Rear Wheel Track Alignment

The rear end is secured by a number of control arms, making it possible for the unit to move up and down, but not side to side. These arms can usually be adjusted, allowing the rear end to be aligned with the rest of the car. The growing popularity of front wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles has sharply increased the need for correct alignment of all four wheels. In fact, some designs require "camber" and "toe-in" adjustments on all four wheels. The four wheel alignment is required so that correct rear wheel track is established. The front wheels steer the vehicle, but the rear wheels direct it. The rear wheels determine the "thrust line" which, in effect, is the rear rolling direction. When the thrust line is made to agree with the vehicle frame's centerline (by aligning front and rear wheels and centering the steering wheel), correct rear wheel track will be achieved. An out-of-line condition not caused by an accident usually can be traced to a mechanical defect or sag due to stress in the middle or corner of the frame. A frame that is out of line must be straightened before it is possible to get correct steering alignment. The frame rails must be the same height from the floor on each side at the spring seats, along with the essential parallel and right angle relationships.