Dodge Dakota (ND). Manual - part 9
STANDARD PROCEDURE
HEIGHT MEASUREMENT
The vehicle suspension height MUST be measured and adjusted before performing wheel alignment procedure.
Also when front suspension components have been replaced. This measure must be performed with the vehicle
supporting it’s own weight and taken on both sides of the vehicle.
FRONT RIDE HEIGHT MEASUREMENT
1. Inspect tires and set to correct pressure.
2. Jounce the front of the vehicle.
3. With vehicle on level ground or hoist, make the following measurements:
a. Front wheel spindle (center) to ground vertical distance.
b. Measure the center of front face of bolt on the rear leg of lower control arm and the center of front face of
front leg of control arm to ground vertical distance and take the average height.
c. Difference between spindle and control arm bolt to ground average distance should be 71mm+/- 6mm. Note
that the control arm bolt is lower than the spindle.
4. After making any ride height adjustment, roll vehicle preferably jouncing it also, to relieve camber Effects and
then re-measure Lower control arm bolt to ground height.
5. Repeat the previous steps until the ride height is within specifications.
REAR RIDE HEIGHT MEASUREMENT
1. Inspect tires and set to correct pressure.
2. Jounce the front of the vehicle.
3. With vehicle on level ground or hoist, make the following measurements:
a. Distance from the landing pad of the jounce bumper on the axle side to the jounce bumper cup lip of the
frame side.
b. The difference between the jounce bumper landing pad and the jounce bumper cup lip the reading should be
148 mm +/-10 mm for 9.25
9
axle, 154 mm +/-10 mm for 8.25
9
axle.
TOE ADJUSTMENT
SUSPENSION HEIGHT MESUREMENT MUST BE
PERFORMED BEFORE AN ALIGNMENT.
The wheel toe position adjustment is the final adjust-
ment.
1. Start the engine and turn wheels both ways before
straightening the wheels. Secure the steering
wheel with the front wheels in the straight-ahead
position.
2. Loosen the tie rod jam nuts (3).
NOTE: Each front wheel should be adjusted for
one-half of the total toe position specification.
This will ensure the steering wheel will be cen-
tered when the wheels are positioned straight-
ahead.
3. Adjust the wheel toe position by turning the inner tie rod (4) as necessary.
4. Tighten the tie rod jam nut (3) to 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.).
5. Verify the specifications.
6. Turn off engine.
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WHEEL ALIGNMENT
ND