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Alignment Fundamentals Part One. Suspension Systems. Designed to: provide satisfactory vehicle control acceptable driver effort Maintains directional stability: on various road surfaces all types of weather loaded and unloaded towing. Road Variables. Road Crown Bumps & Pot Holes
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Suspension Systems • Designed to: • provide satisfactory vehicle control • acceptable driver effort • Maintains directional stability: • on various road surfaces • all types of weather • loaded and unloaded • towing
Road Variables • Road Crown • Bumps & Pot Holes • Crosswinds & Cross winds created by other vehicles • Road surfaces • Side forces • Drive axle forces • Suspension part movement
Rear Wheel Alignment & Vehicle Tracking • Thrust Line – Imaginary line @ 90 degree angle to the centerline of the rear wheels • Rear Wheel Offset – axle asm out of position, not parallel to centerline
Wheel Base • The distance between the center of the front & rear wheels
Tracking • Position of the rear wheels in relationship to the front
Ride Height • The distance between the frame & the ground. If distance varied over ¼” between sides, handling can be affected.
Camber Fundamentals • Inward/outward tilt of wheel from true vertical. • Vehicle will pull to side most positive. • Affects tire wear.
Camber Fundamentals Negative Camber Positive Camber
Jounce & Rebound • Jounce - Upward wheel movement • Rebound – Downward wheel movement
Caster Fundamentals • Tilt of a line that intersects the lower and upper ball joints (strut mount) in relation to true vertical
Positive Caster • Helps return to straight ahead position • Increases steering effort, the wheels try to stay straight • Pos caster helps maintain directional stability • Too much affects steering, rapid wheel return • Pulls to side with the most pos caster.
Negative Caster • Decreases directional stability • Reduces steering effort
Tire Wear • Caster has effect on tire wear