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Wheel alignment
The angles of the wheels greatly affect the stability of the car, tire wear and fuel consumption. There are the following wheel alignment.
The collapse - is the slope of the wheel in a vertical plane relative to the center line of the car (Fig. 10.14). It can be positive if the wheels are inclined outwardly and negative - if the wheels are inclined inwardly. Camber mainly affects the uniformity of deterioration of tires of the front wheels. If the difference between the camber angle of the front axle is greater than 30 ', then the car will withdraw aside at movement in a straight line. Adjusting camber can be made only at the junction of the knuckle with the bottom part of an amortization rack.
| Fig. 10.15. The convergence of the front wheels
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Convergence - the difference in distance between the wheels, measured at the height of their axes between the edges of the rims (Fig. 10.15). Positive convergence means that the front wheels are located closer together than the rear adjustment when measured at the middle point of the wheel. A negative convergence means that the front wheels are at a greater distance from each other than behind. In the VW Passat is set neutral convergence. For vehicles with power steering is controlled only by the convergence of the right steering rod. The transverse inclination of the axis of rotation wheel - is the angle of inclination between the axis and the vertical knuckle through the point of fastening the wheel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. When positive self-resetting wheel angle to the center position after turning improves.
| Fig. 10.16. The angle of inclination of the longitudinal axis of rotation
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The angle of inclination of the longitudinal axis of rotation (Fig. 10.16). The axis about which the wheel rotates, is placed in the space so that its lower part is inclined forward. Such corner of a longitudinal inclination is called positive. Available pitch results in a stabilizing moments seeking to recover the steered wheels in the straight-ahead position. Terms of checking wheel alignment Tire pressure should correspond to the norm. The vehicle must be mounted on a level surface. The car should not be loaded, and the fuel tank must be filled halfway. Before checking wheel alignment rock the vehicle body. The steering must be properly and correctly adjusted. The steering rods should be absent backlash. There must be no play in the wheel suspension.
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