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Vehicle Wheel Alignment Guide

The document discusses various wheel angle settings that affect the steering characteristics and tire wear of a vehicle. It describes caster as the forward or backward tilt of the kingpin, which helps wheels point straight ahead for easier steering. Camber is the outward tilt of each wheel, which reduces stress on steering components. Kingpin inclination angles the top of the kingpin inward for easier turning. Toe-in angles the front of the wheels inward to counteract camber. Turning angles allow the inner and outer wheels to follow the same rolling center through turns. Proper adjustment of these settings optimizes steering and minimizes tire wear.

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Agus Sholehudin Anzie
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158 views4 pages

Vehicle Wheel Alignment Guide

The document discusses various wheel angle settings that affect the steering characteristics and tire wear of a vehicle. It describes caster as the forward or backward tilt of the kingpin, which helps wheels point straight ahead for easier steering. Camber is the outward tilt of each wheel, which reduces stress on steering components. Kingpin inclination angles the top of the kingpin inward for easier turning. Toe-in angles the front of the wheels inward to counteract camber. Turning angles allow the inner and outer wheels to follow the same rolling center through turns. Proper adjustment of these settings optimizes steering and minimizes tire wear.

Uploaded by

Agus Sholehudin Anzie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Wheel angles

In order for the vehicle to have good steering characteristics and as little tyre wear as
possible, the front wheels must have certain specified settings. Since the settings can
alter due to wear etc., they must therefore be checked regularly.

Caster
By caster is meant the forward or rearward inclination of the king pin. The aim of this
inclination is so that the wheels strive to point straight ahead. This will make the
driving out of a curve easier, especially at high speed, and reduces the strain on the
steering assembly. The greater the caster, the greater the tendency of the wheels to
point straight ahead, at the same time it is more difficult to turn the wheels away
from the centre position. The caster must, therefore, be choosen so that the best
possible compromised is obtained between the advantages and disadvantages. If the
axle is inclined as in diagram 602, fig., the caster is called positive.

Diagram 602. Caster

A = Caster
B = Frame angle
V = Vertical line

Camber
By camber is meant the wheel's inclination outwards from the vertical line. Via the
camber the load on the steering knuckles is displaced inwards and thus the load on
the king pins, the wheel bearings etc., is reduced. The majority of the load will be
transferred by the more robust inner wheel bearing. The camber is called positive
when the upper part of the wheel inclines outwards, see the diagram 603,
fig..

Diagram 603. Camber


A = Camber
V = Vertical line

King pin inclination (KPI)


By king pin inclination is meant the inward inclination of the upper end of the king
pin, see the diagram 604, fig.. The inclination makes it easier to turn the wheels.
Impacts and other vibrations from the road surface are taken up by the king pins and
are thus prevented from being transferred up to the steering wheel.

Diagram 604. King pin inclination


A = King pin inclination
V = Vertical line

Toe-in
By toe-in is meant the inward position of the wheels at the front edge, see the
diagram 605. Toe-in is necessary in order to counteract the tendency to roll
outwards that the wheels have due to the camber. Toe-in is the difference between
the distance A and B, see the diagram 605, fig..

Diagram 605. Toe-in

Turning angles
By setting turning angles, the inner wheel will be turned more than the outer wheel
when driving round a bend. The purpose of this is to cause the wheels to follow the
same rolling centre A, see the diagram 606, fig.. When driving, the driver turns the

steering wheel in one direction or the other in order to be able to maintain driving in
a straight line; this could be due to side winds and uneven areas of the road surface.
This entails that the wheels in general point straight ahead only 30% of the distance
driven on the road. If the wheels have different rolling centres, tyre wear will be
greater outside the "straight ahead steering sector" since the wheels strive either to
move apart from each other or to move closer together.

Diagram 606. Turning angles


A = rolling centre of the wheels

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