Hi
I had a wheel alignment done on my wifes TD5 Discovery . The data I have
for it states.
Front camber (deg) 0 +/- 0
Front Caster (deg 3.70 +/- 0.10
Front toe in (mm) 2 +/- 1
SAI (deg) 13
included angle (deg) 13 +/- 0.5
TOOT inside (deg) N/A
TOOT outside (deg) N/A
Rear camber (deg) -0.17 +/- 0.5
Rear toe in (mm) 0 +/- 0.15
Thrust Angle (deg) 0 +/- 0.15

The front caster angle on the front left wheel was 3.6 degrees which is in
tolerance but the front right was 3.2 degrees which is half a degree out or
0.4 of a degree outside tolerance. The wheel alignment place told me that
this cannot be adjusted. I guess anything can be adjusted but is this
something a wheel alignmnet place should be able to adjust?
thanks in advance
Sheridan

Ian Roy wrote:

> Hi
> I had a wheel alignment done on my wifes TD5 Discovery . The data I have
> for it states.
> Front camber (deg) 0 +/- 0
> Front Caster (deg 3.70 +/- 0.10
> Front toe in (mm) 2 +/- 1
> SAI (deg) 13
> included angle (deg) 13 +/- 0.5
> TOOT inside (deg) N/A
> TOOT outside (deg) N/A
> Rear camber (deg) -0.17 +/- 0.5
> Rear toe in (mm) 0 +/- 0.15
> Thrust Angle (deg) 0 +/- 0.15
>
> The front caster angle on the front left wheel was 3.6 degrees which is in
> tolerance but the front right was 3.2 degrees which is half a degree out
> or
> 0.4 of a degree outside tolerance. The wheel alignment place told me
> that
> this cannot be adjusted. I guess anything can be adjusted but is this
> something a wheel alignmnet place should be able to adjust?
> thanks in advance
> Sheridan

The caster angle is fixed the rigid front axle housing. There is no
adjustment and the only way the caster angle can differ from side to side
is either the axle housing is twisted or the swivel ball attachment has
elongated bolt holes (unlikely unless it has been badly neglected) - or the
swivel bearings are worn, which they should have noted if this was the
case. It is possible the caster angle difference is road damage, but it may
be manufacturing tolerance. The overall caster angle for both sides is
controlled by the radius arms and worn bushes will allow it to vary. It
will also vary with spring deflection, so it is just possible that a change
in load between when the two sides were measured would cause the
difference. Because the caster angle changes with spring deflection, I am
surprised the tolerance is so close.
Adjustment would be by replacing components, in this case probably the axle
housing, but I would investigate more closely before doing anything that
drastic.

Ian Roy wrote:
> Hi
> I had a wheel alignment done on my wifes TD5 Discovery . The data I have
> for it states.
> Front camber (deg) 0 +/- 0
> Front Caster (deg 3.70 +/- 0.10
> Front toe in (mm) 2 +/- 1
> SAI (deg) 13
> included angle (deg) 13 +/- 0.5
> TOOT inside (deg) N/A
> TOOT outside (deg) N/A
> Rear camber (deg) -0.17 +/- 0.5
> Rear toe in (mm) 0 +/- 0.15
> Thrust Angle (deg) 0 +/- 0.15
>
> The front caster angle on the front left wheel was 3.6 degrees which is in
> tolerance but the front right was 3.2 degrees which is half a degree out or
> 0.4 of a degree outside tolerance. The wheel alignment place told me that
> this cannot be adjusted. I guess anything can be adjusted but is this
> something a wheel alignmnet place should be able to adjust?
> thanks in advance

They are correct - it it not adjustable within any normal meaning of the
word, and is probably a manufacturing tolerance issue. I'd not be
worrying at all about a caster error of less than about 0.7° - it'll
make no noticeable difference to either handling or tyre wear.

Note: I'm a mechanic by trade and have done more wheel alignments than
I can remember, but the main thing I do remember is the trouble I had
trying to convince clients that an alignment "error" is neither
significant nor cause for concern.

--
EMB