Wheel alignment angles (Opel Kadett D)

Optimal driving performance with minimal tire wear is only achieved with correct wheel installation. In case of abnormal wear, poor stability when driving straight, difficulty in cornering, please contact a service station to check the wheel installation.

If it is not possible to check all the settings, then it is necessary to check the camber and toe-in of the front wheels.

Wheel alignment

As a rule, the front wheels should have a positive toe-in, since when driving straight they run out a little to the sides, due to play in the bearings and wheel suspension, in the pivot joints of the steering arms. Positive toe-in compensates for this. For positive toe-in, the distance between the front points of the wheel, measured at the wheel center level, should be less than between the rear points. However, in the front-wheel drive OPEL KADETT, the forces directed from the rear tend to bring the front parts of the wheels together. For this reason, the OPEL KADETT must have a negative toe-in, that is, the front wheels at the center height in the front should be more to the sides than in the rear.

Camber and lateral tilt of the wheel pivot axis

Camber and lateral tilt of the wheel pivot axis reduce the impact of road shocks on the steering and provide minimal friction when turning. Camber is the angle at which the plane of the wheel is tilted from the vertical axis. Thus, the wheels are positioned diagonally. Depending on the position, we speak of positive and negative camber. With positive camber, the lower parts of the wheels are closer than the upper ones.



The lateral tilt of the wheel pivot axis is the angle between the pivot axis of the steering knuckle and the vertical plane at the point where the wheel touches the road.

Due to the camber and the transverse tilt of the steering axis, the contact points of the wheels on the road are located closer to the vertical axis of the steering knuckle and, therefore, the so-called rolling shoulder is smaller. The smaller the rolling shoulder, the easier the control. Also, road impacts act on the steering rods much less.

The OPEL KADETT has a negative rolling shoulder. This results in higher directional stability with equal brake pressure on the front wheels.

Longitudinal tilt of the wheel pivot axis (run-out)

The coasting significantly affects the straight-line movement of the car. Too little coasting causes the car to be unstable on a bad road and in a crosswind. In addition, it is difficult to return the steering wheel to the center position. The coasting is set structurally due to the tilt of the steering knuckles and is not adjustable, however, it should be checked after repairing the front suspension (is done in the workshop).

Adjustment

It is advisable to measure the parameters using an optical device for checking the installation of wheels, which works independently. The following conditions must be met for each measurement.

• Correct tire pressure
• Accurate horizontal position
• Car with its own weight (with a spare wheel and, if possible, with the fuel tank half full)
• No unacceptable play in the steering wheel
• No unacceptable play in the wheel suspension
• Rock the car several times
• Flawless rim flange
• Both front seats are loaded with a mass of 70 kg each
• Uniform and flawless tread pattern