Wheel Alignment

Wheel Alignment

Special Tool Required
Wheel alignment gauge attachment (  07NAJ-SS00301)
 



The suspension can be adjusted for front camber, front toe, and rear toe. However, each of these adjustments are interrelated to each other. For example, when you adjust toe, the camber changes. Therefore, you must adjust the front wheel alignment whenever you adjust camber or toe.

Pre-Alignment Checks


For proper inspection and adjustment of the wheel alignment, do these checks:

1.Release the parking brake to avoid an incorrect measurement.

2.Make sure the suspension is not modified.

3.Check the tire size and tire pressure.

Tire size: 
 Front/rear: 
 14 inch Wheel Disc: 175/65R 14 82T 
 15 inch Wheel Disc: 185/55R 15 82V 


Tire pressure: 
 Front: 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2, 32 psi) 
 Rear: 210 kPa (2.1 kgf/cm2, 30 psi) 


4.Check the runout of the wheels and tires.

5.Check the suspension ball joints. (Hold a wheel with your hands, and move it up and down and right and left to check for wobbling).

 

6.Bounce the vehicle up and down several times to stabilize the suspension.

Front Caster Inspection


1.Raise the vehicle and set the turning radius gauges beneath the front wheels, and place boards under the rear wheels the same thickness as the turning radius gauges, then lower the vehicle.

NOTE: Be sure that the vehicle is level with the wheels on the turning radius gauges and boards.

2.Remove the wheel cap, and install the wheel alignment gauge attachment (A) and camber/caster gauge on the wheel hub, and apply the front brake.

 

3.Turn the front wheel 20° outward, then turn the adjusting screw of the camber/caster gauge to set the bubble at 0°.

4.Turn the wheel 20° inward and read the caster on the gauge with the bubble at the center of the gauge. If the caster angle is not within the specification, check for bent or damaged suspension components.

Front Caster angle: 2°05¢ ± 1° 

Front Camber Inspection


1.Turn the front wheels to the straight ahead position.

2.Remove the wheel cap, and install the wheel alignment gauge attachment (A) and camber/caster gauge on the wheel hub.

 

3.Read the camber angle on the gauge with the bubble at the center of the gauge. If the camber angle is not within the specification, adjust the camber (see the right column).

Front camber angle: 0°00¢ ± 1° 

Front Camber Adjustment


The front camber can be adjusted by exchanging one or both of the damper pinch bolts with the smaller diameter adjusting bolt(s). The difference between the adjusting bolt diameter and the pinch bolt hole diameter allows a small range of adjustment.

 

1.Raise the front of the vehicle, and make sure it is securely supported. Remove the front wheels.

2.Loosen the damper pinch nuts and bolts (A), and adjust the camber by moving the bottom of the damper within the range of the damper pinch bolt free play.

 

3.Tighten the bolts to the specified torque.

4.Reinstall the front wheels. Lower the front of the vehicle to the ground, and bounce the vehicle several times to stabilize the suspension.

5.Check the camber angle. If it is within the specification, check the front toe. If it is not within the specification, go to 6.

6.Raise the front of the vehicle, and make sure it is securely supported. Remove the front wheels.

7.Replace the damper pinch bolts with the adjusting bolts (A), and adjust the camber angle.

NOTE: The camber angle can be adjusted up to about 20¢ by replacing one damper pinch bolt with the adjusting bolt.
If the measurement is below ±50¢ (center of tolerance), replace the one upper damper pinch bolt with the adjusting bolt.
If the measurement is above ±50¢ (center of tolerance), replace the upper and lower damper pinch bolts with the adjusting bolts.
The camber angle can be adjusted up to 1° 40¢ (center of tolerance) by replacing both upper and lower damper pinch bolts with the adjusting bolts. However, adjustment is the maximum difference between the right and left side within 2°20¢.

 

8.Tighten the bolts to the specified torque.

9.Reinstall the front wheels. Lower the front of the vehicle to the ground, and bounce the vehicle several times to stabilize the suspension.

10.Check the camber angle. If it is within the specification, check the front toe, and adjust it if necessary. If it is not within the specification, readjust, and recheck. If the camber angle cannot be adjusted to the specification, check for bent or damaged suspension components.

Rear Camber Inspection


1.Remove the wheel cap, and install the wheel alignment gauge attachment (A) and camber/caster gauge on the wheel hub.

 

2.Read the camber angle on the gauge with the bubble at the center of the gauge. If the camber angle is not within the specification, check for bent or damaged suspension components.

Rear camber angle: -1°00¢ ± 1° 

Front Toe Inspection/Adjustment


1.Center the steering wheel spokes.

2.Check the toe. If it is not within the specification, go to 3.

Front toe-in: 0 ± 3 mm (0 ± 0.12 in.) 


3.Loosen the locknut (A) while holding the tie-rod (B).

 

4.Turn the tie-rod until the toe is correct.

NOTE: Adjust both the right and left wheels at the same time by the same amount in opposite directions to obtain the correct toe and to keep the steering wheel straight.

5.After adjusting, tighten the locknut while holding the tie-rod. Make sure the toe setting does not change.

Rear Toe Inspection/Adjustment


1.Release the parking brake.

2.Check the toe. If it is not within the specification, check for bent or damaged suspension components.

Rear toe-in: 2 ± 2 mm (0.08 ± 0.08 in.) 

Turning Angle Inspection


1.Raise the vehicle and set the turning radius gauges beneath the front wheels, and place boards under the rear wheels the same thickness as the turning radius gauges, then lower the vehicle.

NOTE: Be sure that the vehicle is level with the wheels on the turning radius gauges and boards.

 


2.Turn the steering wheel fully to the right and left while applying the brake, and check the turning angles of both front wheels. If the turning angle is not within the specification or the inward turning angles differ between the right and left, go to 3.

Turning angle: 
 Inward: 

175/65 R14: 41°00¢ ± 2° 
185/55 R15: 38°00¢ ± 2° 

Outward (reference) : 
 175/65 R14: 36°00¢ 
 185/55 R15: 34°00¢ 


3.Check the toe. If it is correct but the turning angle is not within the specification, check for bent or damaged suspension components.