wheel alignment and significance
TRANSCRIPT
Wheel Alignment
CASTER
Effects of Caster High Positive Caster increases ( + )
– Straight ahead stability
– Steering effort required is high
– Steering wheel return to center
– Road Shock felt from bumps
More Negative Caster ( -- )– No Straight ahead stability
– Steering effort is light
– Wheel not returning to center
– Smooth ride, little road shock
Uneven Caster will cause the vehicle to pull towards the side with less Caster (more Negative -)
½ degree or moreNot a tire wearing angle!!!!
Caster can be set unevenly to counter act for road crown pull.
Usually ½ degree or more on the downhill side.
Caster trail is the distance between the caster line and the tire point of contact.
CAMBER
Camber = The inward or out ward tilt of the centerline of the
tire.
Camber
The more camber you have, the more the load is placed on the outside of the tire.
Excessive positive or negative camber can cause tire wear on the edges
Camber can cause a car to pull to one side
Effects of Camber Tire wearing angle Directional control angle
– Pull towards the side with more positive camber
Excessive Camber Accelerates bearing wear– Load is not evenly set on bearings.
– Positive wears the inner bearing
– Negative wears the outer bearing
Influences on Camber Uneven Loading Body roll during turns Road Crown Rough road Surfaces Suspension Wear Suspension Damage Tire size Caster
Faster cornering wears out edges of tires!!!!
Camber can be set unevenly to counter act for road crown pull.
Cross Camber should never exceed ½ degree
Camber will pull to the most positive side Camber Roll
– Caster angle may produce a change in the camber angle when the wheels are turned
Camber is adjustable on most vehicles
Toe in Toe outToe
Darting
Darting
Wanter
Toe
Toe in = Darting
Toe out = Wander
Effects of Toe Tire wear
– Scuffing sideways • Scuffing is Drag and hop!
– Wear tends to be the same on both tires, unlike Camber wear Directional control angle Can cause shimmy! Diagonal Wipe on the rear tires if toe is excessive
– Lots of rotations! Toe Change can occur as suspension travels up and down.
– Measure toe change at 1 inch increments– Should be no change!– Check length and height of tie rods!!!
City driving can cause unusual tire wear that might be blamed on Toe problems!!
SAISteering Axis Inclination
SAI
The inward tilt at the top of the strut.
(looking from the front)(looking from the front)
SAI
The inward tilt at the top of the strut.(looking from the front)(looking from the front)
SAI and Included angle
Include angle = SAI + pos.
camber
Effects of SAI
Ensures Steering stability– FWD use more SAI because of small Caster
Helps with Steering Wheel returnability– Uses Gravity to assist
Diagnosis with SAISLA & Strut/SLA
SAI Camber Included Angle
Diagnosis
Correct < spec < spec Bent steering Knuckle
< Spec > Spec Correct Bent lower control arm
< Spec > Spec > Spec Bent lower arm & Knuckle or spindle
> Spec < spec Correct Bent upper control arm
Diagnosis with SAI Strut Suspensions
SAI Camber IA Diagnosis
Correct < spec < spec Bent spindle or strut
Correct > Spec > Spec Bent spindle or strut
< spec > Spec Correct Bent control arm or strut
< spec
< spec
>Spec
< spec
> Spec
< spec
Bent control arm or strut or spindle.
strut tower out at top
strut tower in at top
> Spec < spec correct Strut tower in at top
> Spec > Spec > Spec Strut tower in at top
And bent spindle & strut
0 bump steer No toe angle change.
– Need to Check for this at 1 inch increments 3 factors affect bump steer
– Tie rod length– Relative heights of inner and outer tie rod ends– Steering arm length
Zero SAI would = Major bump steer
Positive Scrub Radius
Positive scrub radius
RWD vehiclesSport cars
Feel the steering wheel tug when braking
Road feelDriver Involvement
needed
Negative Scrub radius
Used on
Split diagonal braking systems
Self Correcting when braking
No driver involvement needed
No road feel
Effects of: Larger tire smaller tire deep dish
wheel
Larger Scrub = harder to turn and increased wear
Smaller Scrub = easy turns
Braking stability - Negative has greater directional stability
Positive decreases braking stability (aftermarket rims)
Turning Angle, Setback,Thrust Angle.
Turning Angle
Setback
Thrust
The End