This procedure sets the front wheel alignment (camber, caster, toe) on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 RWD to factory specifications using alignment equipment.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Cam bolt kit (upper control arm) × 1 — Use OEM specification if cam bolts are damaged or seized

Preparation

1. Verify tire pressures are set to door placard specification (typically 35 PSI front/rear for standard load)
2. Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns that may indicate suspension damage requiring repair before alignment
3. Check for worn tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings, and steering components - replace before aligning if worn
4. Ensure fuel tank is at least half full to achieve proper curb weight
5. Remove any cargo or excessive weight from vehicle bed and cabin
6. Park vehicle on level alignment rack with wheels centered on turntables and slip plates
7. Set parking brake and place transmission in Park
8. Ensure steering wheel is centered and unlock steering column

Procedure

1. 1

   Mount alignment heads and perform initial measurement
   Install alignment targets/heads on all four wheels according to equipment manufacturer instructions. Ensure proper mounting and wheel compensation is performed per alignment machine procedure. Lock the brake pedal in depressed position if equipment requires. Perform initial rolling compensation by moving vehicle forward and backward as directed by alignment system. Take initial alignment readings for all four wheels and print diagnostic report.
2. 2

   Check and set rear axle alignment baseline
   Verify rear axle thrust angle is within specification (0° ±0.20° for F-150). If rear thrust angle is out of specification, check for bent rear axle housing or frame damage - rear axle has no adjustment capability on RWD F-150. Rear toe is not adjustable; if out of specification, inspect for collision damage or axle housing misalignment. Use rear axle position as baseline reference for front alignment.
3. 3

   Adjust front toe if required
   With steering wheel centered and locked in place, check front individual toe and total toe readings. Factory specification is typically +0.06° ±0.13° per wheel (total toe 0.12° ±0.26°). If adjustment needed, loosen tie rod jam nuts on both inner tie rods using 19mm wrench. Rotate tie rod sleeves to adjust toe - turn clockwise to decrease toe-in, counterclockwise to increase toe-in. Adjust both sides equally to maintain steering wheel center position. Make small adjustments and re-measure after settling suspension.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Verify steering wheel center position
   After toe adjustment, confirm steering wheel is centered with wheels pointing straight ahead. If steering wheel is off-center by more than 5°, adjust individual tie rod lengths to center wheel while maintaining proper total toe. Remove steering wheel holder and verify wheel returns to center freely. Re-lock steering wheel in centered position for final toe verification.
5. 5

   Check front camber and caster readings
   Review front camber and caster measurements. Factory specification for camber is typically -0.5° ±0.75° (range -1.25° to +0.25°). Caster specification is typically +4.4° ±0.75° (range +3.65° to +5.15°). Cross-camber should be within 0.75° side-to-side, cross-caster within 0.75° side-to-side. If readings are within specification, proceed to final torque check. If out of specification and aftermarket cam bolts are not installed, note that factory adjustment range is very limited.
6. 6

   Adjust camber using upper control arm cam bolts (if required)
   If camber adjustment is needed and vehicle has adjustable cam bolts (or aftermarket cams installed), raise vehicle slightly to unload suspension while keeping alignment heads attached. Locate upper control arm cam bolts at frame mounting point. Loosen cam bolts but do not remove completely. Rotate cam washers to adjust camber - moving upper control arm inward increases negative camber, moving outward decreases negative camber. Note that camber adjustment will also affect caster. Make small adjustments, settle suspension by bouncing vehicle, and re-measure. Repeat until within specification.
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts155 Nm (114 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Adjust caster using upper control arm cam positioning (if required)
   Caster is adjusted by moving the upper control arm forward or rearward using cam bolt positioning. Moving upper control arm rearward at frame increases positive caster, moving forward decreases caster. Note that caster adjustment affects camber and vice versa - adjustments must be balanced. If camber and caster cannot both be brought into specification with factory hardware, aftermarket offset cam bolt kits or offset bushings may be required. Make final adjustments and verify both camber and caster are in specification.
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts155 Nm (114 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Torque all fasteners to specification
   Once all alignment angles are within specification, torque tie rod jam nuts to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft). Ensure jam nuts are tight against tie rod sleeves to prevent adjustment drift. If cam bolts were adjusted, torque cam bolts to 155 Nm (114 lb-ft) using torque wrench. Verify cam bolts are properly seated and tightened with wheels still on alignment rack under vehicle weight.
9. 9

   Perform final alignment verification
   After all fasteners are torqued, bounce each corner of vehicle several times to settle suspension. Roll vehicle forward and backward on alignment rack to resettle and perform final measurement cycle. Verify all alignment angles remain within specification after settling and torquing. Print final alignment report showing before and after readings. Confirm steering wheel is centered and all readings are in green/acceptable range.
10. 10

    Remove alignment equipment and test drive
    Remove brake pedal depressor and steering wheel holder. Remove alignment heads/targets from all wheels. Lower vehicle to ground if raised. Remove vehicle from alignment rack and perform brief test drive on level road at 20-40 mph. Verify steering wheel remains centered during straight-line driving, vehicle tracks straight without pull, and steering returns to center after turns. If any issues are noted, return to alignment rack for re-measurement.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all tie rod jam nuts and cam bolts are torqued to specification
2. Verify no tools or equipment are left under vehicle or on alignment rack
3. Remove alignment targets and store equipment properly
4. Clean any penetrating oil residue from suspension components

Verification

• Print and review final alignment report - all angles should be in green/acceptable range with preference for center of specification
• Verify steering wheel is centered within 5° when driving straight
• Confirm vehicle tracks straight on level road without pulling left or right
• Check that steering returns to center smoothly after turns
• Verify no unusual tire scrubbing sounds during low-speed turns
• Inspect tie rod jam nuts and cam bolts for proper torque and no visible movement
• Recommend customer monitor tire wear patterns over next 1000-2000 miles

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