Wheel Alignment

Adjust front and rear wheel alignment on a 2009 Aston Martin DB9 to factory specifications using professional alignment equipment to ensure proper handling, tire wear, and vehicle tracking.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tie rod end (if damaged or seized) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Camber bolt kit (if replacing worn adjustment bolts) × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground in alignment bay area
2. Verify tire pressures match factory specification (check door jamb placard) and adjust if needed; uneven tire pressure will affect alignment readings
3. Inspect all four tires for uneven wear patterns, damage, or mismatched sizes; document findings as these indicate pre-existing alignment issues
4. Bounce each corner of the vehicle several times to settle suspension before taking measurements
5. Verify suspension components are in good condition: check for worn ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, and damaged struts/shocks; alignment cannot correct worn suspension
6. Ensure vehicle is at curb weight with fuel tank full and no cargo or passengers

Procedure

1. 1

   Perform initial alignment inspection and readings
   Roll vehicle onto alignment rack and position wheels on turntables/slip plates. Ensure vehicle is centered on rack. Attach alignment targets/sensors to all four wheels according to alignment machine manufacturer instructions. Compensate for wheel runout per machine procedure. Perform initial alignment reading to capture current camber, caster, toe, and thrust angle values for all four wheels. Print or record these specifications to compare with factory specifications and post-adjustment values.
2. 2

   Compare readings to factory specifications
   Review initial alignment readings against Aston Martin DB9 factory specifications. Review initial alignment readings against the official Aston Martin DB9 workshop manual specifications for the 2009 model year. Do NOT rely on generic estimated values — obtain the exact factory camber, caster, toe, and thrust angle specifications from Aston Martin service documentation before making any adjustments, as using incorrect targets will cause poor handling and tire wear. Identify which wheels require adjustment. Priority order per standard alignment practice (verify against OEM procedure): set/verify caster first, then camber if adjustable, then rear toe, then front toe, since caster and camber adjustments affect toe readings. Note: Factory specifications must be obtained from Aston Martin DB9 factory alignment data (AMDS/workshop manual) for front camber, front caster, front toe, rear camber, and rear toe before setting targets. Do not rely on generic/typical values. Note: Rear camber per Aston Martin factory specification (verify exact range in factory service data) Note: Factory specifications must be confirmed against the official Aston Martin DB9 (2009) workshop manual before proceeding; do not rely on generic values. Record the published front/rear camber, caster, and toe ranges and preferred settings from the OEM documentation and use those as the targets.
3. 3

   Adjust rear toe
   Rear toe adjustment location and mechanism must be confirmed against the Aston Martin DB9 workshop manual before proceeding. The adjustment is typically made at an eccentric cam bolt or threaded adjuster on the rear toe link/control arm inner mounting point; verify the exact component and adjustment method for this vehicle. Loosen the correct adjuster per factory procedure. Rotate the eccentric cam to adjust toe in or out while monitoring alignment machine readings. Moving the rear of the wheel outward increases toe-in; moving it inward increases toe-out. Adjust both rear wheels to achieve equal toe settings and center the thrust angle (thrust angle should be 0° ±0.1°). Once settings are correct, torque cam bolts to the Aston Martin-specified value (verify exact torque in the DB9 workshop manual) while holding eccentric position. Note: Rear toe adjustment method and location must be confirmed in the Aston Martin DB9 factory service manual (verify whether adjustment is via eccentric cam bolts, adjustable toe links, or shims before proceeding). Note: Rear toe adjustment method and location must be confirmed against the Aston Martin DB9 workshop manual before proceeding. Rear toe is commonly adjusted via an eccentric cam bolt or threaded adjuster on the rear toe link; identify the correct adjuster per OEM documentation, loosen the fastener, and rotate the adjuster to set toe while monitoring alignment machine readings. Note: Rear toe adjustment mechanism unverified — confirm against Aston Martin DB9 workshop manual (may be eccentric cam bolts, adjustable toe links, or shims at the rear toe link/subframe mount)
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts168 Nm (124 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Adjust front toe
   Front toe is adjusted at the tie rod ends. Loosen the tie rod jam nut on both left and right tie rods (jam nut is located where inner and outer tie rod sections join). Use two wrenches: one to hold the tie rod body and prevent it from rotating, another to loosen the jam nut. Once jam nuts are loose, rotate the tie rod to lengthen or shorten effective length. Rotating the tie rod to shorten effective length increases toe-in; lengthening increases toe-out. Observe the actual alignment machine readings as you rotate to confirm the direction of change for this vehicle rather than assuming rotation direction. Adjust both sides equally to maintain steering wheel centering, or adjust one side more if steering wheel was off-center. Monitor alignment readings in real-time and adjust until front total toe is within specification. Note: Rotate the tie rod to lengthen or shorten its effective length while watching the alignment machine readings to determine the correct direction; verify whether shortening increases toe-in or toe-out on this vehicle in real time rather than assuming a fixed rotation direction.
5. 5

