Dodge Neon / Neon SRT-4. Manual — part 23

CAMBER AND CASTER

Front and rear camber and caster settings on this

vehicle are determined at the time the vehicle is
designed, by the location of the vehicle’s suspension
components. This is referred to as Net Build. The
result is no required adjustment of camber and
caster after the vehicle is built or when servicing the
suspension components. Thus, when performing a
wheel alignment, caster and camber are not normally
considered adjustable angles. Camber and caster
should be checked to ensure they meet vehicle speci-
fications.

If either front or rear camber is found not to meet

alignment specifications, it can be adjusted using an
available camber adjustment bolt package. Before
installing a camber adjustment bolt package on a
vehicle found to be outside the specifications, inspect
the suspension components for any signs of damage
or bending.

No adjustment can be made to the caster setting

on this vehicle. If the vehicle’s caster is not within
alignment specifications, check for damaged suspen-
sion components or body parts.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to adjust the vehicles
wheel alignment by heating or bending any of the
suspension components.

CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION

The camber adjustment bolt package contains new

bolts and nuts for attaching the strut clevis bracket
to the steering knuckle. The bolts contained in the
package are slightly undersize allowing for move-
ment between the strut clevis bracket and the steer-
ing knuckle. The movement allowed by the undersize
bolts provides approximately one degree of camber
adjustment per side of the vehicle. To install and
adjust the camber adjustment bolt package, follow
the procedure below.

CAUTION: There are separate camber adjustment
bolt packages for the front and rear of the vehicle.
Be sure to use the correct package.

(1) Raise the vehicle until its tires are not support-

ing the weight of the vehicle.

CAUTION: The knuckle to strut assembly attaching
bolt shanks are serrated and must not be turned
during removal. Remove the nuts while holding the
bolts stationary.

(2) Remove the wheel and tire assembly at the

strut requiring modification.

(3) Remove the original upper bolt attaching the

strut clevis bracket to the knuckle (Fig. 7) (Fig. 8).

(4) Install a bolt from the adjustment package into

the hole where the original bolt was removed. Install
the bolt from the rear.

(5) Install a nut provided in adjustment package

on the replacement bolt. Tighten the nut until it’s
snug, but still allowing the knuckle to slide in the
clevis bracket.

(6) Remove the original lower bolt.
(7) Install a bolt from the adjustment package into

the bottom hole of the strut clevis bracket. Install the
bolt from the rear.

Fig. 7 Front Strut Clevis Bracket Attaching Bolts

1 - STRUT CLEVIS BRACKET
2 - STRUT CLEVIS BRACKET TO STEERING KNUCKLE
ATTACHING BOLTS
3 - STEERING KNUCKLE
4 - LOOSEN THIS BOLT
5 - REMOVE AND REPLACE THIS BOLT

Fig. 8 Rear Strut Clevis Bracket Attaching Bolts

1 - KNUCKLE
2 - STRUT ASSEMBLY CLEVIS BRACKET
3 - CLEVIS BRACKET TO KNUCKLE ATTACHING BOLTS

2 - 54

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

PL/SRT-4

WHEEL ALIGNMENT (Continued)

(8) Install a nut provided in adjustment package

on the replacement bolt. Tighten the nut until it’s
snug.

(9) Reinstall the tire and wheel assembly.
(10) Perform the above procedure to any of the

remaining struts as required.

(11) Lower the vehicle and jounce the front and

rear of the vehicle.

(12) Adjust the front or rear camber to the pre-

ferred setting by pushing or pulling on the top of the
tire. When camber is set to specifications, tighten the
upper and lower strut clevis bracket bolts. Again
jounce the front and rear of the vehicle, then verify
the camber settings.

(13) Torque front strut clevis bracket-to-steering

knuckle attaching bolts to 53 N·m (40 ft. lbs.), plus
an additional 1/4 turn after the torque is met. Torque
the rear strut clevis bracket-to-rear knuckle attach-
ing bolts to 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).

(14) Once camber is within specifications, adjust

toe to meet the preferred specification setting. Refer
to TOE within this wheel alignment service proce-
dure.

TOE

(1) Center the steering wheel and lock it in place

using a steering wheel clamp.

NOTE: When performing the toe setting procedure,
make sure the rear toe is set to the preferred spec-
ification before setting the front toe to the preferred
specification.

REAR TOE

(1) Loosen the nuts on the left and right rear lat-

eral link attaching bolts at the rear crossmember as
necessary to allow rotation of the rear toe adjustment
cams (Fig. 9).

CAUTION: When adjusting rear toe, the notches on
the toe adjustment cams are not to be facing down.
The notches in the adjustment cams are only to be
facing up or toward one side.

(2) Rotate each toe adjustment cam until the pre-

ferred rear toe specification is obtained (Fig. 9). Refer
to WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS in this
section of this service manual group.

(3) While holding the toe adjustment cams from

turning, tighten the attaching bolt nuts. This will
securely hold the adjustment cams in position.
Tighten the attaching bolt nuts to a torque of 88 N·m
(65 ft. lbs.).

(4) Proceed to FRONT TOE to set the front toe.

FRONT TOE

CAUTION: Do not twist the inner tie rod-to-steering
gear rubber boots while turning the inner tie rod
during the front toe adjustment.

(1) Loosen the tie rod adjusting jam nuts (Fig. 10).

