Front Wheel Alignment: Adjustment

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Lexus ES 350. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

INSPECT TIRES
(See INSPECTION )

MEASURE VEHICLE HEIGHT

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

Vehicle height

FRONT AND REAR MEASURING POINT DESCRIPTION

Front A - B	Rear C - D
126 mm (4.96 in.)	57 mm (2.24 in.)

Measuring points:

Ground clearance of front wheel center
Ground clearance of lower suspension arm No. 2 bushing set bolt head center
Ground clearance of rear wheel center
Ground clearance of strut rod set bolt center

NOTE:

Before inspecting the wheel alignment, adjust the vehicle height to the specified value.
Be sure to perform measurement on a level surface.
If it is necessary to go under the vehicle for measurement, confirm that the parking brake is applied and the vehicle is secured with chocks.

Fig 1: Measuring Vehicle Height
Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

INSPECT TOE-IN

Bounce the vehicle up and down at the corners to stabilize the suspension.
Release the parking brake and move the shift lever to the neutral position.
Push the vehicle straight ahead approximately 5 m (16.4 ft). (*1)
Put tread center marks on the rearmost points of the front wheels and measure the distance between the marks (dimension B).

Fig 2: Measuring Distance Between Marks (Dimension B)

Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

Slowly push the vehicle straight ahead to cause the front wheels to rotate 180° using the front tire valve as a reference point.
HINT:

Do not allow the wheels to rotate more than 180°, If the wheels rotate more than 180°, perform the procedure from *1 again.

Measure the distance between the tread center marks on the front side of the wheels.

Toe-in

TOE-IN SPECIFICATION

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.

Fig 3: Measuring Distance Between Tread Center Marks On Front Side Of Wheels

Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

ADJUST TOE-IN
1. Measure the thread lengths of the right and left rack ends.
  Standard: Difference in thread length between the right and left rack ends is 1.5 mm (0.06 in.) or less.
2. Remove the rack boot set clips.
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 outside.
  2. Shorten the longer rack end if the measured toe-in deviates toward the inside.
5. Turn the right and left rack ends by equal amounts to adjust the toe-in.
  HINT:
  
  Try to adjust the 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. Tighten the tie rod end lock nuts.
  Torque: 74 N*m (755 kgf*cm, 55 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 flats on 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 4: Locating Thread Lengths Of Right And Left Rack Ends
  Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

INSPECT WHEEL ANGLE

Put tread center marks on the rearmost points of the turning radius gauge.

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

Fig 5: Measuring Steering Wheel Turning Angle

Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

Wheel turning angle

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WHEEL REFERENCE CHART

Inside wheel	Outside wheel reference
38°31' +- 2°(38.52° +- 2°)	33°43' (33.72°)

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

INSPECT CAMBER, CASTER AND STEERING AXIS INCLINATION

Put the front wheel on the center of the alignment tester.
Remove the center ornament.
Set the camber-caster-king pin gauge and attachment at the center of the axle hub or drive shaft.

Inspect the camber, caster, and steering axis inclination.

Fig 6: Inspecting Camber, Caster And Steering Axis Inclination

Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002

Camber

CAMBER SPECIFICATION

Camber	Right-left difference
-0°43' +- 45' (-0.72° +- 0.75°)	45' (0.75°) or less

Caster

CASTER SPECIFICATION

Caster	Right-left difference
2°57' +- 45' (2.95° +- 0.75°)	45' (0.75°) or less

Steering axis inclination

STEERING AXIS INCLINATION DESCRIPTION

Steering axis inclination
12°20' (12.33°)

NOTE:

Perform the inspection while the vehicle is unloaded.
The maximum tolerance of the right and left difference for the camber and caster is 45' (0.75°) or less.

Remove the camber-caster-king pin gauge and attachment.
Install the center ornament.
If the caster and steering axis inclination are not within the specified range after the camber has been correctly adjusted, recheck the suspension parts for damage and/or wear.

ADJUST CAMBER

NOTE: Inspect toe-in after the camber has been adjusted.

Remove the front wheel.
Remove the 2 nuts on the lower side of the front shock absorber.
NOTE: Keep the bolts inserted.
Clean the installation surfaces of the front shock absorber and the steering knuckle.
Temporarily install the 2 nuts (Step A).

Fig 7: Locating Front Shock Absorber Nuts
Courtesy of © TOYOTA, LICENSE AGREEMENT TMS1002
Fully push or pull the front axle hub in the direction of the required adjustment (Step B).

Fig 8: Pulling Front Axle Hub

Tighten the nuts.
Torque: 210 N*m (2,141 kgf*cm, 155 ft.*lbf)

NOTE: Keep the bolts from rotating when tightening the nuts.
Install the front wheel.
Torque: 103 N*m (1,050 kgf*cm, 76 ft.*lbf)

Check the camber.

If the measured value is not within the specification, calculate the required adjustment amount using the formula below.

Camber adjustment amount = center of the specified range center - measured value Check the combination of installed bolts. Select appropriate bolts from the table below to adjust the camber to the specified values.

HINT:

Try to adjust the camber to the center of the specified values.

REFERENCE CHART

Move the axle toward (+) in step (B)	Move the axle toward (-) in step (B)
Refer to table (1) (Move the axle toward the positive side)	Refer to table (2) (Move the axle toward the negative side)

Fig 9: Identifying Nut And Bolt

Fig 10: Bolts Specification Chart (1 Of 2)

Fig 11: Bolts Specification Chart (2 Of 2)

The body and suspension may be damaged if the camber is not correctly adjusted according to the above table.

NOTE: Replace the nut with a new one when replacing the bolt.

Repeat the steps mentioned above. In step (A), replace 1 or 2 selected bolts.
HINT:

Replace one bolt at a time when replacing 2 bolts.