Front Wheel Alignment: Adjustment

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Lexus GS 430. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

INSPECT TIRES
(INSPECTION )

MEASURE VEHICLE HEIGHT

Bounce the vehicle at the corners up and down to stabilize the suspension and inspect vehicle height.

Vehicle height

3GR-FSE

VEHICLE HEIGHT REFERENCE (3GR-FSE)

	Front (A-B)	Rear (C)
2WD	111 mm (4.37 in.)	211 mm (8.31 in.)
4WD	117 mm (4.61 in.)	221 mm (8.7in.)

3UZ-FE

VEHICLE HEIGHT REFERENCE (3UZ-FE)

Front (A-B)	Rear (C)
113 mm (4.45 in.)	208 mm (8.19 in.)

Measuring points:

Ground clearance of front wheel center

Ground clearance of front center position of front suspension lower arm assembly front bush installation

Ground clearance of rear center position of rear suspension No.2 arm bush installation bolt screw thread

NOTE:

Before inspecting the wheel alignment, adjust the vehicle height to the specified value.

HINT:

Bounce the vehicle at the corners up and down to stabilize the suspension and inspect the vehicle height.

Fig 1: Inspecting Vehicle Height

Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

INSPECT TOE-IN

Bounce the vehicle at the corners up and down to stabilize the suspension and inspect toe-in.

Toe-in

TOE-IN

Toe-in (total)

A - B: 0 +- 2 mm (0 +- 0.08 in.)

HINT:

If toe-in is not within the specified range, adjust it at the rack ends.

ADJUST TOE-IN
1. Measure the thread lengths of the right and left rack ends.
  Standard:
  
  Difference in thread length of 1.5 mm (0.059 in) or less
2. Remove the rack boot set clips.
  
  Fig 2: Inspecting Toe-In
  Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
3. Loosen the tie rod end lock nuts.
4. Adjust the rack ends if the difference in thread length between the right and left rack ends is not within the specified range.
  1. Extend the shorter rack end if the measured toe-in deviates toward the outer-side.
  2. Shorten the longer rack end if the measured toe-in deviates toward the inner-side.
5. Turn the right and left rack ends by an equal amount to adjust toe-in.
  HINT:
  
  Try to adjust toe-in to the center of the specified range.
6. Make sure that the lengths of the right and left rack ends are the same.
7. Torque the tie rod end lock nuts.
  Torque: 56 N*m (571 kgf*cm, 41 ft.*lbf)
  
  NOTE:
  Temporarily tighten the lock nut while holding the hexagonal part of the steering rack end so that the lock nut and the steering rack end do not turn together. Hold the width across flat of the tie rod end and tighten the lock nut.
8. Place the boots on the seats and install the clips.
  HINT:
  
  Make sure that the boots are not twisted.
  
  Fig 3: Identifying Tie Rod End Lock Nuts
  Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

INSPECT WHEEL ANGLE

Turn the steering wheel fully left and right and measure the turning angle.

Wheel turning angle

3GR-FSE

WHEEL TURNING ANGLE (3GR-FSE)

	Inside wheel	Outside wheel: Reference
2WD	41°49' (41.82°)	36°11' (36.19°)
4WD	39°22' (39.37°)	36°02' (36.03°)

3UZ-FE

WHEEL TURNING ANGLE (3UZ-FE)

Inside wheel	Outside wheel: Reference
41°48' (41.80°)	36°08' (36.13°)

If the right and left inside wheel angles differ from the specified range, check the right and left rack end lengths.

Fig 4: Inspecting Wheel Angle

INSPECT CAMBER, CASTER AND STEERING AXIS INCLINATION

Put the front wheel on the center of the alignment tester.
Remove the center ornament.
Install the camber-caster-steering axis inclination gauge at the center of the axle hub or drive shaft.

Inspect the camber, caster and steering axis inclination.

