Dodge ZB 2005 Service Manual page 90

ZB
WHEEL ALIGNMENT (Continued)
STANDARD PROCEDURE
PRE-WHEEL ALIGNMENT INSPECTION
Before starting a wheel alignment on this vehicle,
the following inspection and necessary corrections
must be completed to ensure proper wheel alignment.
(1) Be sure the fuel tank is full of fuel. If the tank
is not full, the reduction in weight will affect the
height of the vehicle and the alignment specifica-
tions.
(2) The passenger and luggage compartments of
the vehicle should be free of any load that is not fac-
tory equipment.
(3) Check the tires on the vehicle. The tires are to
be inflated to the recommended air pressure. All tires
must be the correct size and in good condition, with
approximately the same tread wear. (Refer to 22 -
TIRES/WHEELS/TIRES - DESCRIPTION)
(4) Check the front and rear wheels for excessive
radial and lateral runout, and imbalance. (Refer to
22 - TIRES/WHEELS - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)
(Refer to 22 - TIRES/WHEELS - STANDARD PRO-
CEDURE)
(5) Inspect the front and rear hub and bearing
assemblies for wear.
(6) Inspect all suspension components for wear
and noise. Check components for correct torque.
(7) Inspect the rubber bushings on all suspension
components for signs of wear or deterioration.
(8) Inspect the control arm ball joints and steering
linkage for leaking seals, looseness, roughness, bind-
ing or a sticking condition.
(9) Inspect front and rear shock assemblies for
leaks or any sign of damage. Jounce front and rear of
vehicle to determine if the shock absorbers dampen
vehicle motion properly.
CURB HEIGHT MEASUREMENT
NOTE: This procedure is designed to be performed
with original factory wheels installed. Non-OEM
wheels may cause inaccurate measurement.
(1) Verify vehicle fuel tank is full of fuel. If tank is
not full of fuel, reduction in weight will affect height
of vehicle and design height measurement.
(2) Remove any load within passenger and luggage
compartments that is not factory equipment.
(3) Place vehicle on wheel alignment rack or
drive-on lift per equipment manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
(4) Check all tires for proper inflation pressure
and adjust as necessary.
NOTE: In order to get an accurate rear height mea-
surement it is necessary to remove the belly pan.
(5) Remove belly pan from frame. (Refer to 23 -
BODY/EXTERIOR/BELLY PAN - REMOVAL)
(6) Place Adapter, Special Tool 8897, over smaller
end of one of two Suspension Height Gages, Special
Tool 6914 (Fig. 7) (Fig. 8), aligning adapter locating
pin with notch in gage end.
(7) Tighten adapter thumb screw.
NOTE: The height gage with the adapter attached to
it is now the height gage to be used on the front
suspension.
NOTE: In order to achieve an accurate vehicle
height measurement, it is absolutely necessary to
position the height gages on the inner rim flange at
the very bottom of the wheel. That way the top sur-
face of each gage is parallel front-to-rear with bot-
tom surface of the frame rails.
(8) Install front and rear Suspension Height Gages
on vehicle (Fig. 9) (Fig. 10). Ensure that gages are
correctly attached to inner rim flange at very base of
each wheel.
(9) Jounce vehicle several times, each time paying
special attention to release vehicle at very bottom of
jounce cycle. This will allow suspension to settle to
correct height.
(10) Measure and record vehicle's front curb
height. Measure distance between top of Suspension
Height Gage and each frame rail at forward edge of
gage (Fig. 12). This is the nearest point to the Prin-
ciple Locating Point (PLP) hole.
(11) Measure and record vehicle's rear curb height.
Measure distance between top of Suspension Height
Gage and each frame rail at forward edge of gage
(Fig. 13). This is the nearest point to the PLP hole.
(12) Compare recorded measurements to specifica-
tions (Refer to 2 - SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGN-
MENT - SPECIFICATIONS). If vehicle's curb height
does not meet specifications, one of the following
could be at fault:
(a) A suspension component could be damaged or
worn excessively. Inspect all suspension compo-
nents for damage or wear paying special attention
to the following:
• Coil springs
• Shock assembly mounting bushings
• Upper and lower control arm mounting bushings
• Front and rear sway bar
• Possible damage to the vehicle' frame which
affects the mounting location of any suspension com-
ponent. Following inspection and any correction
made, measure vehicle's design height. (Refer to 2 -
SUSPENSION/WHEEL ALIGNMENT - STANDARD
PROCEDURE - DESIGN
MENT)
WHEEL ALIGNMENT 2 - 61
HEIGHT MEASURE-