Alignment Specifications

Updated June 7, 2008

June 7, 2008

I just had the outer tie rod ends replaced and an alignment done and now the car feels, for lack of a better description, "twitchy". A very slight side to side movement when the road isn't glass-smooth....like my car has downed a box and a half of No-Doze. There is also now a noticeable side to side movement of the steering wheel when braking at lower speeds. I'm taking it back in on Saturday morning to bitch at 'em. If the alignment specs are different between the SLO and SHO I wouldn't put it past them to apply the wrong ones.
The rotors are brand new and shouldn't be warped. Unless the techs at the shop used an impact wrench, anyway.

Scott H
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Scott, Sounds like the toe is set nearly zero. This can cause some of that. I like just a touch of toe out, maybe 1/8"

Don
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Yes.



The reason why FWD cars (or at least cars that have driven front wheels) start with toe in (wheels like this / \) is that on acceleration, the wheels move forward a slight bit and you end up with either less toe in or zero toe. With non driven front wheels, you start with toe out and on acceleration the wheels move backwards and you end up with less toe out or zero.
Paul L Fisher
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FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS (CURB HEIGHT WITH 1/2 TANK OF FUEL)
Alignment Factors

Item	Nominal	Minimum	Maximum
Caster (a)	+3.8 degrees	+2.8 degrees	+4.8 degrees
Caster Difference Side-to-Side (left minus right)	0 degrees	-0.85 degrees	+0.85 degrees
Camber	-0.5 degrees	-1.1 degrees	+0.1 degrees
Camber Difference Side-to-Side (left minus right)	0 degrees	-0.70 degrees	+0.70 degrees
Total Toe	-0.100 inch	-0.225 inch	+0.25 inch
(left plus right)	-0.200 degrees	-0.450 degrees	+.05 degrees
Clear Vision (b)	-0.6 degrees	-3.6 degrees	+2.4 degrees

• (a) Caster measurements must be made on the LH side by turning left wheel through the prescribed angle of sweep and on the RH side by turning the right wheel through the prescribed angle of sweep for the equipment being used. When using alignment equipment designed to measure caster on both the RH and LH side, turning only one wheel will result in a significant error in caster angle for the other wheel.
• (b) Steering wheel angle negative is ccw.

 

REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS (CURB HEIGHT WITH 1/2 TANK OF FUEL)
Alignment Factors

Item	Nominal	Minimum	Maximum
Camber (a)	-0.60 degrees	-1.30 degrees	-0.10 degrees
Camber Difference (a) Side-to-Side (left minus	0 degrees	-1.20 degrees	+1.20 degrees right)
Toe	+0.030 inch	-0.095 inch	+0.155 inch
(individual sides)	+0.06 degrees	-0.19 degrees	+0.31 degrees
Total Toe	+0.060 inch	-0.060 inch	+0.185 inch
(left plus right)	+0.12 degrees	-0.13 degrees	+0.37 degrees

• (a) Camber is factory-set and cannot be adjusted.

 

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