Preliminary Inspection

Fig. 1 Suspension Geometry:

Wheel alignment, is the angular relationship between the wheels, suspension attaching parts and ground. The angle of the knuckle away from the vertical, pointing in or out of wheels, tilt of the wheels from vertical (when viewed from front of vehicle) and tilt of suspension members from vertical (when viewed from side of vehicle), all of these are involved in proper alignment, Fig. 1.

Steering and vibration problems are not always the result of alignment. An additional problem to be checked is tire lead due to worn or improperly manufactured tires. ``Lead'' is the deviation of the vehicle from a straight path on a level road without hand pressure on the steering wheel.
To insure correct alignment readings and alignment specifications, the following checks and inspections should be made.
1. Check tire for proper inflation and thread wear.
2. Check for loose ball joints and tie rod ends. If excessive looseness is noted, replace defective parts before adjusting toe.
3. Check for wheel and tire assembly run-out.
4. Check trim heights. If not within specifications, correct before adjusting toe.
5. Check for loose control arms.
6. Check for loose or missing stabilizer bar components.
7. Consideration must be given to excess loads, such as tool boxes, etc. If excess load is normally carried in vehicle, it should remain during alignment checks.