Toe,
Caster, and Camber - What does it mean and how to adjust it.
Jeep Steering Alignment
101Toe
Toe is the
amount that the wheels are pointed in or out, often called
"total toe in or out". On a Jeep CJ it is only
adjustable on the front axle and is adjusted by rotating the
long tie rod or in some cases rotating the threaded sleeve
at the tie rod end. The short rod from the pitman arm is
called the drag link. Adjusting the tie rod usually
requires loosening the clamps that keep the tie rod secure
and removing or un-attaching the steering stabilizer.
Typically a Jeep's toe is adjusted 1/4" less in the front of
the tire to the rear of the tire.
See
Adjusting
Jeep CJ Toe
Caster
Caster is
somewhat difficult to comprehend and measure with home tools. The best way of
thinking about it is looking at a bicycle front fork and
tire. The forks arrive at the center hub at an angle.
The positive caster allows the tire to return to center (the
reason you can ride a bike with no hands). Another
example of extreme negative caster is shopping cart front wheels,
they will follow in any
direction that it is being pushed. Most Jeeps were
equipped with about 4 degrees positive caster with no
adjustments. Adding lift kits can mess with the castor
decreasing the angle sometimes to the point of becoming
negative. This will cause the Jeep to wander about the road. An improper
caster angle can make flat towing dangerous and coming out of
sharp corners exciting due to the wheel not coming back to
center.
See
Adjusting Jeep CJ
Caster
Camber
Camber is
measured from looking at the front of the vehicle and
drawing a 90 degree to horizontal vertical line through the
edge of the tire. If the top of the tire is in further
than the bottom this is negative camber. If the top is
out further than the bottom this is positive camber.
Negative camber will help a vehicle during cornering due to
tire roll over but will also increase tire wear on the inner
section of the tire. A Jeep is best set at zero
camber.
See
Adjusting Jeep CJ
Camber
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