1. 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

2. Positive Camber Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)
Move front and rear of upper control arm outward equal amounts
1/16” equals 1/4°
1/8” equals 1/2°
1/4” equals 1 degree
Front

3. Negative Camber Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)
Move front and rear of upper control arm inward equal amounts
1/16” equals 1/4°
1/8” equals 1/2°
1/4” equals 1 degree
Front

4. Positive Caster Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)
Move the front of the control arm outward and the rear of the control arm inward equal amounts
1/32” equals 1/2 degree
1/16” equals 1 degree
1/8” equals 2°
Front

5. Negative Caster Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)
Move the front of the control arm inward and the rear of the control arm outward equal amounts
1/32” equals 1/2°
1/16” equals 1°
1/8” equals 2°
Front

6. Positive Camber & Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)
Move the front of the control arm outward
1/16” equals 1/2° caster & 1/4° camber
1/8” equals 1° caster & 1/2° camber
Front

7. Negative Camber & Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)
Move the front of the control arm inward
1/16” equals 1/2° caster & 1/4° camber
1/8” equals 1° caster & 1/2° camber
Front

8. Positive Camber & Negative Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)
Move the rear of the control arm outward
1/16” equals 1/2° caster & 1/4° camber
1/8” equals 1° caster & 1/2° camber
Front

9. Negative Camber & Positive Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)
Move the rear of the control arm inward
1/16” equals 1/2° caster & 1/4° camber
1/8” equals 1° caster & 1/2° camber
Front
Menu

10. Inboard Shims
Front
Menu

11. Camber Increase Remove equal thickness shim from front and rear
1/16” = 1/4°
1/8” = 1/2°
1/4” = 1°
Front
Remove
Remove Shims

12. Camber Decrease Add equal thickness shim from front and rear
1/16” = 1/4°
1/8” = 1/2°
1/4” = 1°
Front
Add
Add Shims

13. Caster Increase Remove shim from front and add to rear 1/32” = 1/2°
1/16” = 1°
1/8” = 2°
Front
Move Shims

14. Decrease Caster Remove shim from rear and add to front 1/32” = 1/2°
1/16” = 1°
1/8” = 2°
Front
Move Shims
Menu

15. Outboard Shim (symmetrical)
Reverse the shim movement shown for Inboard Shims
All other factors stay the same
1/16” equals 1/4° camber
1/16” equals 1/2° caster
Menu

16. Slotted Frame Adjustment
Upper Control Arm
Changes Camber and/or Caster
Methods:
Hit and Miss
Slotted Formula
Menu

17. Eccentric Cam Adjustment
Upper Control Arm
Changes Camber and/or Caster
Methods:
Same as slotted control arm
More controllable
Menu

18. Ford / Lincoln/ Mercury
Eccentric Adjusters for front camber and caster.
Loosen lock nut and rotate large lower nut to adjust angles.
Menu

19. Slotted Control Arm Formula
Reduce specification tolerances to:
.25° (1/4) camber tolerance
.50° (1/2) caster tolerance
Lock the service brakes
Level and lock the front sensors
View the front bar graph screen for front camber and caster

20. Camber and Caster Adjustment
Is the null indicator equal distance from center on both bar graphs?
NO Requires two moves
YES Requires one move

21. Null indicators are not equal
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

22. Null indicators are not equal
Move the control arm until both null indicators are equal distance from the center of their respective graphs.

23. Null indicators are equal
Move the end of the control arm which will make both null indicators move toward the center of their respective graphs.

24. Symmetrical Lower Control Arm
Reverse the upper control arm movements
All other factors stay the same
1/16” equals 1/4° camber
1/16” equals 1/2° caster
Menu

25. Asymmetrical Control Arm Adjustment
The adjuster furthest from the ball joint will:
have the greatest effect on caster
have the least effect on camber
Menu

26. Asymmetric Upper Control Arms
Add or remove shims equally to change camber
Add or remove shims from the pack furthest from the ball joint to adjust caster
GM G20 Van

27. Asymmetrical Lower Control Arm
Rotate the eccentric closest to the ball joint to adjust camber
Rotate the eccentric furthest from the ball joint to adjust caster
Menu

28. Common Adjustments Front Suspension Rear Adjustments Lower control arm
Lower strut
Upper Strut plate
Ball joint
Strut rod
Bushing or threaded insert
Rear Adjustments
Common Rear Adjustments
Menu

29. Slotted Lower Control Arm
93 F body

30. Lower Strut Attachment
Lower attachment bolts may permit camber angle adjustment.
Aftermarket kit may be required.

31. Upper Strut Plate
Camber and/or caster may be adjusted by repositioning the upper strut mount
Aftermarket kit may be required

32. Ball Joint
A ball joint may be rotated or repositioned to adjust camber and / or caster.

33. Strut Rod Loosen one nut and tighten the other to adjust caster
Washers may also be used

34. Bushing or Threaded Insert
Camber and / or caster may be adjusted by rotating or replacing the insert bushing.
Menu

35. Typical Rear Adjustments
Full Contact Shim
Eccentric Cam
Tie Rod
Lower Strut
Slotted Control Arm
Wedge
Strut Rod
Menu

36. Full Contact Shim Adjust Rear Camber and Toe using full contact shims
Hunter
Northstar
Specialty

37. Eccentric Cams
Eccentric cams may be used to adjust rear toe and /or camber

38. Tie Rods
Adjust rear individual toe using tie rod adjustment

39. Lower Strut
Rear camber may be adjusted by loosening the lower strut retaining bolts and pulling inward or outward

40. Slotted Control Arm
Rear lower control arms may be slotted to permit toe and camber adjustments

41. Wedge A “wedge” be used to adjust rear camber
Wedges may also be used to adjust front camber

42. Strut Rod
A rear strut rod may be used to adjust individual rear toe

43. What Are Equipment Manufacturers Doing To Help Technicians Adjust Various Control Arm Configurations Faster And Better?
A vehicle specific software tool has been developed for vehicles with control arms using shims, cams and slots.

44. How to turn red bar graphs green fast is the problem – adjust with shims

45. Corvette with symmetrical A arm - shims outboard of frame – actual shim size

46. Caprice with symmetrical A arm - shims inboard of frame – actual shim size

47. Chevy C10 with asymmetrical A arm - shims outboard of frame – actual shim size

48. Chevy C10 with asymmetrical A arm - shims outboard of frame – actual shim size

49. Technician time saver – adjust one side only to match the other side

50. How to turn red bar graphs green fast is the problem – adjust with eccentric cams

51. Dodge B1500 van with eccentric cams - dual bar graphs predict results – steer ahead graph

52. Technician time saver – adjust one side only to match the other side

53. How to turn red bar graphs green fast is the problem – adjust with dual slots

54. Dodge B1500-3500 van with dual slots – dual bar graphs predict results – steer ahead graph
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