alignment checked.
