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

Courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company

– 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


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


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


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


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


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


Negative Camber & Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

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


& 1/2° camber

Front


Positive Camber & Negative Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

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


& 1/2° camber

Front


Negative Camber & Positive Caster (Symmetrical Upper Control Arm)

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


& 1/2° camber

Menu

Front


Inboard Shims

Menu

Front


Camber Increase

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

Remove

Remove Shims

Front


Camber Decrease

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

Add

Add Shims

Front


Caster Increase

Remove shim from front and add to rear

1/32” = 1/2°1/16” = 1°1/8” = 2°

Move Shims

Front


Decrease Caster

Remove shim from rear and add to front

1/32” = 1/2°1/16” = 1°1/8” = 2°

Move Shims

Menu

Front


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

Menu


Slotted Frame Adjustment

Upper Control Arm

Changes Camber and/or Caster

Methods:– Hit and Miss– Slotted Formula

Menu


Eccentric Cam Adjustment Upper Control

Arm Changes Camber

and/or Caster Methods:

– Same as slotted control arm

– More controllable Menu


Ford / Lincoln/ Mercury Eccentric

Adjusters for front camber and caster.

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

Menu


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


Camber and Caster Adjustment Is the null indicator

equal distance from center on both bar graphs?NO -

Requires two moves

YES - Requires one move


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


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

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


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.


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


Asymmetrical Control Arm Adjustment

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

effect on caster

have the least effect

on camberMenu


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


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


Common AdjustmentsFront Suspension

Lower control arm

Lower strut

Upper Strut plate

Ball joint

Strut rod

Bushing or threaded insert

Rear AdjustmentsCommon Rear Adjustments

Menu


Slotted Lower Control Arm


Lower Strut Attachment Lower

attachment bolts may permit camber angle adjustment.

Aftermarket kit may be required.


Upper Strut Plate

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

Aftermarket kit may be required


Ball Joint

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


Strut Rod Loosen one nut

and tighten the other to adjust caster

Washers may also be used


Bushing or Threaded Insert

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

Menu


Menu

Typical Rear Adjustments

Full Contact Shim

Eccentric Cam

Tie Rod

Lower Strut

Slotted Control Arm

Wedge

Strut Rod


Full Contact Shim

Adjust Rear Camber and Toe using full contact shims

Hunter Northstar Specialty


Eccentric Cams

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


Tie Rods

Adjust rear individual toe using tie rod adjustment


Lower Strut Rear camber

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


Slotted Control Arm

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


Wedge A “wedge” be

used to adjust rear camber

Wedges may also be used to adjust front camber


Strut Rod

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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

Main Menu

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

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