Perform a four-wheel alignment on a 2018-2024 Honda Accord 1.5L Turbo to ensure proper tire wear, handling, and steering stability by adjusting camber, caster, toe, and thrust angle to factory specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

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

Preparation

1. Set all tire pressures to factory specification (typically 32-35 PSI front and rear, verify on door jamb sticker)
2. Inspect all suspension components, tie rod ends, ball joints, and wheel bearings for wear or damage that would prevent proper alignment
3. Check that all wheels are same diameter and tire sizes match left to right
4. Ensure fuel tank is at approximately half-full for proper weight distribution
5. Remove any heavy cargo from trunk or cabin
6. Bounce each corner of vehicle several times to settle suspension
7. Verify steering wheel is centered and steering system moves freely with no binding

Procedure

1. 1

   Position vehicle and install alignment equipment
   Drive vehicle onto alignment rack in a straight-ahead position. Ensure all four wheels are centered on turntables/slip plates. Lower vehicle to full weight on suspension. Install alignment sensor heads or position 3D cameras according to equipment manufacturer specifications. Ensure all sensors are securely mounted to wheels.
2. 2

   Perform rolling compensation and initial measurement
   Follow alignment system procedure to perform rolling radius compensation by rolling vehicle forward or backward as directed. This compensates for wheel/tire runout. Once compensation is complete, perform initial alignment measurement with steering wheel locked in center position. Record all camber, caster, toe, and thrust angle readings for front and rear axles.
3. 3

   Analyze initial readings and determine adjustments
   Compare measured values to Honda factory specifications (front camber: -0.5° ± 1°, front caster: 3.5° ± 1°, front toe: 0° ± 0.08°, rear camber: -1° ± 1°, rear toe: 0.08° ± 0.08°, thrust angle: 0° ± 0.09°). Determine which adjustments are necessary. Prioritize corrections in this order: rear toe/thrust angle, front caster/camber, front toe.
4. 4

   Adjust rear toe if necessary (within limit)
   If rear toe is out of specification, check for bent rear suspension components. The 2018-2024 Accord does not have factory rear toe adjustment. If readings are only slightly out and no damage is found, verify suspension component torque and re-measure after settling vehicle. If severely out of specification, rear suspension components must be replaced. Document non-adjustable condition if replacement is declined.
   ℹ️Rear toe adjustment requires aftermarket adjustment kits or replacement of damaged components on this vehicle
5. 5

   Adjust front camber using cam bolts
   If front camber requires adjustment, locate the lower control arm cam bolts at the front knuckle mounting point. Loosen both cam bolts (top and bottom) but do not remove. Use pry bar or adjustment tool to move knuckle inward (more negative camber) or outward (more positive camber) while monitoring alignment readings. Adjust both sides to match within 0.5° of each other and within specification. When correct, hold position and torque cam bolts.
   ⚠Cam bolts must be torqued to 122 Nm (90 lb-ft) after adjustment. Do not exceed this specification as it may damage the knuckle
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts122 Nm (90 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Verify caster angle
   Check front caster readings. Caster is adjusted by the same cam bolts as camber but requires moving the knuckle forward or rearward. If caster is out of specification after camber adjustment, loosen cam bolts again and adjust knuckle position front-to-back. Moving top of knuckle rearward increases positive caster. Re-torque cam bolts when correct. Note that camber and caster adjustments interact and may require iterative fine-tuning.
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts122 Nm (90 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Adjust front toe using tie rod ends
   Loosen tie rod jam nuts on both sides using 22mm wrench. Hold the inner tie rod with vise grips or adjusting tool to prevent it from turning. Rotate outer tie rod end to lengthen (toe out) or shorten (toe in) the tie rod assembly. Make equal adjustments to both sides to maintain centered steering wheel. Monitor toe readings on alignment system and adjust until within specification (0° ± 0.08° total toe). Ensure left and right individual toe readings are equal within 0.04°.
   ⚠Make equal adjustments to both tie rods to prevent steering wheel off-center condition. Count turns on each side
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Torque tie rod jam nuts
   Once front toe is correctly adjusted and steering wheel is centered, torque both tie rod jam nuts to specification while holding the outer tie rod end to prevent it from turning. Verify that adjustment did not change during torquing process by re-checking toe readings.
   Torque spec

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

   Perform final measurements
   With all adjustments complete and fasteners torqued, settle the suspension by bouncing each corner of the vehicle. Perform final alignment measurement with steering wheel centered and locked. Verify all angles are within factory specification: front camber -0.5° ± 1°, front caster 3.5° ± 1°, front toe 0° ± 0.08°, rear camber -1° ± 1°, rear toe 0.08° ± 0.08°, thrust angle 0° ± 0.09°. Document all final readings.
10. 10

    Remove equipment and perform road test
    Remove alignment sensors and steering wheel lock. Remove brake pedal depressor if used. Lower vehicle from alignment rack. Perform road test to verify straight-line tracking, centered steering wheel, and no pulling to either side. Test at various speeds and verify vehicle returns to center after turns.

Reassembly

1. Verify all tie rod jam nuts and cam bolts are torqued to specification
2. Ensure steering wheel is centered when driving straight
3. Verify all alignment equipment has been removed from vehicle

Verification

• Print alignment report showing all before and after measurements within factory specification
• Verify steering wheel is centered within 1-2 degrees when driving straight on level road
• Confirm vehicle tracks straight with no pull to either side
• Check that vehicle does not drift or require constant steering correction
• Verify tire wear patterns will now be even across tread (this will take time to confirm)

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