So Fix it

Chevrolet introduced the Blazer in 1969 as an SUV version of its full-size pickup truck. The early Blazer evolved into the Chevy Tahoe, and Chevy applied the Blazer name to a new mid-size S-10 SUV in 1983. Chevrolet introduced a newly-designed second generation of the S-10 Blazer in 1995, and the Blazer remained basically the same for the next 10 years. The 1997 Chevy Blazer came in two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive trims, but the alignment specs were the same for both. Chevy discontinued the Blazer in 2005.

General Information

The caster, camber and toe-in were adjustable on the front end of the 1997 Chevy Blazer, but not on the rear end because the vehicle came with a fixed rear axle.

Caster

The caster angle measures the forward or rearward slope of the line between the upper and lower steering pivots on a vehicle when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The caster angle on the front end of the 1997 Blazer can range from +0.5 to +3.0 degrees, with the ideal setting being +1.75 degrees with 0.5 degrees of cross tolerance.

Camber

The camber is the vertical angle at which the front wheels of a vehicle lean when viewed from the front of the vehicle. If the the top of the wheel leans out, the camber angle is positive. If the top of wheel leans in, the camber angle is negative. The camber angle on the front end of the 1997 Chevy Blazer can range from zero to +0.5 degrees, with the ideal setting being +0.25 degrees with 0.5 degrees of cross tolerance.

Toe-in

The front wheels of most vehicles are set so that the fronts of the tires will angle slightly toward one another to help take tension off of the wheel bearings. This slight angle is known as the toe-in. The toe-in on the front end of the 1997 Chevy Blazer should be set at +0.1 degrees.

Toyota introduced the Highlander, one of the first midsize crossover SUVs, in 2001 and redesigned it for the 2008 model year, giving it a slightly larger body and a more powerful V-6 engine. The 2008 Toyota Highlander came in several front-wheel- and all-wheel-drive trims. With the exception of the camber on the rear end, all trims shared the same alignment specs.

Caster

The caster angle of a wheel is basically the slope of an imaginary line drawn through the upper and lower pivot joints of the wheel when viewed from the side, with zero being a vertical line straight up from the ground and through the center of the wheel. If the top of the slope crosses to the rear of the vertical line, then it has a positive caster. If the top of the slope passes to the front of the vertical line, then the car has a negative caster. For the front end of the 2008 Toyota Highlander, the ideal caster angle is +2.62 degrees, but it can range by 0.75 degrees in either direction, with a cross tolerance of 0.75 degrees. The caster is not adjustable on the rear end.

Camber

The camber of a wheel measures the angle the wheel tilts when viewed from the front of the car. Wheels that tilt out at the top have a positive camber. Wheels that tilt in at the top have a negative camber. The ideal camber on the front end of the 2008 Toyota Highlander is -0.63 degrees but it can range by 0.75 degrees in either direction, with a cross tolerance of 0.75 degrees. The ideal camber for the rear end of front-wheel-drive trims is -1.0, but it can range by 0.75 degrees in either direction. The ideal camber on the rear end of all-wheel-drive trims is -0.6, but it can range by 0.75 in either direction.

Toe-in

The toe of a wheel ers to its alignment in relation to the centerline of the car. If the front of the wheel is angled slightly inward toward the centerline, then it is toed-in. If it angles out away from the centerline of the car, then it is toed-out. Most vehicles are designed for the wheels to have a slight toe-in, and this measurement is given in positive degrees. The ideal toe-in for the front end of the 2008 Toyota Highlander is +0.07 degrees, but it can range by 0.16 degrees in either direction. The ideal setting for the toe-in on the rear end is +0.24 degrees, but it can range by 0.16 degrees in either direction.

Most people worry more about their engine and transmission problems than they do about their vehicles alignment. However, consideration should be given to the fact that alignment problems can compromise the vehicles traction and even the ability of the driver to steer safely and avoid accidents. There are three basic angles of alignment to address these issues. Since the objective of a wheel alignment is to ensure a proper relationship between the wheels themselves, as well as from the wheels to the vehicle and the road, it follows that the faster a vehicle is going, the more critical these adjustments become.

Toe

Toe alignment can best be explained by a view of the wheels from above. When both front wheels are exactly parallel to one another, with the distance between the front and rear of each wheel being the same, that is erred to as "zero toe" and perfect, in theory. As a vehicle is driven, the normal play in the steering and suspension linkages can change this alignment, depending on whether the vehicle is turning, braking or accelerating. It is for this reason that a slight degree "toe in" or "toe out" is often used to compensate for both rolling resistance, as well as the wear and tear of suspension components. Excessive "toe in" or "toe out" will result in uneven tire wear, due to the edges of the tire scrubbing the surface, as well as a steering pull to one side or the other under certain circumstances.

Camber

Camber ers to the position of the wheels as seen from the front of the vehicle. "zero camber" would be the position in which the front wheels were exactly perpendicular to the road. "Negative camber" is when the top of the wheels are tilted in toward each other and "positive camber" is when the top of the wheels point outward. Uneven road surfaces such as bumps and dips, as well as the movement of the suspension will cause changes in the degree of camber. Depending on the design of the vehicles suspension, the alignment specifications may allow an additional degree of positive or negative camber to compensate for this, just as when dealing with toe alignment. Both excessive tire wear and steering pull are often the results of improper camber alignment.

