Camber variations may be caused by one
of the following conditions:
• | Wear at the wheel bearings |
• | Wear at the steering knuckle bushings |
Refer to
Wheel Alignment Specifications
for camber specifications.
Important: Before checking the camber, inspect the king pin wear. Complete the
following steps:
- Raise the front of the vehicle.
- Pull the bottom of the wheel outward and measure the camber.
- Pull the top of the wheel outward and take a camber measurement
(use a camber gauge, if available).
- If a camber gauge is not available, place a square
(5) against the tire and take the measurements.
- If the measurements vary by more than 15 minutes
(¼ degree), adjust the wheel bearing. Refer to
Wheel Bearing Adjustment
.
- Take the camber measurements again. If the measurements still
vary by more than 15 minutes (¼ degree), replace the
steering knuckle bearing and/or the bushings and the king pins. Refer to
Steering Knuckle and King Pin Replacement
in Front Suspension.
- Inspect the wheel runout. Refer to
Abnormal or Excessive Tire Wear
. Replace the wheel if the wheel runout
is excessive.
- Place the vehicle on a level surface, with the normal weight of
the vehicle on the wheels. Take a final camber measurement.
- Note the dimension of the top measurement and the dimension of
the bottom measurement.
- Ensure that the dimension of the bottom measurement exceeds the
dimension of the top measurement. Verify that the camber dimensions of the
right wheel do not vary by more than 2.4 mm (0.0938 in) from
the camber dimensions of the left wheel. If the final camber measurement
is incorrect, then either the steering knuckle or the axle center is bent.
In order to determine which part is bent, inspect the king pin inclination.
Add the camber plus the king pin inclination dimensions. This measurement
is the included angle of the steering knuckle. Replace the steering knuckle
if the included angle of the steering knuckle varies from specifications
by more than 30 minutes (½ degrees), (the knuckle is
bent). Straighten the axle center if the included angle of each knuckle end
is within the specifications, but the final camber is incorrect (the axle
center is bent).