Wheel Alignment

Adjust front and rear wheel alignment angles (camber, caster, toe) to factory specifications to ensure proper tire wear and vehicle handling.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Upper control arm shims (if adjustment needed) × 1 — Use OEM specification or equivalent
• Tie rod end lock nuts (replacement recommended) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Apply penetrating oil to all tie rod adjusting sleeve clamps and upper control arm mounting bolts at least 30 minutes before starting
2. Verify tire pressures are set to specifications (typically 28-30 PSI front and rear for Rebel Machine)
3. Inspect suspension components for excessive wear, bent components, or damaged bushings that would prevent proper alignment
4. Check wheel bearings for excessive play; adjust or replace if necessary before alignment
5. Ensure vehicle is on level surface with fuel tank approximately half full
6. Park vehicle on alignment rack or lift with turning plates/slip plates under front wheels
7. Set parking brake and place wheel chocks behind rear wheels

Procedure

1. 1

   Position vehicle and install alignment equipment
   Drive vehicle onto alignment rack ensuring front wheels are centered on turning plates and rear wheels are on slip plates or level surface. Attach alignment heads or sensors to all four wheels according to alignment machine manufacturer instructions. Perform rolling compensation procedure by pushing vehicle forward and backward to center suspension.
2. 2

   Perform initial alignment reading
   With vehicle settled at ride height, perform complete alignment measurement. Record initial camber, caster, and toe readings for all wheels. Compare readings to factory specifications: Front camber 0° to +1°, Front caster +1° to +2°, Front toe 1/16" to 1/8" toe-in, Rear toe 1/16" to 3/16" toe-in.
3. 3

   Adjust front camber and caster
   Camber and caster are adjusted together using shims at the upper control arm mounting points. To increase positive caster, add shims at the rear bolt; to increase camber, add equal shims at both bolts. To decrease camber, remove shims equally. Loosen upper control arm frame mounting bolts, install or remove shims as needed, then retorque bolts. Bounce front suspension to settle and recheck readings.
4. 4

   Adjust front toe
   Loosen tie rod adjusting sleeve clamp bolts on both sides. Using tie rod sleeve tool or pipe wrench, rotate the adjusting sleeves to change toe setting. Rotating sleeves toward rear of vehicle increases toe-in. Make equal adjustments on both sides to maintain steering wheel centering. Ensure sleeve clamps are positioned so bolts do not contact tie rod ends when tightened.
5. 5

   Verify steering wheel position
   With wheels pointed straight ahead on turning plates, verify steering wheel is centered. If steering wheel is off-center, loosen both tie rod sleeve clamps and rotate both sleeves in same direction by equal amounts: rotate toward front to turn wheel right, toward rear to turn wheel left. This maintains toe setting while correcting steering wheel position.
6. 6

   Tighten front tie rod sleeve clamps
   Position tie rod sleeve clamps so clamp bolts are oriented away from potential interference points. Clamp slot should be positioned opposite tie rod slit to prevent closure. Tighten clamp bolts securely, typically 15-20 ft-lbs for sleeve clamps. Verify sleeves do not rotate after tightening.
7. 7

   Check rear axle alignment
   The 1970 Rebel uses a solid rear axle with leaf springs. Rear camber is non-adjustable and should be approximately 0°. Verify rear axle is square to chassis by measuring from frame reference points to rear axle housing on both sides; measurements should be equal within 1/8". If axle is significantly out of square, inspect leaf spring mounts and shackles for damage.
8. 8

   Adjust rear toe if necessary
   If rear toe is out of specification and axle housing is square, adjustment requires bending or shimming axle mounting points. For minor corrections, specialized rear toe adjustment kits with eccentric shims may be installed at spring mounting points. This is typically not adjustable on stock leaf spring setups without modification.
9. 9

   Perform final alignment check
   With all adjustments complete, bounce each corner of the vehicle several times to settle suspension. Perform final alignment reading and verify all angles meet specifications: Front camber 0° to +1°, Front caster +1° to +2°, Front toe 1/16" to 1/8" toe-in total. Cross-caster (side-to-side difference) should be within 0.5°. Cross-camber should be within 0.5°.
10. 10

    Road test vehicle
    Remove alignment equipment and lower vehicle. Perform road test on straight, level road. Vehicle should track straight with hands-off steering, steering wheel should be centered, and there should be no pulling to either side. Test steering return after turns. If vehicle pulls or steering is off-center, recheck measurements and adjustment positioning.

Reassembly

1. Verify all tie rod clamp bolts are tightened and positioned correctly
2. Confirm upper control arm bolts are torqued to specification after shim installation
3. Check that no tools or alignment equipment remain under vehicle
4. Print and retain alignment report showing before and after measurements

Verification

• All alignment angles must be within factory specifications or green range on alignment machine
• Steering wheel must be centered when driving straight on level road
• Vehicle should not pull to either side during straight-line driving
• Tire wear patterns should improve over next 500-1000 miles if alignment was previously out of specification
• No binding or unusual resistance should be felt in steering operation

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