Alignment Tolerance Question

[phileas_fogg]

When aligning the front end, what is the acceptable tolerance for camber? For caster?

I'm using the Longacre digital C/C gauge, which measures to the tenth of a degree. Admittedly I haven't tried, but I'm pretty sure that exactly matching the angles on each side is going to be close to impossible. If I get camber set to -0.5* on one side is -0.4* (or -0.6*) on the other side OK? Likewise, if I get 6.5* caster on one side, is 6.7* on the other side OK? Or is it reasonable to fiddle the sides into exact agreement?

This is for a street machine with power steering.


John

[Jim1855]

John,
I've seen variation similar to your examples from my previous alignments. I doubt that I've noticed or could.
Perfect only exists in textbooks and dreams.
Jim

[mike223]

If I get camber set to -0.5* on one side is -0.4* (or -0.6*) on the other side OK? Likewise, if I get 6.5* caster on one side, is 6.7* on the other side OK? Or is it reasonable to fiddle the sides into exact agreement?

This is for a street machine with power steering.

As a long time bubble (not digital) gauge user - I could not possibly hope to tell the difference between tenths of a degree.

But I have a great deal more confidence in "eyeballing" a bubble type gauge than I would have in a digital gauge trying to tell me tenths of a degree.


So I'd call plus or minus a tenth of a degree "all good", in the absence of strange tire wear patterns.