Alignment Boot Camp · Module 00

Alignment Angles & Pull

A4 · Suspension & Steering≈ 9 minCamber · Caster · Toe
01 The Three Angles

What each one is, what adjusts it, and whether it makes the car pull or eat tires.

Camber
Front view — wheel tilt

Top of the tire tilted out (+) or in (−). Too much wears one tire edge.

Adjust: cam bolts · slots · offset ball joint
Caster
Side view — steering axis

Steering axis tilted back (+) for stability & return. Doesn't wear tires.

Adjust: cam bolts · strut rod · offset ball joint
Toe
Top view — pointing

Wheels point together (toe-in) or apart (toe-out). The #1 tire-wear angle.

Adjust: tie rods
⚑ Which way does it pull?

The car pulls toward the side with more positive camber, and toward the side with less positive caster. Side-to-side difference (cross-camber / cross-caster) over about 0.5° shows up as a pull. Toe doesn't pull — it wears tires and cocks the steering wheel.

02 On the Rack

Turn the tie rods, cam bolts, and offset ball joints. Watch the angles, the wear, and which way it pulls.

CENTERLINE LEFT (driver) RIGHT (pass.) +0.0° +0.0°
◀ LEFTSTRAIGHTRIGHT ▶
Tracks straight
TOP VIEW · FRONT ↑ TOE 0.00°
+0.0°Camber L
+0.0°Camber R
0.0°Cross-camber
≤0.5°
+4.0°Caster L
+4.0°Caster R
0.0°Cross-caster
≤0.5°
Left camber · cam / offset ball joint+0.0°
Right camber · cam / offset ball joint+0.0°
Left caster · cam / strut rod+4.0°
Right caster · cam / strut rod+4.0°
Toe total · tie rods0.00°
03 What If…

Reason first, then reveal.

?The car pulls left. Left camber is +0.8°, right camber +0.1°, caster equal. What's driving it?
?Camber is dead equal, but caster is +2.0° left and +4.5° right. Which way does it pull?
?Angles are perfect, but the steering wheel sits cocked and one tire feathers. Cause?
04 Practice

ASE-style. Pick an answer to see why.

05 Recap
  • Camber (front-view tilt): pulls toward more positive; excess wears a tire edge. Set with cams/slots/offset ball joint.
  • Caster (steering-axis tilt): pulls toward less positive; gives stability/return, no tire wear. Set with cams/strut rod/offset joint.
  • Toe (tie rods): the top tire-wear angle; near zero. Doesn't pull — cocks the wheel and feathers tires.
  • Keep cross-camber and cross-caster under ~0.5° or the car pulls.
  • No factory camber/caster adjuster? Offset ball joints and cam kits add the range.
Redline · Alignment Boot Camp · Module 00