Preliminary Inspections

Steering and vibration complaints are not always the result of improper alignment. They may also be caused by wheel and tire imbalance. An additional item to be checked, is the tire lead due to worn or defective tires. Lead is the deviation of the vehicle from a straight path on a level road without hand pressure on the steering wheel. To ensure correct alignment readings and adjustments, the following inspections should be made before checking caster, camber or toe.

Important: 

•	Consideration must be given to excessive loads. If an excess load is normally carried in the vehicle, it should remain in the vehicle during alignment checks.

•	Consider the condition of the equipment being used to check alignment and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

•	Regardless of equipment used to check alignment, the vehicle must be on a level surface fore, aft and transversely.

1. Inspect all tires for the proper inflation pressures and approximately the same tread wear. Refer to Tire Diagnosis in Tires and Wheels.
2. Inspect the wheel bearings for looseness. Refer to Wheel Bearings Diagnosis .
3. Inspect the ball studs. If excessively loose, correct the ball studs before adjusting. Refer to Ball Stud and Knuckle Inspection in Front Suspension.
4. Inspect the tie rod ends. If excessively loose, correct the tie rod ends before adjusting. Refer to Tie Rod End Replacement - Outer in Power Steering System or in Manual Steering Gear.
5. Inspect the lateral runout of tire and wheel assemblies and the tires. Refer to Tire and Wheel Runout Measurement in Vibration Diagnosis and Correction.
6. Inspect the vehicle trim heights. If the heights are beyond the limits and a correction is needed, the correction must be made before adjusting the toe. Refer to Trim Height in Suspension General Diagnosis.
7. Inspect the rack and pinion mounting. Refer to Steering Gear Replacement in Power Steering System or Manual Steering Gear Replacement in Manual Steering Gear.
8. Inspect the operation of the struts.
9. Inspect the control arms for looseness. Refer to Lower Control Arm Replacement in Front Suspension.