If there is a problem with the toe-out, it is due to a bent steering arm that must be replaced. When you turn the pinion, it pushes the rack to the left or the right. A four wheel alignment is performed on the front and back of some cars, trucks, and SUVs. The number one design premise was to allow all four wheels to be aligned with one simple, accurate, portable and affordable tool. On many vehicles, camber changes with different road speeds. Process of wheel alignment. This may cause the vehicle to drift to the right so that the steering wheel will appear to be off-center to the left on a straight road. With alignment equipment that measures toe by using only the front instruments, any setback will cause an uncentered steering wheel. Poor alignment of wheels can shorten the four tires’ life span by thousands of miles and deteriorate very crucial steering and suspension parts. In each case, the technician will place an instrument on all four wheels. Toe-out is just the opposite. This is why, when you put radial tires on this type of car, the car wanders from side to side and no longer tracks straight. The principles of steering geometry, the operation of alignment equipment, and the interpretation of measurements are covered in this course, enabling technicians to correctly diagnose faults and propose the appropriate corrective action. This method caused problems with getting the steering wheel straight the first time and necessitated corrective adjustments before the wheel was straight. Is your car pulling to one side, or your steering wheel seems as if it’s not sitting straight? Assessment Conditions. Steering center is simply the fact that the steering wheel is centered when the vehicle is traveling down a straight and level road. If the camber is too far negative, for instance, then the tire will wear on the inside of the tread. After setting the toe, the engine should be started again to be sure that the steering valve wasn't loaded again due to the tie rod adjustments. FACEBOOK; Our Services. Before locking the steering wheel, the engine should be started and the wheel should be turned right and left a couple of times to take any stress off the power steering valve. Included angle is the angle formed between the SAI and the camber. Call for more details on 01389 763314 or fill out the contact form at Contact Us. Wheel alignment specifications will usually provide the measurements for toe-out on turns. It is caused by rear wheel or axle misalignment and causes the steering to pull or lead to one side or the other. If that is not possible, using the thrust angle as a reference line for aligning front toe can restore center steering. When setting steering center, the rear toe should be set first bringing the Thrust Angle as close to the vehicle centerline as possible. Scrub radius is designed at the factory and is not adjustable. The front end and steering linkage should be checked for wear before performing an alignment. Did you know? If the caster is equal but too positive, the steering will be heavy and the steering wheel may kick when you hit a bump. Four wheel steering alignment process . If you have a vehicle that is pulling even though the alignment is correct, look for something that will affect scrub radius. A full 4-wheel alignment will cost more than the other type because there is more work involved. In the first type the rear toe and tracking is checked, but all adjustments are made at the front wheels. The gauge can … SAI is also referred to as KPI (King Pin Inclination) on trucks and old cars with king pins instead of ball joints. A full 4-wheel alignment will cost more than the other type because there is more work involved. Of course, you should always road test the vehicle after every alignment as a quality control check. Make sure that you have at least 10 feet … Park your car on a flat, level surface with your steering wheel centered. Shop today! The two really have nothing to do with each other except for the fact that they affect ride and handling. If there is a difference in camber, then the left wheel should be more positive than the right wheel. Turn the steering wheel back to center and then turn the front wheels 20 degrees right and measure your camber again. Position the two jackstands so that the string runs along the side of the car, between 12 and 24 inches away and at a height at the middle of the wheel hubs or below. If the riding height is good, then the springs are good. Different wheels or tires from side to side will cause differences in scrub radius as well as a tire that is low on air. Other facts every driver should know about wheel alignments! Description Our Professional 4-Wheel Alignment System is designed to provide individuals, shops, and racing teams with a cost effective solution to perform 4-wheel alignments. Your steering wheel connects to a steering column. Road test vehicles to make sure alignment is not off. The best way to compensate for this is as follows: If there is a difference in caster, it should be that the left wheel is more negative than the right wheel, but not more than 1/2 degree. Front End Toe Alignment Gauge Tool. ©2021 Superior Engineering. This distance must be exactly the same from side to side or the vehicle will pull strongly at all speeds. Smart String 11410 4 Wheel Toe Alignment System . Print out initial alignment settings . In its most basic form, a wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. Then the steering wheel is locked in a straight ahead position while the front toe is set. This way, if the rearend is bent or has some toe built in, it won't throw off your measurements. A set back of less than 1/4 inch is considered normal tolerance by some manufacturers. Wheel Alignment Basics. Different racers have developed different methods of stringing a race car, but we're going to show you the simplest and most popular method. Toe-in means that the fronts of the tires are closer to each other than the rears. Technically, what you tie your string to doesn't have to be a jackstand, but they are the best height and weight and extras are almost always lying around in every race shop. One of the easiest ways to check if the wheel alignment is off, is by driving somewhere with a flat surface. The most likely cause for SAI being out is bent parts which must be replaced to correct the condition. United States Patent 6721629 . Toe-out on turns is measured by the turning angle gauges (turn plates) that are a part of every wheel alignment machine. Park your car on a flat, level surface. For this reason, the inside front wheel must steer at a sharper angle than the outside wheel. Scrub radius is the distance between where the SAI intersects the ground and the center of the tire. Why ensure alignment? As well as this, well aligned tyres are safer, save fuel, and provide better handling on the road. Look at the brand emblem of the steering wheel. Now i found my receipts and My owners manual says the rear camber should be 0°45' … Whatever you use, just make sure they are stable, heavy enough to keep good tension on the string yet light enough to move around relatively easily. then check the outside wheel. On the other hand, racers have been achieving the same results for decades with nothing more than a ball of string, four jackstands, a tape measure, and a plumb bob. Tie a length of string a few feet longer than the wheelbase of your car to two jackstands. On some older alignment machines, toe-in was measured at each wheel by referencing the opposite wheel. Positive scrub radius is when the tire contact patch is outside of the SAI pivot, while negative scrub radius is when the contact patch is inboard of the SAI pivot (front wheel drive vehicles usually have negative scrub radius). At the time i just figured they knew what they where doing. If it is leaning to one side, then the steering wheel is uneven. There are two main components to the system, the guage, and the frame. The toe measurement is the difference in the distance between the front of the tires and the back of the tires. Your information will be collected and used in accordance with our  Privacy Policy, Determining Wheel Alignment - String Your Car. It is important to note that the only symptom of weak coil springs is a sag in the riding height. Changes in riding height will affect camber and toe so if springs are replaced or torsion bars are adjusted, then the wheel alignment must be checked to avoid the possibility of tire wear. If the caster is equal but too negative, the steering will be light and the vehicle will wander and be difficult to keep in a straight line. They will give an angle for the inside wheel and the outside wheel such as 20 for the inside wheel and 18 for the outside wheel. Newer machines reference the vehicle's centerline by putting instruments on all four wheels. Place vehicle on alignment rack, mount and calibrate sensors. Four Wheel Alignment measures a minimum of 12 angles and compares them to the alignment data specified by the vehicle manufacturer. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road. Prepare for alignment. Inspect steering and suspension system, including tyre condition and air pressure. 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