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Caster and Camber Alignment Guide

Caster, camber, toe, steering axis inclination (SAI), and scrub radius are key wheel alignment angles that affect vehicle handling and tire wear. High positive caster improves stability but requires more steering effort, while more negative caster reduces effort but also reduces stability. Uneven caster can cause pulling. Camber also affects tire wear and pulling, with more positive camber pulling the vehicle to that side. Toe in causes darting while toe out causes wandering. SAI and camber together determine the included angle and help with stability and steering returnability. Scrub radius impacts braking stability and steering effort.

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reek_bhat
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761 views41 pages

Caster and Camber Alignment Guide

Caster, camber, toe, steering axis inclination (SAI), and scrub radius are key wheel alignment angles that affect vehicle handling and tire wear. High positive caster improves stability but requires more steering effort, while more negative caster reduces effort but also reduces stability. Uneven caster can cause pulling. Camber also affects tire wear and pulling, with more positive camber pulling the vehicle to that side. Toe in causes darting while toe out causes wandering. SAI and camber together determine the included angle and help with stability and steering returnability. Scrub radius impacts braking stability and steering effort.

Uploaded by

reek_bhat
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Caster: Explains caster as a wheel alignment angle affecting steering and stability, detailing adjustments and effects.
  • Camber: Discusses camber angle, its impact on tire load, wear, and vehicle pull, with adjustment methods.
  • Toe: Describes the toe angle's influence on tire wear and vehicle stability, highlighting causes and adjustment types.
  • SAI (Steering Axis Inclination): Covers SAI's role in ensuring stability and steering returnability, and its diagnostic significance.
  • Turning Angle, Setback, Thrust Angle: Defines turning angle, setback, and thrust angle, explaining their purposes and alignment implications.

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 -) degree or more

Not a tire wearing angle!!!!

Caster can be set unevenly to


counter act for road crown pull.

Usually 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 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

Toe in Toe out

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!!

SAI
Steering Axis Inclination

SAI

The inward tilt at the top of the strut.

(looking from the front)

SAI

The inward tilt at the top of the strut.


(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 SAI SLA & Strut/SLA


SAI Correct Camber < spec Included Diagnosis Angle < spec Bent steering Knuckle Correct Bent lower control arm > Spec Bent lower arm & Knuckle or spindle Correct Bent upper control arm

< Spec
< Spec > Spec

> Spec
> Spec < spec

Diagnosis with SAI Strut Suspensions SAI Correct Correct < spec < spec Camber < spec > Spec > Spec >Spec IA < spec > Spec Correct > Spec Diagnosis Bent spindle or strut Bent spindle or strut Bent control arm or strut Bent control arm or strut or spindle. strut tower out at top strut tower in at top

< spec < spec > Spec < spec > Spec > Spec

< spec correct Strut tower in at top > 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 vehicles Sport cars Feel the steering wheel tug when braking Road feel Driver 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

Wheel Alignment CASTER
Effects of Caster High Positive Caster increases ( + ) – Straight ahead stability – Steering effort required is high – S
Caster can be set unevenly to counter act for road crown pull. Usually ½ degree or more on the downhill side. Caster t
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 negati
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 Ex

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