Caster

Caster alignment is best understood by viewing the angle of forward or rearward tilt of the steering axis from the side. "Positive caster" would be to the rear and "negative caster" would be to the front. Caster is often ignored, due to the fact that it has the least effect on tire wear. It has more to do with the stability of the steering, the effort required to steer and the returnability of the steering wheel to its center position. Positive caster is usually perred, for ease of steering return and stability. It is worth noting, however, that a difference greater than half a degree of caster from side to side can cause a vehicle to lead to the side with the least caster. Wear and tear and ride height are both factors that can affect caster and road crown can often be compensated for with slightly more positive caster on the left side.

Additional Factors

Consider that anything that creates uneven resistance or friction can cause both uneven tire wear and crooked steering. A good example of this is underinflated tires, which can bulge up on the sides, causing both of these conditions. A frozen brake caliper on one side can also cause a pull to that side. Any loose or worn steering parts, such as steering rack mounts, or suspension parts like tie rod ends can contribute to similar conditions as well. Remember that checking all of these things first to make sure that they are in proper working order will prevent further problems down the road.

Manufactured by Nissan, the Infiniti FX45 is a mid-sized luxury crossover vehicle that was introduced in 2003. As with most vehicles, the FX45 requires a periodic wheel alignment that will help keep the vehicle steering true and help the owner avoid uneven tire wear. Professional technicians follow Nissans factory specifications to perform an alignment on the FX45.

Camber

The front wheel camber angle on a Infiniti FX45 should have a nominal value of -0.44 degrees with the maximum acceptable value of -0.12 degrees and lowest acceptable value of -1.29 degrees. The rear wheel alignment specifications are within -1.15 to -0.15 degrees, with an ideal angle being -0.45 degrees.

Caster

The caster angle should be the same both on the right and left sides on the 2003 Infinitis FX45 wheels. The nominal value is -0.44 degrees, with limits set from -1.29 to -0.12 degrees for the front wheels.

Toe

Total toe angles on the FX45 model must be +0.8 degrees with measuring range of 0.8 degrees. Toe-in specification should be set at 1.6 mm with maximum allowable difference of 1 mm.

For the 2010 model year, Dodge continued to market its Dakota, Ram 1500, Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 lines of pickup trucks. The Dakota is considered a mid-size pickup truck, while the Doge Rams are heavy-duty pickup trucks. Each of the Dodge pickup trucks came in several two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive trims in 2010. Likewise, each truck was available with multiple types of cabs. Some trims came with different-sized wheels. All of these factors influence the alignment specs of the truck, and it is important to be certain to use the appropriate alignment specs for a given vehicle. Before attempting to adjust the alignment of a 2010 Dodge truck, consult your owners manual or a certified mechanic. The specs provided below apply only to the designated trims of the vehicles and should not be applied to any other Dodge truck of 2010 or any other year. The rear end is not adjustable on any of the vehicles erenced below.

2010 Ram 1500 4X2 with 17-inch Tires

The caster angle should be set at +3.5 degrees on the left front wheel and +3.75 degrees on the right front wheel, with a variance of 0.5 degrees on either wheel and a cross tolerance of 0.5 degrees. The camber angle should be set at +0.1 degrees on the left wheel and -0.1 degrees on the front right wheel, with a variance of 0.5 degrees for either wheel and a cross tolerance of 0.5 degrees. The ideal setting for the toe-in on the front end is +0.1 degrees but it can range from -0.26 to +0.46 degrees.

2010 Ramp 3500 4X4, All Trims Except Box Off

The caster angle on the front end can range from +4.0 degrees to +5.0 degrees, with the ideal setting being +4.5 degrees with a cross tolerance of 0.5 degrees. The camber angle can range from -0.25 degrees to +0.75 degrees, with the ideal setting being +0.25 degrees with cross tolerance of 0.5 degrees. The toe-in should be set at +0.2 degrees but can range from +0.1 degrees to +0.3 degrees.

The 2010 Dakota 4X4

The ideal setting for the caster angle is +3.5 degrees on the front left wheel and +3.8 degrees on the front right wheel, with a variance of 0.5 degrees on either wheel and a cross tolerance of 0.5 degrees. The ideal setting for the camber angle is +0.1 degrees on the front left wheel and -0.1 degrees for the front right wheel, with a variance of 0.5 degrees on either wheel and a cross tolerance of 0.5 degrees. The ideal setting for the toe-in is +0.2 degrees but it can range from +0.1 degrees to +0.3 degrees.

Chevrolet introduced the S-10 Blazer as a two-door, compact SUV inspired by the S-10 Pickup truck in 1983. Chevy dropped the "S-10" from the vehicles official name in 1995, when the second generation of Blazers came out. The 1994 S-10 Blazer came in several two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive trims. All trims shared the same alignment specs. The alignment was not adjustable on the rear end of the 1994 S-10 Blazer because it came with a fixed rear axle. The caster angle, camber angle and toe were adjustable on the font end.

