Control Arm Adjustment Control Arm Movement Concepts Inboard
Control Arm Adjustment – Control Arm Movement Concepts – Inboard shim adjustment – Outboard shim adjustment – Slotted frame / Eccentric cam – Symmetrical lower arm adjustment – Asymmetrical Upper and Lower control arm adjustment Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Positive Camber Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm) u Move front and rear of upper control arm outward equal amounts Front ê 1/16” equals 1/4° ê 1/8” equals 1/2° ê 1/4” equals 1 degree Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Negative Camber Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm) u Move front and rear of upper control arm inward equal amounts Front ê 1/16” equals 1/4° ê 1/8” equals 1/2° ê 1/4” equals 1 degree Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Positive Caster Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm) u Move the front of the control arm outward and the rear of the control arm inward equal amounts Front ê 1/32” equals 1/2 degree ê 1/16” equals 1 degree ê 1/8” equals 2° Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Negative Caster Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm) u Move the front of the control arm inward and the rear of the control arm outward equal amounts Front ê 1/32” equals 1/2° ê 1/16” equals 1° ê 1/8” equals 2° Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Positive Camber & Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm) u Move the front of the control arm outward Front ê 1/16” equals 1/2° caster & 1/4° camber ê 1/8” equals 1° caster & 1/2° camber Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Negative Camber & Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm) u Move the front of the control arm inward Front ê 1/16” equals 1/2° caster & 1/4° camber ê 1/8” equals 1° caster & 1/2° camber Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Positive Camber & Negative Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm) u Move the rear of the control arm outward Front ê 1/16” equals 1/2° caster & 1/4° camber ê 1/8” equals 1° caster & 1/2° camber Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Negative Camber & Positive Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm) u Move the rear of the control arm inward Front ê 1/16” equals 1/2° caster & 1/4° camber ê 1/8” equals 1° caster & 1/2° camber Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Inboard Shims Front Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Camber Increase u Remove equal thickness shim front and rear Front ê 1/16” = 1/4° ê 1/8” = 1/2° ê 1/4” = 1° Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company Remove Shims
Camber Decrease u Add equal thickness shim front and rear ê 1/16” = 1/4° ê 1/8” = 1/2° ê 1/4” = 1° Front Add Shims Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Caster Increase u Remove shim front and add to rear Front ê 1/32” = 1/2° ê 1/16” = 1° ê 1/8” = 2° Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company Move Shims
Decrease Caster u Remove shim from rear and add to front Front ê 1/32” = 1/2° ê 1/16” = 1° ê 1/8” = 2° Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company Move Shims
Outboard Shim (symmetrical) u Reverse the shim movement shown for Inboard Shims u All other factors stay the same ê 1/16” equals 1/4° camber ê 1/16” equals 1/2° caster Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Slotted Frame Adjustment u Upper Control Arm u Changes Camber and/or Caster u Methods: – Hit and Miss – Slotted Formula Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Eccentric Cam Adjustment u Upper Control Arm u Changes Camber and/or Caster u Methods: – Same as slotted control arm – More controllable Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Ford / Lincoln/ Mercury u Eccentric Adjusters for front camber and caster. u Loosen lock nut and rotate large lower nut to adjust angles. Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Slotted Control Arm Formula u Reduce specification tolerances to: ê. 25° (1/4) camber tolerance ê. 50° (1/2) caster tolerance u Lock the service brakes u Level and lock the front sensors u View the front bar graph screen for front camber and caster Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Camber and Caster Adjustment u Is the null indicator equal distance from center on both bar graphs? êNO Requires two moves êYES Requires one move Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Null indicators are not equal u Which end of the control arm must move to make both null indicators move toward the center of their respective graphs? – Camber (+) & Caster (+) - front moves out – Camber (-) & Caster (-) - front moves in – Camber (-) / Caster (+) - rear moves in – Camber (+) / Caster (-) - rear moves out Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Null indicators are not equal u Move the control arm until both null indicators are equal distance from the center of their respective graphs. Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Null indicators are equal u Move the end of the control arm which will make both null indicators move toward the center of their respective graphs. Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Symmetrical Lower Control Arm u Reverse the upper control arm movements u All other factors stay the same ê 1/16” equals 1/4° camber ê 1/16” equals 1/2° caster Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Asymmetrical Control Arm Adjustment u The adjuster furthest from the ball joint will: êhave the greatest effect on caster êhave the least effect on camber Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Asymmetric Upper Control Arms u Add or remove shims equally to change camber u Add or remove shims from the pack furthest from the ball joint to adjust caster GM G 20 Van Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Asymmetrical Lower Control Arm u Rotate the eccentric closest to the ball joint to adjust camber u Rotate the eccentric furthest from the ball joint to adjust caster Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Common Adjustments Front Suspension Lower control arm Lower strut Upper Strut plate Ball joint Strut rod Bushing or threaded insert Rear Adjustments Common Rear Adjustments Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Slotted Lower Control Arm Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Lower Strut Attachment u Lower attachment bolts may permit camber angle adjustment. u Aftermarket kit may be required. Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Upper Strut Plate u Camber and/or caster may be adjusted by repositioning the upper strut mount u Aftermarket kit may be required Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Ball Joint u. A ball joint may be rotated or repositioned to adjust camber and / or caster. Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Strut Rod u Loosen one nut and tighten the other to adjust caster u Washers may also be used Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Bushing or Threaded Insert u Camber and / or caster may be adjusted by rotating or replacing the insert bushing. Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Typical Rear Adjustments Full Contact Shim Eccentric Cam Tie Rod Lower Strut Slotted Control Arm Wedge Strut Rod Menu Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Full Contact Shim u Adjust Rear Camber and Toe using full contact shims u Hunter u Northstar u Specialty Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Eccentric Cams u Eccentric cams may be used to adjust rear toe and /or camber Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Tie Rods u Adjust rear individual toe using tie rod adjustment Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Lower Strut u Rear camber may be adjusted by loosening the lower strut retaining bolts and pulling inward or outward Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Slotted Control Arm u Rear lower control arms may be slotted to permit toe and camber adjustments Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Wedge u. A “wedge” be used to adjust rear camber u Wedges may also be used to adjust front camber Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Strut Rod u. A rear strut rod may be used to adjust individual rear toe Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
What Are Equipment Manufacturers Doing To Help Technicians Adjust Various Control Arm Configurations Faster And Better? u. A vehicle specific software tool has been developed for vehicles with control arms using shims, cams and slots. Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
How to turn red bar graphs green fast is the problem – adjust with shims Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Corvette with symmetrical A arm - shims outboard of frame – actual shim size Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Caprice with symmetrical A arm - shims inboard of frame – actual shim size Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Chevy C 10 with asymmetrical A arm - shims outboard of frame – actual shim size Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Chevy C 10 with asymmetrical A arm - shims outboard of frame – actual shim size Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Technician time saver – adjust one side only to match the other side Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
How to turn red bar graphs green fast is the problem – adjust with eccentric cams Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Dodge B 1500 van with eccentric cams - dual bar graphs predict results – steer ahead graph Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Technician time saver – adjust one side only to match the other side Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
How to turn red bar graphs green fast is the problem – adjust with dual slots Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company
Dodge B 1500 -3500 van with dual slots – dual bar graphs predict results – steer ahead graph Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company Main Menu
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