This procedure adjusts the front and rear wheel alignment angles (camber, caster, toe) to manufacturer specifications using an alignment machine to ensure proper tire wear and vehicle handling.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tie rod end × 1 — Use OEM specification if damaged

Preparation

1. Ensure vehicle is on level surface and alignment rack is calibrated
2. Check tire pressures and adjust to specification (33 PSI front/32 PSI rear typical)
3. Inspect suspension components for wear, damage, or loose fasteners
4. Verify wheel bearings have no excessive play
5. Check tire tread depth and condition; replace if necessary before alignment
6. Bounce vehicle several times at each corner to settle suspension
7. Ensure fuel tank is at least half full for proper weight distribution

Procedure

1. 1

   Mount alignment sensors
   Raise vehicle on alignment rack according to machine manufacturer instructions. Install alignment sensors on all four wheels per equipment instructions. Ensure sensors are securely mounted and level. Perform rolling compensation procedure by following on-screen prompts (typically involves rolling vehicle forward and backward).
2. 2

   Obtain initial readings
   Lower vehicle to ride height on alignment rack. Allow suspension to settle for 30 seconds. Obtain and record initial alignment readings for all angles (front camber, caster, toe and rear camber, toe). Compare readings to Honda specifications for 2016-2021 Civic. Front camber should be -0°45' ±45', front caster 3°45' ±45', front toe 0°00' ±08'. Rear camber -1°00' ±45', rear toe 0°08' ±08'.
3. 3

   Adjust rear camber if necessary
   If rear camber is out of specification and vehicle is equipped with adjustable camber bolts (not standard on all trims), loosen the lower control arm camber bolts on the side requiring adjustment. Rotate the eccentric bolt to move the wheel in or out until camber is within specification. If not equipped with adjustable bolts, aftermarket camber kits may be required. Note: Many Civic models have fixed rear camber.
   Torque spec

   Camber Bolts75 Nm (55 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Adjust rear toe
   To adjust rear toe, loosen the toe adjuster cam bolts on the rear lower control arm (one per side). Rotate the eccentric cam to move the rear of the wheel in or out until toe reading is within specification. Make small adjustments and check readings frequently. Ensure left and right sides are adjusted evenly for proper thrust angle.
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts122 Nm (90 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Torque rear cam bolts
   Once rear toe adjustment is complete and readings are within specification, torque the rear cam bolts to specification. Verify alignment readings have not changed after torquing. Re-adjust if necessary.
   Torque spec

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

   Adjust front toe
   Loosen the tie rod jam nuts on both sides using a 19mm wrench. Hold the tie rod end with a 22mm wrench to prevent it from rotating. Turn the tie rod adjuster sleeve to lengthen or shorten the tie rod: rotate toward front of vehicle to increase toe-in (reduce toe reading), rotate toward rear to decrease toe-in (increase toe reading). Make equal adjustments to left and right sides to maintain steering wheel centering.
7. 7

   Center steering wheel
   With front toe adjusted to specification, verify steering wheel is centered. If steering wheel is off-center, make equal and opposite adjustments to left and right tie rods: if steering wheel points left, shorten left tie rod and lengthen right tie rod by equal amounts. Recheck toe readings after each adjustment.
8. 8

   Torque tie rod jam nuts
   Once front toe is within specification and steering wheel is centered, hold each tie rod with a 22mm wrench and torque the jam nuts to specification using a torque wrench. Verify tie rod ends do not rotate while torquing jam nuts. Recheck alignment readings after torquing to ensure specifications were maintained.
   ⚠Improperly torqued jam nuts can allow tie rod adjustment to slip, causing loss of steering control
   Torque spec

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

   Verify final alignment readings
   Obtain final alignment readings for all four wheels. Verify all angles are within manufacturer specifications and displayed in green on alignment machine. Check that steering wheel is centered (0° ±2°). Verify thrust angle is within specification (0° ±10'). Print alignment report showing before and after readings.

Reassembly

1. Remove alignment sensors from all four wheels
2. Lower vehicle from alignment rack
3. Perform final visual inspection of all adjusted components

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at various speeds to verify straight-line tracking
• Confirm steering wheel is centered when driving straight
• Verify no pulling to left or right during normal driving
• Check that vehicle returns to center after cornering
• Monitor tire wear pattern over next 500-1000 miles to ensure proper alignment
• Provide customer with printed alignment report showing all angles within specification

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