alignment specifications Flashcards
What is the first crucial step before starting any vehicle alignment?
Determine the make, model, and year of the vehicle.
Why is it important to know if a vehicle has power or manual steering before an alignment?
Some older models with manual steering may use lower caster specifications to reduce steering effort.
What should you do to ensure you have the right alignment specifications?
Determine the correct specs
For increased accuracy, how many sources should you ideally check for alignment specifications?
If possible, check specs from two different sources to ensure correct readings
How should you compensate for a gas tank that isn’t full during an alignment?
Place an equal amount of weight in the luggage compartment
Approximately how much does gasoline weigh per gallon?
Gasoline weighs 6 lb per gallon
Roughly how much does a full 20-gallon gas tank weigh?
A 20-gallon gas tank, when full, weighs 120 lb
Why is it critical to find the alignment specifications for the specific vehicle being worked on?
Determine the correct specs for the exact vehicle being checked
What should you avoid doing with the vehicle’s doors during an alignment, and why?
keep the doors closed, as opening them can cause the vehicle to sag and change all the alignment angles.
What is the recommendation regarding the vehicle’s windows during an alignment?
Keep the window down
What are alignment specifications used for?
Vehicle manufacturers and alignment equipment manufacturers use them to specify alignment angles
What is important to remember about some published alignment specifications?
Some are published as guidelines for acceptable values for state or local vehicle inspections
When performing an alignment, should you aim for inspection guidelines or service specifications?
Be sure to use the service or set to specifications
What three values are indicated in the Maximum/Minimum/Preferred method of specifying alignment angles?
Preferred setting, minimum allowable value, and maximum allowable value
What should an alignment technician always attempt when using the Maximum/Minimum/Preferred method?
he technician should always attempt to align the vehicle to the preferred setting
How does the Plus or Minus method indicate allowable values?
It indicates the preferred setting with the lowest and highest allowable value indicated by a negative (-) and positive (+) sign
What is the range for a camber specification of +1/2 degree ±1/2 degree?
The minimum value would be 0 degree, and the maximum value would be +1 degree. The range is from 0 to 1 degree.
What is the assumption about an alignment angle if it is not labeled with a negative sign?
The angle is assumed positive
What are the common ways alignment angles are published in terms of units?
in fractional or decimal degrees, or in degrees and minutes
How many minutes are there in one degree?
There are 60 minutes (60′) in 1 degree
When is it necessary to find the midpoint of alignment specifications?
If you are using equipment that requires a midpoint to be entered for specifications given as a range
What is the first step in finding the midpoint of a specification range?
Determine the specification range or span, which is the total angle value from lowest to higheset
What is the second step in finding the midpoint of a specification range?
Dividing the specification range by 2 will give the midpoint of the range
What is the final step in finding the midpoint of the specifications?
Add the midpoint of the range to the smaller spec (or subtract from the larger specification)
