Wheel Alignment - Chrysler 1998 Viper RT/10 Owner's Manual

2 -10 SUSPENSION
S R
W H E E L ALIGNMENT
INDEX
p a g e
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N
W H E E L A L I G N M E N T 10
D I A G N O S I S A N D T E S T I N G
P R E - W H E E L A L I G N M E N T I N S P E C T I O N 13
S U S P E N S I O N A N D S T E E R I N G D I A G N O S I S 12
S E R V I C E P R O C E D U R E S
S P O R T S H I M S 17
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Front and rear wheel alignment involves the cor-
rect positioning of the tire contact patch i n relation
to the pavement. This involves correct adjustment, or
positioning, of all the interrelated suspension angles
and linear distances, such as caster, camber, wheel
toe, and front and rear toe pattern. A n alignment is
considered essential for efficient steering, good direc-
tional stability, and to prevent abnormal tire wear.
N O T E : R o u t i n e i n s p e c t i o n of front a n d rear s u s -
p e n s i o n , a n d s t e e r i n g c o m p o n e n t s , i s a g o o d pre-
v e n t a t i v e m a i n t e n a n c e p r a c t i c e . I n s p e c t i o n a l s o
h e l p s to e n s u r e s a f e o p e r a t i o n of the v e h i c l e .
The method of measuring front and rear wheel
alignment w i l l vary depending on the type of align-
ment equipment being used. The instructions pro-
vided by the manufacturer of the equipment should
always be followed. The exception to this is the align-
ment specifications contained i n this m a n u a l (or a
subsequent service bulletin) which should always
have precedence.
There are 7 suspension system and steering l i n k -
age measurements t h a t are used to determine i f the
front and rear wheel alignment is correct (Fig. 1).
A l l suspension angles and linear distances are
mechanically adjustable, except steering axis inclina-
tion and wheel toe out on turns. Although not adjust-
able, these measurements are valuable i n
determining i f there are bent or damaged compo-
nents involved.
N O T E : T h e V i p e r s u s p e n s i o n g e o m e t r y i s s u c h that
the v e h i c l e s u s p e n s i o n a n d a l i g n m e n t s e t t i n g s
c h a n g e rapidly a s the v e h i c l e c h a n g e s height. F o r
t h i s r e a s o n , it i s e x t r e m e l y important that all s u s -
p e n s i o n s p e c i f i c a t i o n s b e c h e c k e d a n d a d j u s t e d
with the v e h i c l e at the c o r r e c t height. A l i g n m e n t
p a g e
W H E E L A L I G N M E N T C H E C K A N D
A D J U S T M E N T 13
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
A L I G N M E N T S P E C I F I C A T I O N S W I T H V E H I C L E
A T C U R B H E I G H T . 19
s p e c i f i c a t i o n s a r e r e q u i r e d to b e c h e c k e d with a
v e h i c l e at c u r b height, the fuel t a n k m u s t b e full,
f l u i d s at the c o r r e c t fill level, a n d all factory s u p -
plied e q u i p m e n t (top, r e m o v a b l e w i n d o w s , s p a r e
tire etc.) m u s t b e in the v e h i c l e . No p a s s e n g e r s or
additional weight s h o u l d be a d d e d to the v e h i c l e .
T h i s will put the v e h i c l e at the c o r r e c t weight w h i c h
its c u r b height i s to be m e a s u r e d at. W h e n c h e c k -
ing v e h i c l e d e s i g n height, b a l l a s t m u s t be a d d e d
a n d / o r v e h i c l e m u s t b e j a c k e d to s p e c i f i e d d e s i g n
height before d e s i g n height c a n be m e a s u r e d . T o
c h e c k either v e h i c l e c u r b height, or d e s i g n height,
height c h e c k i n g fixtures m u s t be u s e d .
N O T E : T h e front a n d rear v e h i c l e c u r b height m u s t
be m e a s u r e d a n d a d j u s t e d before a n y other a l i g n -
ment m e a s u r e m e n t / a d j u s t m e n t i s initiated. S e e
V e h i c l e Height A d j u s t m e n t P r o c e d u r e s in t h i s s e c -
tion of the s e r v i c e m a n u a l for p r o p e r height c h e c k -
ing a n d a d j u s t m e n t p r o c e d u r e s .
The measurements and adjustments should be
made i n the following sequence.
C A U T I O N : Do not attempt to modify a n y s u s p e n -
s i o n or s t e e r i n g c o m p o n e n t by h e a t i n g a n d b e n d -
ing.
VEHICLE PROMT AND REAR CURB HEIGHT
Vehicle front and rear curb height is the difference
i n height between the outer end of front and rear
lower control arms and the frame of the vehicle. The
measurement is to be taken from the design height
fixture to the vehicle's frame, to determine the height
of a fully wet (full t a n k of fuel and all correct fluid
levels) vehicle. This measurement w i l l determine i f
something i n the vehicle's suspension is causing a
vehicle to sit statically high or low. The curb height
measurement is taken at the center i n the front of
the vehicle, and at each frame r a i l i n the rear (Fig.