Check Caster At Front & Rear Axle: Checking
- Observe general information on chassis alignment. See PREPARATION FOR CHASSIS ALIGNMENT . With vehicle on alignment rack, check the actual value of caster. Select a nomogram corresponding to the vehicle wheel base (2400 mm, 2850 mm, 3120 mm and 3400 mm). Determine auxiliary dimensions for evaluation on one side first (left or right). See CHECK VEHICLE WHEEL BASE .
- Measure distance between center of rear trailing arm bolt at the front axle to frame bottom edge (arrows). Enter determined dimension (example, 132 mm), into the nomogram. See Fig 1 . This distance is the supplementary dimension for the front axle which is required to determining the specified caster value. It has the designation (b).
- Measure distance between center of front trailing arm bolt at the rear axle to the bottom edge of the frame cross member (arrows). Enter determined dimension (example, 322 mm), into the nomogram. See Fig 2 . This distance is the supplementary dimension for the rear axle which is required to determining the specified caster value. It has the designation (a).
- Connect both values (a) and (b) with lines. Determine caster value required for the vehicle at the point of intersection vertically downward in column (c), caster. See WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS .
- With optical measuring instruments which indicate the toe-in in degrees, the value of degrees in millimeters is to be taken from conversion table enclosed with the device. If deviations from the specified values are determined, there could be a deformation of the undercarriage or frame.
NOTE:
Conversion table with device, is in references to Mercedes-Benz approved alignment equipment.