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Wheel alignment specifications for camber, castor and toe-in ensure proper tyre wear and handling characteristics.
Contents |
Overview
Modern alignment is recommended:
- camber: -25' to 0°
- caster: 2°05' to 3°10'
- toe-in: 4mm
Since the strut-type suspension is normally non-adjustable, changes to camber & caster requires modifications.
Less camber (negative camber) can be better for smooth tarmac racing, but causes wear on the inside edge of the tire.
More caster can be better for tracking and/or gymkhana but increases the steering effort. Modern cars have a lot of caster but use power steering -- for example the sporty Mazda6 uses 1.5 to 3.5 degrees caster.
Inspection
Before checking the alignment angles, ensure the suspension parts are good. Replace worn or damaged parts as necessary.
Tyres ensure they are same brand/model/size on both front wheels. Check for broken belts -which cause a low speed wobble - by running hand along sidewalls. Run hand along tread face to find bulges (which cause low speed wobble or high speed vibrations).
Wheels should be same width and offset on both front sides. Make sure they are not bent slightly (do not wobble as they are turned).
Wheel Bearings need to be properly tightened
Ball Joints need to be tight (unworn) or else random handling occurs
Steering Linkage Joints must be without wear (play). See Steering Gearbox Adjustment
Suspension Parts should not have any visible damage/bending. Look at the sway bar, steering linkage and tension rods
Castor
Check caster first. See Castor
Camber
Check camber second. See Camber
Toe-in
Toe-in (tracking) is the easiest to check and the only factory-adjustable setting. Excessive toe-out wears the inside of the tire. Incorrect toe-in rarely causes the car to pull to one side or the other, but it is the most common cause of uneven tire wear.
The tires should be pointing slightly together at the front -- when the car is at rest -- so when moving they will be not be pointing outwards. When car is moving the suspension "give" lets the toe-in increase. So start a little bit pointed in.
- Too little toe-in (toe-out) results in darty alignment, moving the car randomly from side to side.
- More toe-in results in a more straight-line stability. Too much toe-in makes the turning sluggish.
Measuring
Compare front width to rear width
Park on a level surface
Adjusting
Center steering wheel. Turn wheel fully from side to side, then turn exactly 1/2 way to the center.
If the wheels are not pointing straight ahead, or the toe-in figure is incorrect, use the following steps:
Loosen the Side Rod Bar nuts.
NOTE: They are left-hand thread and right-hand thread
Rotate left Side Rod Bar until left wheel is pointing straight ahead. Ensure Steering wheel is still centered. Then rotate right Side Rod Bar until right wheel is pointing straight ahead. Ensure Steering wheel is still centered.
Finally, rotate the Side Rod Bar in the same direction evenly on both sides until toe-in is achieved. For example rotate both clockwise, or both anti-clockwise.
B110
The stock settings follow. These are old-fashioned settings, designed for old road standards.
All Steering angle In: 43° Steering angle Out: 36°
Sedan & Coupe Camber: 5' to 2°05' Caster: 20' to 1°50' Toe-in: 4-6mm (0.08 to 0.32 inch) King pin inclination: 7°55'
Van Camber: 45' to 1°45' Caster: 1°05' to 2°05' Toe-in: 5-7mm (0.20 to 0.28 inch) Steering angle In: 43° Steering angle Out: 36° King pin inclination: 7°45'
Van with Heavy Duty Spring Caster: 40' to 1°40'
B310
B310 12" wheel models camber: -25° to 1°05' caster: 1°40' to 3°10' toe-in: 0 to 2 mm (0 to 0.08 inch) kingpin inclination: 7°40' to 9°10' turning angle inside: 41° to 45° turning angle outside: 33.5° to 37.5°
B310 13" wheel models camber: 0° to 1°30' caster: 1°40' to 3°10' caster (wagon): 1°55' to 3°25' toe-in: 1 to 3 mm (0.04 to 0.12 inch) kingpin inclination: 7°50' to 9°20' turning angle inside: 38° to 42° turning angle outside: 31.5° to 35.5°
More Information
You can align your suspension at home. Here's an article about it:
Suspension 401 Do-it-yourself performance alignment of your car's camber, caster, and toe angles by Dr. John Krane
Or get this publication:
Front End Alignment Datsuns thru 1976 Technical Engineering Department Nissan Motor Corp. in U.S.A., revised September 1976