   Torque tie rod jam nuts
   Once front toe settings are correct and steering wheel is centered (vehicle tracking straight with steering wheel at 0°), torque both tie rod jam nuts to specification. Hold the tie rod body with one wrench to prevent rotation while torquing the jam nut. Verify toe readings did not change during torquing process; re-check alignment readings after torquing.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nut48 Nm (35 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Check and adjust front camber if needed
   Front camber adjustability and method on the 2009 DB9 must be confirmed against the Aston Martin workshop manual before proceeding. If camber is adjustable (e.g., via eccentric bolts or shims at the control arm mounting points), follow the factory-documented procedure. If front camber is out of specification and adjustable provisions are present, loosen the relevant fasteners. If front camber is out of specification and adjustable camber bolts are installed, loosen the camber bolt nuts. Use a pry bar to shift the knuckle position inward (more negative camber) or outward (more positive camber) while monitoring alignment machine. Adjustment range is limited; if camber cannot be brought to specification, suspension damage or modification may be present. Once camber is set, torque camber bolts to specification. Note: Some DB9 models may have fixed camber with no adjustment; verify adjustability before attempting. Note: Front camber adjustment method and location must be confirmed in the Aston Martin DB9 factory service manual (verify whether adjustment is via shims at the upper wishbone, eccentric/camber bolts, or is non-adjustable before proceeding). Note: Front camber adjustment method must be confirmed against the Aston Martin DB9 workshop manual before proceeding. The DB9 uses a double-wishbone front suspension; camber may be set via shims or eccentric/adjustment fasteners at the control arm, or may be non-adjustable. Identify the correct method per OEM documentation before attempting any adjustment. Note: Front camber adjustment method and location unverified — confirm against Aston Martin DB9 workshop manual (may be via shims at the upper or lower wishbone, eccentric/camber bolts, or non-adjustable)
   Torque spec

   Camber Bolts75 Nm (55 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Verify caster settings
   Front caster adjustability on the 2009 DB9 must be confirmed against the Aston Martin workshop manual; the DB9 double-wishbone front suspension may provide caster adjustment (e.g., via shims or eccentric/adjustment fasteners at the wishbone mounts) or may be non-adjustable. Verify the correct method per OEM documentation before concluding caster cannot be adjusted. Verify caster readings are within factory specification and equal side-to-side (within 0.5° cross-caster tolerance). If caster is significantly out of specification, inspect for bent suspension components, frame damage, or incorrect part installation. Document any caster discrepancies but do not attempt adjustment unless aftermarket caster adjustment components are installed.
8. 8

   Perform final alignment verification
   With all adjustments complete, perform a final full four-wheel alignment reading. Verify all parameters (front/rear camber, front caster, front/rear toe, thrust angle) are within factory specifications. Verify steering wheel is centered (0° ±2°) with wheels pointing straight. Print final alignment report showing before and after values. If any values are still out of specification, identify cause (adjustment limits reached, worn components, damage) and document.
9. 9

   Lower vehicle and test drive
   Carefully roll vehicle off alignment rack. Torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern if wheels were removed or loosened. Lower vehicle to ground. Test drive vehicle in a safe area at various speeds (city and highway if possible). Verify vehicle tracks straight with hands lightly on steering wheel, steering wheel remains centered during straight driving, no pulling to either side, and steering returns to center after turns. If any issues are present, return to alignment rack and re-verify settings.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all tie rod jam nuts are torqued to specification and tie rod boots are not torn or twisted
2. Verify all camber and toe adjustment fasteners are properly torqued and secured
3. Check that alignment targets/sensors have been removed from all wheels
4. Confirm wheel lug nuts are torqued to specification in star pattern

Verification

• Final alignment readings show all parameters within factory specification ranges
• Steering wheel is centered (within ±2°) when driving straight
• Vehicle tracks straight with minimal steering input on level road
• No pulling to either side during acceleration, braking, or steady cruising
• Thrust angle is at or near 0° (within ±0.1°)
• Before and after alignment report is printed and documents all adjustments made
• Test drive confirms stable, predictable handling with proper steering return

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