Caster

The caster angle of a vehicles wheels is an imaginary line drawn through the upper ball joint and lower ball joint of the wheel when viewed from the side of the car. If the line were perfectly vertical, the caster angle would be zero. For most cars, the top of the line would fall to the right of the vertical line when looking at the drivers side of the vehicle, meaning that the line would slant toward the rear of the car. This is known as a positive caster.

For the 1994 Chevy S-10 Blazer, the caster angle can range from +1.5 degrees to +2.5 degrees, with the ideal setting being +2.0 degrees and the cross tolerance being +0.5 degrees.

Camber

The camber is the angle that a wheel leans when looked at from the front of a vehicle. If the wheel is perfectly vertical, the camber is zero. If the top of the wheel leans out, away from the engine block, it has a positive camber. If the top of the wheel leans in, toward the engine block, it has a negative camber.

The camber angle on 1994 Chevy S-10 Blazers can range from +0.3 degrees to +1.3 degrees, with the ideal setting being +0.8 degrees and the cross tolerance being +0.5 degrees.

Toe-in

The toe is the angle the wheels of a vehicle are pointed in relation to the centerline of the vehicle. It is rare for a vehicle to be designed so that the wheels are perfectly perpendicular to a vehicles centerline. In most cases, the wheels point slightly toward each other at the front to help relieve pressure on the steering joints and suspension. This is referred to as toe-in.

The toe-in on the 1994 Chevy S-10 Blazer can range from +0.1 degrees to +0.5 degrees, with the ideal setting being +0.3 degrees.

Making sure that the wheels are aligned correctly on your Nissan Quest is important for many reasons. Correct wheel alignment helps to prevent uneven tire wear. It is also necessary so that the vehicle tracks straight and true down the road, without pulling or wandering from one side to the other. The three angles of wheel alignment -- caster, camber and toe -- have specifications for the correct settings.

Caster

Caster is the forward and backward tilt of the upper control arm or strut in relationship to the lower control arm. If the upper suspension component tilts forward, it has negative camber. If the upper suspension component tilts backwards, then it has positive camber. Camber, like other alignment angles, is measured in degrees. The 1996 Quest caster specifications call for a positive camber range of 1/20 to 1 11/20 degrees, with the ideal being 4/5 of a degree of positive caster.

Camber

Camber is the tilt inward or outward of the wheel in relationship to the center of the vehicle. If the wheel tilts outward at the top, it has positive camber. If the top of the wheel tilts inward towards the center of the vehicle, it has negative camber. The range of camber can be from 9/20 to 1 1/20 degrees positive. The ideal measurement is 3/4 of a degree positive.

Toe

Toe is the relationship between each of the wheels in relationship to the center line of the vehicle. If the front of the wheel tilts inward, the toe is negative. If the front of the wheel tilts outward, the toe is positive. Each wheel has its own toe measurement, in addition to the measurement of total toe, which is the sum of the toe from both sides. Toe is also measured by how many inches closer the wheels are in the front of the tires than the rear. The correct setting for the Nissan Quest is 0.08 to 0.16 inches toe-in.

Adjustments

Caster and camber settings on the Quest are not adjustable. If caster or camber are out of specifications, you will need to replace the components that are causing the problem with the suspension. Toe is adjustable by turning the sleeves on the tie rods in the correct direction.

Rear Alignment

The angles on the rear are the same as on the front, except there is no caster measurement. Caster is primarily a measurement concerning turning and since the rear wheels do not steer, caster is not applicable. The rear wheels should have a camber measurement between minus 1/4 degree to 1/4 degree. Rear toe should be from minus 0.16 degree to 0.16 degree. Rear camber is not adjustable, but the toe is. If the camber is off, replace the components that are responsible for the incorrect angles.

The alignment specs were the same for all two-wheel-drive trims of the Ford Ranger from 1990 to 1992. However, the alignment specs for the four-wheel-drive trims of the Ford Ranger varied from 1990 to 1992. The rear alignment was not adjustable on any 1990 to 1992 Ford Ranger. All measurements are in degrees.

The 1990 to 1992 Ford Ranger 4X2

The caster can range from +3.5 to +6.0. The camber can range from -0.75 to +1.25, with the ideal setting being +0.25. The toe-in should be set at zero but can vary in either direction by 0.25.

The 1990 Ford Ranger 4X4 with Dana 28 Axle

The caster can range from +2.5 to +4.5. The ideal camber is +0.5, but it can vary 0.75 on all trims except for the the STX, for which it can vary in either direction by 0.25. The toe-in should be set at zero but can vary by 0.25 in either direction.

The 1990 Ford Ranger 4X4 with Dana 35 Axle

The caster can range from +2.5 to +6.0. The ideal camber setting is +0.25 but it can vary by one degree in either direction on all trims except for the STX, for which it can vary by 0.75. The toe-in should be set at zero but can vary by 0.25 in either direction.