Alignment Archives - Page 2 of 10 - UnderhoodService
Suspension Service On 2007-2011 Toyota Camry

Toyota designed the control arm on the Camry to absorb and deform during impacts so the body and suspension cradle will not be damaged. Replacement control arms are readily available for this vehicle. Pay attention to the included angle or SAI. This diagnostic angle can help you determine if the control arm or knuckle has been damaged.

Chevy Cruze Alignment Pointers

The Chevy Cruze uses a semi-independent twist-beam rear suspension axle like on the Cobalt. The axle assembly attaches to the underbody through a rubber bushing and bracket located at the front of each integral trailing arm. The brackets are bolted to the underbody side rails. The axle structure itself maintains the geometrical relationship of the wheels relative to the centerline of the body.

A Thorough Chassis Evaluation Must Precede A Proper Alignment

Thanks to all the potholes caused by our harsh winter weather, we tend to do a lot of alignments here in Northeast Ohio. But wherever you live, it’s a good idea to check the alignment whenever you put on a new set of tires or replace a worn suspension component. And, sometimes you might encounter a problem due to a unique chassis setup. Take the Volvo 850, S70 and V70, for example, which from 1993 to 2000 had a slightly different split rear axle setup that was adjustable.

Alignment Specs For 2010 Camaro

The 2010 Camaro was GM’s re-entry into the pony-car wars with Ford and Chrysler. Like the Dodge Challenger, the Camaro borrows its platform from an existing rear-wheel-drive platform. The Camaro is based on the Zeta platform that includes the Chevrolet Police Patrol Vehicle and Pontiac G8. The front suspension uses strut and dual lower control arms. Always check the front lower control arm’s inboard bushing for damage in the form of rubber separating from the metal components. When this bushing goes bad, it will change the SIA and caster.

10 Alignment Tips To Increase Productivity And Profit

Tires are not perfect! Like every part on the car, tires and wheels are made within tolerances. These tolerances include runout and radial force variation. The changes in uniformity and stacked tolerances in the tire and wheel can cause a steering pull. You can try rotating the tires to cancel out the pull or at least move the worst tire to a non-steering axle. But, during the next rotation, the pull could return.

Performing An Alignment On A 2005-2011 Cadillac STS

The STS is one of those vehicles where a scan tool would be handy if you are performing alignment and chassis repairs. Every STS requires a scan tool to reset the steering angle sensor. Also, it maybe necessary to have an enhanced or factory scan tool to read codes, clear codes and look at sensor information.

Alignment Service On A 1998-2006 BMW 3 Series

The BMW E46 was the best selling generation of the 3 Series. And while the rear-wheel-drive sports sedan is one of the more complicated cars to align, it offers many service and repair opportunities. The front suspension is a strut design with the familiar sickle-shaped control arm that was introduced on this platform in 1983. The rear suspension carried over from the E36, but it has a unique rear trailing arm design.

Alignment Service On 2006-2011 Hyundai Accent

The front suspension is a MacPherson strut setup. The lower control arm isolates harshness and vibration with a large bushing in the front. Always inspect this bushing for damage. Look for any separation of the rubber from the metal. Always make note of tire wear. If a customer does not rotate the tires, the stock tires would wear the inside edges. This is normal.

Servicing Bent Arms And Struts

Normal driving usually won’t knock the wheels out of alignment or damage the suspension. However, normal driving also involves encounters with the unexpected, which often includes potholes, curbs, railroad crossings (which are famous for being rough), parking lot speed bumps and other things that jar and stress the suspension. For this reason, periodic alignment checks are a good way to ensure proper wheel alignment and to detect damaged, worn or bent parts that might need attention.

Chassis Service On 1999-2006 Honda Insight Hybrid

One of the defining elements of the Honda Insight Hybrid is the rear suspension. The rear wheel track is significantly narrower than the front. Another item is the skirts over the rear wheels. The skirts are attached with two fasteners at the bottom of skirts’ lips and slide down out of the clips.

Alignment Specs: 2010-2012 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul is one of the best selling cars of the past three years. While the usual Kia/Hyundai bits are under the Soul’s trendy exterior, it does have four different strut and spring options that can make ordering the right parts a nightmare. This is the typical “net build” vehicle with no adjustments for camber or caster. The factory manual recommends replacing parts if something is out of alignment, but the aftermarket offers several solutions to bring a Soul into spec.

Alignment Spec: 2006-2011 Hyundai Accent

Hyundai began selling the 3-door Accent hatchback in the United States during the spring of 2006. The Accent is a “net-build” vehicle with no built-in adjustments, but adjustments can be made with aftermarket parts.