Camber, caster and steering axis inclination

3GR-FSE

CAMBER, CASTER AND STEERING AXIS (3GR-ESE)

	2WD	4WD
Camber	-0°23' +- 45' (-0.38° +- 0.75°)	-0°25' +- 45' (-0.42° +- 0.75°)
Right-left error	30' (0.5°) or less	30' (0.5°) or less
Caster	7°23' +- 45' (7.38° +- 0.75°)	4°53' +- 45' (4.88° +- 0.75°)
Right-left error	30' (0.5°) or less	30' (0.5°) or less
Steering axis inclination	9°23' +- 45' (9.38° +- 0.75°)	11°11' +- 45' (11.18° +- 0.75°)
Right-left error	30' (0.5°) or less	30' (0.5°) or less

3UZ-FE

CAMBER, CASTER AND STEERING AXIS (3UZ-FE)

Camber	-0°26' +- 45' (-0.43° +- 0.75°)
Right-left error	30' (0.5°) or less
Caster	7°26' +- 45' (7.43° +- 0.75°)
Right-left error	30' (0.5°) or less
Steering axis inclination	9°26' +- 45' (9.43° +- 0.75°)
Right-left error	30' (0.5°) or less

NOTE:

Inspect while the vehicle is empty.
The maximum tolerance of right and left difference for the camber and caster is 30' or less.

Remove the camber-caster-steering axis inclination gauge and attachment.
Install the center ornament.
If the caster and steering axis inclination are not within the specified values, after the camber has been correctly adjusted, recheck the suspension parts for damaged and/or worn out parts.

Fig 5: Inspecting Camber, Caster And Steering Axis Using Gauge
Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

INSPECT FRONT SUSPENSION (for 2WD)
1. Inspect the front suspension member.
  1. Measure the dimension between the center of the installation bolts of the front suspension lower arm.
    Standard:
    
    692.5 to 699.5 mm (27.26 to 27.54 in.)
    
    If the result is not within the specification, replace the front suspension member.
    
    Fig 6: Inspecting Front Suspension Member
    Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
2. Inspect the front suspension lower arm assembly.
  1. Remove the front suspension lower arm assembly, see REMOVAL .
  2. Measure the dimension between the center of the front suspension lower arm assembly bush and position A.
    Standard:
    
    362 mm (14.25 in.)
    
    Fig 7: Measuring Dimension Between Center Of Front Suspension Lower Arm Assembly
    Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
    
    HINT:
    
    If the dimension of the front suspension lower arm assembly changes 2 mm (0.079 in.), the camber will change approximately 15' (0.25°).
3. Inspect the front suspension upper arm assembly.
  1. Remove the front suspension upper arm assembly, see REMOVAL .
  2. Measure the dimension between the center of the front suspension upper arm assembly bush and the ball joint stud.
    Standard:
    
    A:
    
    250 mm (9.84 in.)
    
    B:
    
    231 mm (9.09 in.)
    
    HINT:
    
    If the dimension of the front suspension upper arm assembly changes 2 mm (0.079 in.), the camber will change approximately 15' (0.25°).
    
    Fig 8: Measuring Dimension Between Center Of Front Suspension Upper Arm Assembly
    Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
INSPECT CAMBER (for 4WD)
1. Loosen the nut of the front suspension camber adjust cam No.2.
2. Turn the front suspension camber adjust cam No.1 to adjust the camber.
  Camber:
  
  -0°25' +- 45° (-0.42° +- 0.75°)
  NOTE:
  - Inspect while the vehicle is empty.
  - The maximum tolerance of right and left difference for the camber and caster is 30' or less.
  - Be sure to inspect toe-in after the camber has been adjusted.
  Fig 9: Identifying Nut Of Front Suspension Camber
  Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
  
  HINT:
  
  If the camber adjust cam is turned 1 notch to the left when viewing from the front of the vehicle (the bolt moves approximately 1 mm to the outside), the camber will change by approximately -0°08' (0.04in).
3. Tighten the camber adjust cam nut.
  Torque: 119 N*m (1210 kgf*cm, 88 ft.*lbf)