Page 3-17
Chapter III Operation
Steps to Performing a 4-Wheel Alignment
There are many reasons why a wheel alignment may be performed on a vehicle such as:
Accelerated or uneven tire wear
Pull, wandering, or other steering / handling problems
After replacement of worn suspension or steering system components
After-collision repairs
Routine vehicle maintenance
Regardless of the reasons for alignment, it is important that the technician performs these
Basic
steps neces-
sary to address and correct all problems. Other diagnostics are available for advanced testing.
1. Gather information from the vehicle owner – ask about any symptoms of misalignment. Inquire if the vehicle
has been in a collision or has had any parts replaced recently.
2. Perform a test drive to verify owner’s complaint – try to recreate the problem. If unable to duplicate, have
the vehicle owner explain further or have him/her drive with you.
3. Place vehicle on the alignment lift – center the vehicle on the lift and turntables. Raise the lift to a solid,
level lock position.
4. Inspect the tires for any signs of abnormal wear – tires often reflect many misalignment conditions.
5. Perform a thorough component inspection. Replace defective parts prior to performing the alignment. Always
check tire pressure and ride height.
6. Mount measuring targets/pods to the vehicles wheels. Use the safety straps in the event of grip failure.
7. Choose the proper Wizard procedure for the vehicle.
8. Perform compensation or rollback – the purpose of performing compensation is to eliminate measurement
errors due to the wheel runout and clamp mounting error.
9. Measure caster, camber, and toe.
10. Determine what needs to be done – Examine the vehicle and any reference materials to determine the pro-
cedures for angle corrections. Determine what items are needed to correct any problems (i.e. aftermarket
kits, special tools, etc.).
11. Make any needed angle corrections – center the steering wheel carefully when prompted. Use this order
of adjustment:
a. Rear camber
b. Rear toe
c. Front caster
d. Front camber
e. Front toe
12. Re-center the steering wheel and readjust front toe if needed – crooked steering wheels are the leading
cause of customer dissatisfaction with wheel alignments.
13. Print the results – the printout is useful for showing the customer before and after results. Many shops keep
a printout on file for future reference.
14. Perform a test drive to verify proper alignment.
Содержание Pro42
Страница 1: ...Operators Manual Portable Imaging Alignment Systems with Pro42 ...
Страница 2: ...Blank page ...
Страница 8: ...Page 8 Table of Contents ...
Страница 65: ...NOTES ...