Alignment Angles Explained
Ride Height:
Alignment geometry Is based on vehicle height and If height Is Incorrect,
an alignment should not be attempted.
Camber:
Purpose
1 Maximize tire life
2 Isolate road shock
3 Enhance stability
4 Maintain bearing load
5 Reduce stress on suspension components
Caster:
Purpose
1.Obtain desired stability
2.Project vehicle load
3.Improve steering wheel return
4.Improve cornering
Toe:
Purpose
1 Bring about a running toe of zero
2 Reduce stress on steering components
3 Minimize tire wear
4 Centre steering wheel
S.A.I.:
Purpose
1. Keep wheels In straight ahead position
2. Help. wheel return from turning
3. Improve directional stability reducing the
need for
additional positive caster
4. Helps In placing more load on larger Inner wheel bearing
5. Assist In maintaining straight line control when braking
On vehicles with long short control arms, the average S.A.I. Is 7 to
10 degrees. On strut suspension, the average S.A.I. is from 10 to
17 degrees. This may explain why some vehicles with a large amount
of camber difference don't seem to pull.
QUICK CHECK
S.A.I. and Included Angle
* Is a directional control angle
* Is a built In angle
a) * On vehicles
that have camber adjusters on bottom of the strut, S.A.I. angle does not
change.
*
If S.A.I. angle Is wrong on this type
of front end. It would indicate a bent shock tower, bent lower
control
arm or bent cross member, etc.
b) * On vehicles
that have camber adjusters at the upper or lower control arm, or at the
top of the struts, S.A.I. will
change, but Included angle will remain the same. If INCLUDED
ANGLE Is Incorrect, a bent spindle or MacPherson strut Is Indicated.
Included Angle:
Purpose
To give technician diagnostic Information to determine If the vehicle
has bent parts. Included angle can be changed on front wheel drive
vehicles that have adjusters provided at the base of the strut housing.
Also, Included angle can be changed on 4X4 when around tapered shim is
placed behind the spindle and steering knuckle. To read a true included
angle on these types of vehicles, you first have to adjust camber the same
on both wheels.
Set Back
When one front wheel Is mounted further back on the body than the other.
It may occur from damage or It may be Intentional on some front wheel drive
vehicles to help over come torque steer. Turning Angle or toe out on turns:
Purpose
1. Reduce tire scuffing on turns
2. Reduce tire squealing on turns
3. Improve handling on turns
Scrub Radius:
Purpose
1. Provide the driver a feel for the road.
2. Project vehicle load to larger Inner wheel
bearing.
3. Assist Is providing
stability under adverse road conditions.
4. Work In conjunction with static toe
settings to help bring about a running toe of zero.
Most rear wheel drive vehicles have positive scrub radius. This Is one
reason most rear wheel drive vehicles specie static toe setting of toe
in.
Some front wheel drive cars have positive scrub radius, thus, dictating
the need of static toe out settings.
Other front wheel drive cars have a negative scrub radius. Therefore,
dictating the need for a static toe-in setting.
Reduced Scrub Radius - easier steering
Any bump or cornering force that Is applied to the tire can exert a
twisting force on the steering that Is proportional to the length of the
scrub radius.
If the scrub radius Is zero, the twisting force will be zero.
Cars with zero scrub radius usually can be driven without assistance
of power steering.
Factors that affect scrub radius are:
1. wheel offset
2. brake rotor width
3. design of steering knuckle
4. increased S.A.I. angle will able reduce
scrub radius
Roll Centre
The roll centre height is determined by drawing a line from the tire
contact print through the Instant centre of the control arms, which Is
where we measured the swing arm length. For a given swing arm length,
the roll centre height can be raised or lowered by moving the intersection
of the control arm lines up or down. If we establish a given roll
centre height, this will dictate the Instant centre height and that will
determine the angle of control arms.
Tracking
If either set of wheels Is offset to one side. the rear wheels don't
follow the front wheels; the car DOG TRACKS. A more common problem
has the rear toe out of adjustment, resulting In the rear wheels trying
to drive the car sideways. Despite going In a straight line, the
car is pitched sideways. The driver Is literally having to
steer the car sideways In order to maintain a straight line. Besides loss
of straight line stability and harder steering to one side than the other,
dog tracking can cause severe tire wear problems.