Perform a complete four-wheel alignment on a 2014 Ram 2500 4WD with 6.7L Cummins diesel engine, adjusting camber, caster, toe, and thrust angle to manufacturer specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Alignment cam bolt set (if seized or damaged) × 1 — Mopar alignment cam kit

Preparation

1. Verify tire pressures are set to specification (front and rear per door placard) and tires are in good condition with even wear
2. Inspect suspension components for wear: ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, track bar, and steering linkage
3. Check for lifted or modified suspension that may affect alignment specifications
4. Bounce each corner of the vehicle several times to settle suspension before starting
5. Ensure alignment machine is calibrated and functioning properly

Procedure

1. 1

   Position vehicle on alignment rack
   Drive the vehicle onto the alignment rack with steering wheel centered. Ensure the vehicle is centered on the rack plates. Apply parking brake and place transmission in park. Turn off engine.
2. 2

   Install alignment targets and perform initial measurements
   Attach wheel alignment targets to all four wheels per machine manufacturer instructions. Ensure targets are secure and level. Perform wheel runout compensation procedure as required by alignment system. Lock steering wheel in center position using steering wheel lock. Install brake pedal depressor to lock rear axle position.
3. 3

   Record pre-alignment measurements
   Perform initial alignment reading and record all measurements: front camber, caster, toe; rear camber, toe, and thrust angle. Compare readings to manufacturer specifications. Identify which adjustments are needed.
4. 4

   Adjust rear axle if necessary
   If rear axle thrust angle is out of specification, check for bent axle housing or frame damage. On this solid rear axle design, rear toe and camber are not adjustable and out-of-spec readings indicate damage. Thrust angle should be within 0.20 degrees. Document any issues found.
5. 5

   Adjust front camber and caster
   Loosen the upper control arm cam bolt nuts at the frame brackets. The front cam adjusts caster, the rear cam adjusts camber. Apply penetrating oil if bolts are corroded. Rotate cams as needed to bring camber and caster into specification. Camber adjustment range is approximately +/- 0.75 degrees from nominal. Monitor alignment machine readings while adjusting. Tighten cam bolt nuts once settings are achieved.
   ⚠Cam bolts may be seized from corrosion. Do not force rotation; apply heat or additional penetrating oil if necessary.
6. 6

   Adjust front toe
   Loosen the tie rod end jam nuts on both inner and outer tie rods at each wheel. Hold the tie rod shaft with a wrench to prevent it from twisting while loosening jam nuts. Rotate the tie rod adjuster sleeves to lengthen or shorten the tie rods equally on both sides to adjust total toe. Typical specification is 0.20 degrees +/- 0.20 degrees (0.10-0.30 inches total). Ensure left and right adjustments are equal to maintain steering wheel centering.
7. 7

   Verify steering wheel center position
   With front toe properly set and steering wheel lock still engaged, verify steering wheel is centered. If steering wheel is off-center by more than 5 degrees, adjust tie rods unequally: shorten the tie rod on the side the wheel is turned toward and lengthen the opposite side by equal amounts. Recheck toe after adjustment.
8. 8

   Torque tie rod jam nuts
   Once toe and steering wheel position are correct, torque all tie rod jam nuts to specification. Ensure tie rod ends are positioned properly with boots not twisted. Verify clamps on adjustment sleeves are positioned away from suspension components and pointing toward the rear of the vehicle.
9. 9

   Perform final measurements
   Remove steering wheel lock and brake pedal depressor. Bounce all four corners of the vehicle to settle suspension. Reinstall steering lock and brake depressor. Perform final alignment reading and verify all angles are within specification. Print alignment report showing before and after measurements.
10. 10

    Test drive and verify
    Remove all alignment equipment and targets. Lower vehicle from rack. Test drive vehicle at various speeds to verify steering wheel remains centered, vehicle tracks straight with no pull, and steering returns to center normally after turns. Re-check alignment if any issues are detected.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all tie rod jam nuts are properly torqued and adjustment sleeve clamps are secure
2. Verify no tools or equipment were left on or under the vehicle
3. Provide customer with printed alignment report showing before and after specifications

Verification

• All alignment angles (camber, caster, toe, thrust angle) are within manufacturer specifications and displayed in green on alignment report
• Steering wheel is centered when driving straight with no more than 5 degrees deviation
• Vehicle tracks straight on level road with no pull to either side
• Steering returns to center smoothly after turns without binding
• No unusual tire wear patterns develop after alignment

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