Wheel Alignment

This procedure covers performing a four-wheel alignment on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine, including adjusting toe, camber, and caster settings to factory specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Alignment shims (if needed for camber/caster adjustment) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level alignment rack surface and set parking brake
2. Verify tire pressures match door jamb specifications (typically 35 psi front/rear for standard load)
3. Inspect all tires for even wear, proper size, and matching tread depth across axle
4. Check for worn or damaged suspension components (ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, wheel bearings)
5. Verify steering wheel is centered and steering operates smoothly without binding
6. Bounce each corner of vehicle several times to settle suspension before measurements
7. Install alignment targets/reflectors on all four wheels per alignment machine manufacturer instructions
8. Measure vehicle ride height at all four corners to ensure suspension is not sagging

Procedure

1. 1

   Perform initial alignment measurement
   Initialize alignment machine and follow prompts to perform rolling compensation or runout compensation. Roll vehicle forward approximately one tire revolution and back to center position. Capture initial alignment readings for all four wheels including camber, caster, toe, and thrust angle. Print or record baseline measurements.
2. 2

   Evaluate rear axle alignment
   Check rear camber, toe, and thrust angle against factory specifications. For RWD F-150, rear alignment is typically non-adjustable with solid axle. If rear thrust angle exceeds 0.2 degrees or rear toe is out of specification, inspect rear axle housing, leaf springs, and mounting points for damage or misalignment. Rear must be within specification before adjusting front to prevent dog-tracking.
3. 3

   Lock steering wheel in centered position
   Install steering wheel lock or holder to maintain steering wheel in exact centered position. Ensure front wheels are pointing straight ahead. This prevents steering wheel misalignment after toe adjustment. Verify alignment machine shows equal toe readings side-to-side before proceeding.
4. 4

   Adjust front camber and caster if needed
   If camber or caster are out of specification, locate the cam bolt on the lower control arm front mount. Loosen the cam bolt and rotate the eccentric cam to adjust camber and caster simultaneously (moving top of wheel inward increases negative camber and decreases caster). Make small adjustments and recheck readings. Note that adjustment range is limited; shims may be required for major corrections. Once within specification, tighten cam bolt to specified torque while holding adjustment.
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts142 Nm (89 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Adjust front toe - driver side
   Loosen left tie rod jam nut using 18mm wrench while holding inner tie rod with adjustable wrench to prevent inner boot damage. Rotate outer tie rod end clockwise to decrease toe-in (lengthen tie rod) or counterclockwise to increase toe-in (shorten tie rod). Check alignment machine readings after each adjustment. Typical specification is 0.10 +/- 0.10 degrees total toe (approximately 0.05 degrees per side).
6. 6

   Secure driver side tie rod
   Once driver side toe is within specification, hold outer tie rod end stationary and tighten jam nut to specified torque. Ensure tie rod end boot is not twisted during tightening. Recheck alignment reading to confirm adjustment did not shift during tightening process.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Adjust front toe - passenger side
   Repeat tie rod adjustment process on passenger side. Loosen right tie rod jam nut and rotate outer tie rod end to achieve equal toe reading to driver side. Total front toe should be within factory specification range. Make small incremental adjustments and verify readings on alignment machine.
8. 8

   Secure passenger side tie rod
   Hold outer tie rod end stationary and tighten jam nut to specified torque. Verify tie rod boot is not twisted. Recheck both left and right toe readings to ensure final values are equal and within specification.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Perform final measurement and verification
   Remove steering wheel lock. Roll vehicle forward one revolution and return to center position to settle suspension. Capture final alignment readings on all four wheels. Verify all measurements are within factory specifications: Front Camber -0.5° ± 0.75°, Front Caster 4.3° ± 0.75°, Front Total Toe 0.10° ± 0.10°. Print final alignment report.
10. 10

    Road test vehicle
    Remove alignment targets and lower vehicle from rack. Test drive vehicle in straight line at 30-40 mph on level road surface. Verify steering wheel is centered when driving straight, vehicle does not pull to either side, and steering returns to center smoothly after turns. Listen for any unusual suspension noises that may indicate loose components.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all tie rod jam nuts are properly torqued and tie rod boots are not twisted or damaged
2. Verify cam bolts are torqued to specification if camber/caster adjustments were made
3. Remove steering wheel lock and confirm steering operates through full range of motion
4. Recheck tire pressures and adjust to door jamb specifications if needed

Verification

• Final alignment printout shows all angles within factory specification ranges
• Steering wheel is centered when driving straight with hands off wheel momentarily
• Vehicle tracks straight on level road without pulling left or right
• Equal tire wear pattern across both front tires when rechecked after 500-1000 miles
• No unusual tire squeal during low-speed turns indicating excessive toe misalignment

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