courtesy of hunter engineering company –control arm movement concepts –inboard shim adjustment...

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– 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

Control Arm Adjustment

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Positive Camber Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

Move front and rear of upper control arm outward equal amounts1/16” equals 1/4°1/8” equals 1/2°1/4” equals 1 degree

Front

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Negative Camber Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

Move front and rear of upper control arm inward equal amounts1/16” equals 1/4°1/8” equals 1/2°1/4” equals 1 degree

Front

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Positive Caster Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

Move the front of the control arm outward and the rear of the control arm inward equal amounts1/32” equals 1/2 degree1/16” equals 1 degree1/8” equals 2°

Front

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Negative Caster Change (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

Move the front of the control arm inward and the rear of the control arm outward equal amounts1/32” equals 1/2°1/16” equals 1°1/8” equals 2°

Front

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Positive Camber & Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

Move the front of the control arm outward1/16” equals 1/2°

caster & 1/4° camber1/8” equals 1° caster

& 1/2° camber

Front

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Negative Camber & Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

Move the front of the control arm inward1/16” equals 1/2°

caster & 1/4° camber1/8” equals 1° caster

& 1/2° camber

Front

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Positive Camber & Negative Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

Move the rear of the control arm outward1/16” equals 1/2°

caster & 1/4° camber1/8” equals 1° caster

& 1/2° camber

Front

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Negative Camber & Positive Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

Move the rear of the control arm inward1/16” equals 1/2°

caster & 1/4° camber1/8” equals 1° caster

& 1/2° camber

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Front

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Inboard Shims

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Front

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Camber Increase

Remove equal thickness shim from front and rear1/16” = 1/4°1/8” = 1/2°1/4” = 1°

Remove

Remove Shims

Front

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Camber Decrease

Add equal thickness shim from front and rear1/16” = 1/4°1/8” = 1/2°1/4” = 1°

Add

Add Shims

Front

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Caster Increase

Remove shim from front and add to rear

1/32” = 1/2°1/16” = 1°1/8” = 2°

Move Shims

Front

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Decrease Caster

Remove shim from rear and add to front

1/32” = 1/2°1/16” = 1°1/8” = 2°

Move Shims

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Front

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Outboard Shim (symmetrical)

Reverse the shim movement shown for Inboard Shims

All other factors stay the same1/16” equals 1/4° camber1/16” equals 1/2° caster

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Slotted Frame Adjustment

Upper Control Arm

Changes Camber and/or Caster

Methods:– Hit and Miss– Slotted Formula

Menu

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Eccentric Cam Adjustment Upper Control

Arm Changes Camber

and/or Caster Methods:

– Same as slotted control arm

– More controllable Menu

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Ford / Lincoln/ Mercury Eccentric

Adjusters for front camber and caster.

Loosen lock nut and rotate large lower nut to adjust angles.

Menu

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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

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Camber and Caster Adjustment Is the null indicator

equal distance from center on both bar graphs?NO -

Requires two moves

YES - Requires one move

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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

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Null indicators are not equal Move the control arm until both null

indicators are equal distance from the center of their respective graphs.

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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.

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Symmetrical Lower Control Arm

Reverse the upper control arm movements

All other factors stay the same1/16” equals 1/4°

camber1/16” equals 1/2°

casterMenu

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Asymmetrical Control Arm Adjustment

The adjuster furthest from the ball joint will:have the greatest

effect on caster

have the least effect

on camberMenu

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Asymmetric Upper Control Arms

GM G20 Van

Add or remove shims equally to change camber

Add or remove shims from the pack furthest from the ball joint to adjust caster

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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

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Common AdjustmentsFront Suspension

Lower control arm

Lower strut

Upper Strut plate

Ball joint

Strut rod

Bushing or threaded insert

Rear AdjustmentsCommon Rear Adjustments

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Slotted Lower Control Arm

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Lower Strut Attachment Lower

attachment bolts may permit camber angle adjustment.

Aftermarket kit may be required.

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Upper Strut Plate

Camber and/or caster may be adjusted by repositioning the upper strut mount

Aftermarket kit may be required

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Ball Joint

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

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Strut Rod Loosen one nut

and tighten the other to adjust caster

Washers may also be used

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Bushing or Threaded Insert

Camber and / or caster may be adjusted by rotating or replacing the insert bushing.

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Typical Rear Adjustments

Full Contact Shim

Eccentric Cam

Tie Rod

Lower Strut

Slotted Control Arm

Wedge

Strut Rod

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Full Contact Shim

Adjust Rear Camber and Toe using full contact shims

Hunter Northstar Specialty

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Eccentric Cams

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

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Tie Rods

Adjust rear individual toe using tie rod adjustment

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Lower Strut Rear camber

may be adjusted by loosening the lower strut retaining bolts and pulling inward or outward

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Slotted Control Arm

Rear lower control arms may be slotted to permit toe and camber adjustments

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Wedge A “wedge” be

used to adjust rear camber

Wedges may also be used to adjust front camber

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Strut Rod

A rear strut rod may be used to adjust individual rear toe

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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