Prizm L4-108 1.8L DOHC VIN 8 MFI (1998)
Unequal side-to-side camber, of a 1 degree or more, will cause the vehicle to pull or lead to the side with the most positive camber.
Toe Description
Toe is a measurement of how much the front and/or rear wheels are turned in or out from a straight-ahead position. When the wheels are turned in, toe is
positive (+). When the wheels are turned out, toe is negative (-). The actual amount of toe is normally only a fraction of a degree. The purpose of toe is to
ensure that the wheels roll parallel.
Toe also serves to offset the small deflections of the wheel support system that occur when the vehicle is rolling forward. In other words, with the vehicle
standing still and the wheels set with toe-in, they tend to roll parallel on the road when the vehicle is moving.
Improper toe adjustment will cause premature tire wear and cause steering instability.
Setback Description
Setback applies to both the front and the rear wheels. Setback is the amount that one wheel may be aligned behind the other wheel. Setback may be the
result of a road hazard or a collision. The first clue is a caster difference from side-to-side of more than 1 degree.
Thrust Angles Description
The front wheels aim or steer the vehicle. The rear wheels control tracking. This tracking action relates to the thrust angle. The thrust angle is the path
that the rear wheels take. Ideally, the thrust angle is geometrically aligned with the body centerline (2).
In the illustration, toe-in is shown on the left rear wheel, moving the thrust line off center. The resulting deviation (3) from the centerline is the thrust
angle (1).
Pre-Alignment Road Test W/Customer
Perform a road test on the vehicle with the customer. The road test may help to identify many faulty parts:
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Worn control arm bushings
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Weak struts
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Loose power steering gear mounts
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Worn wheel bearings
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Unbalanced tires
Obvious conditions must be brought to the customer's attention before beginning an alignment.
Torque Steer Description