Grasp each inner tie rod at its hex and rotate it one
way or the other until the front wheel toe is set to
the preferred specification. Refer to WHEEL ALIGN-
MENT SPECIFICATIONS in this section of this ser-
vice manual group.

(2) Tighten tie rod adjusting jam nuts to a torque

of 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.).

Fig. 9 Adjustment Cams

1 - BOLTS
2 - ADJUSTMENT CAMS
3 - NUTS

Fig. 10 Jam Nuts

1 - OUTER TIE ROD
2 - INNER TIE ROD HEX
3 - JAM NUT

PL/SRT-4

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

2 - 55

WHEEL ALIGNMENT (Continued)

(3) Make sure the inner tie rod-to-steering gear

rubber boots are not twisted. If twisted, loosen the
boot clamp at the inner tie rod and move the boot as
necessary.

(4) Remove steering wheel clamp.
(5) Remove the alignment equipment.
(6) Road test the vehicle to verify the steering

wheel is straight and the vehicle does not pull or
wander.

STANDARD PROCEDURE - CURB HEIGHT
MEASUREMENT

The wheel alignment is to be checked and all align-

ment adjustments made with the vehicle at its
required curb height specification.

Vehicle height is to be checked with the vehicle on

a flat, level surface, preferably a vehicle alignment
rack. The tires are to be inflated to the recommended
pressure. All tires are to be the same size as stan-
dard equipment. Vehicle height is checked with the
fuel tank full of fuel, and no passenger or luggage
compartment load.

Vehicle height is not adjustable. If the measure-

ment is not within specifications, inspect the vehicle

for bent or weak suspension components. Compare
the parts tag on the suspect coil spring(s) to the
parts book and the vehicle sales code, checking for a
match. Once removed from the vehicle, compare the
coil spring height to a correct new or known good coil
spring. The heights should vary if the suspect spring
is weak.

NOTE: Prior to reading the curb height measure-
ment, the front an rear of the vehicle should be
jounced. Induce jounce by grasping the center of
the rear, then front bumper (or fascia) and jouncing
the vehicle an equal number of times. Release the
bumper at the bottom of the jounce cycle.

(1) Measure from the inboard edge of the wheel

opening fender lip directly above the wheel center
(spindle), to the floor or alignment rack surface.

(2) When measuring, maximum left-to-right differ-

ential is not to exceed 10 mm (0.39 in.).

(3) Compare the measurements to specifications

listed in the following CURB HEIGHT SPECIFICA-
TIONS chart.

CURB HEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS

VEHICLE

FRONT

REAR

NEON

672 mm ± 8 mm

679 mm ± 8 mm

26.46 in. ± 0.32 in.

26.73 in. ± 0.32 in.

SRT-4

685 mm ± 8 mm

697 mm ± 8 mm

26.97 in. ± 0.32 in.

27.44 in. ± 0.32 in.

2 - 56

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

PL/SRT-4

WHEEL ALIGNMENT (Continued)

SPECIFICATIONS

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

NOTE: All specifications are given in degrees.

NOTE: All wheel alignments are to be set with the
vehicle at curb height. Refer to Curb Height Mea-
surement.

(Refer

to

2

-

SUSPENSION/WHEEL

ALIGNMENT - STANDARD PROCEDURE)

STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS

FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT

PREFERRED SETTING

ACCEPTABLE RANGE

CAMBER

0.00°

-0.40° to +0.40°

Cross Camber (Maximum Side-To-
Side Difference)

0.00°

0.50

CASTER

+2.60°

+1.60° to +3.60°

Cross Caster (Maximum Side-To-Side
Difference)

0.00°

1.00°

TOTAL TOE*

+0.20°

0.00° to +0.40°

REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT

PREFERRED SETTING

ACCEPTABLE RANGE

CAMBER

-0.25°

-0.65° to +0.15°

TOTAL TOE*

+0.30°

+0.10° to +0.50°

THRUST ANGLE

0.00°

-0.10° to +0.10°

Note:

* TOTAL TOE is the sum of both the left and right wheel toe settings. TOTAL TOE must be equally split between
each wheel on the same axle to ensure the steering wheel is centered after setting toe. Positive toe (+) is toe-in
and negative toe (

2

) is Toe-out.

SRT-4 SPECIFICATIONS

FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT

PREFERRED SETTING

ACCEPTABLE RANGE

CAMBER

0.00°

-0.40° to +0.40°

Cross Camber (Maximum Side-To-
Side Difference)

0.00°

0.50

CASTER

+2.60°

+1.60° to +3.60°

Cross Caster (Maximum Side-To-Side
Difference)

0.00°

1.00°

TOTAL TOE*

+0.20°

0.00° to +0.40°

REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT

PREFERRED SETTING

ACCEPTABLE RANGE

CAMBER

-1.00°

-1.40° to -0.60°

TOTAL TOE*

+0.30°

+0.10° to +0.50°

THRUST ANGLE

0.00°

-0.10° to +0.10°

Note:

* TOTAL TOE is the sum of both the left and right wheel toe settings. TOTAL TOE must be equally split between
each wheel on the same axle to ensure the steering wheel is centered after setting toe. Positive toe (+) is toe-in
and negative toe (

2

) is Toe-out.

PL/SRT-4

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

2 - 57

WHEEL ALIGNMENT (Continued)