Front Caster Adjustment

Fig 1: Identifying Front Wheel Caster

Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

IMPORTANT: The front wheel caster setting is fixed by body structure geometry and the fixed lengths of suspension components. Therefore, front caster should not vary under normal circumstances. If the caster angle is found to be out of specification, check for bent suspension components, bent body structure, worn front stabilizer bar bushings and proper alignment measuring techniques. Only when the above criteria are found to be correct, perform the following procedure:

Lock the steering wheel in the straight ahead position.
Remove and discard the strut assembly to body attachment nuts.
Slide the strut forward or rearward in the body in the direction the desired caster angle change.
1. Move the top of the strut forward to decrease positive caster.
  IMPORTANT: Moving the top of the strut 4 mm (0.157 in) will result in approximately 1/2 degree of change in caster angle.
2. Move the top of the strut rearward to increase positive caster.
NOTE: Refer to FASTENER NOTICE .

IMPORTANT: The body attachment holes may need to be filed or ground into oval slots to allow enough front/rear strut movement to adjust the caster to specifications. Do not exceed 9 mm (0.354 in) in the width of the slot.

IMPORTANT: If body was filed, paint the exposed metal with primer.
Install the new strut assembly-to-body attachment nuts.
Tighten: Tighten the front strut assembly-to-body attachment nuts to 29 N.m (21 lb ft).
Inspect the caster angle. Re-adjust if necessary.