Exam 49: Wheel Alignment

A toe adjustment of 1/8 inch outside of specifications will have little effect on tire life.

When performing an alignment the steering angle sensor may require calibration.

Adjustments to front wheel camber or caster settings affect the turning radius angles.

Technician A says if the distance between the leading edges of the front tires is less than the distance between the trailing edges, then there is toe-in. Technician B says front toe-in is adjusted by adding or removing shims between the upper control arms and the body/frame. Who is correct?

What is SAI and what do the letters stand for?

Aftermarket kits are only used to adjust rear camber and rear toe.

A vehicle with high caster settings may experience increased shoulder wear on the tires if driven mostly in urban areas.

During a four-wheel alignment, front toe is set to the vehicle's centerline.

____________________ is the distance comparison between the leading edge and trailing edge of the front tires.

Technician A says cross caster is the difference between the left-side and right-side caster. Technician B says excessive negative caster can be corrected by moving the upper ball joint, or strut mount, forward. Who is correct?

____________________ is the angle of the steering axis of a wheel from the vertical, as viewed from the side of the vehicle.

A vehicle set at the factory specification of 1/16 inch toe-in will have zero toe when driven at highway speeds.

Heavy items in the trunk or passenger compartment that are normally carried in the vehicle should not be removed during a four-wheel alignment.

When does a steering angle sensor calibration need to be performed?

The rear axle of an FWD car is the preferred jacking point when the rear wheels need to be removed to make rear toe and camber adjustments.

Technician A says positive caster will result from excessive toe-in. Technician B says a vehicle may wander as a result of excessive negative caster. Who is correct?

How must the top of a tire and wheel assembly be moved to add more positive camber?

A vehicle that has excessive setback on the right front is being diagnosed. Technician A says the problem could be caused by a bent lower control arm. Technician B says the problem could be caused by a misaligned front cradle. Who is correct?

Front wheel drive vehicles with strut suspension typically have no provision for adjusting caster.

Technician A says the presence of an excessive thrust angle can cause poor directional stability on ice, snow, or wet pavement. Technician B says an excessive thrust angle can increase tire wear. Who is correct?