Rear suspension angles - general

The rear wheel toe and camber angles are set in production and do not require checking under normal service conditions. Of the two, only the toe setting can be adjusted, the camber angle being fixed by production sizes and tolerances.

The only time that angles will need to be checked will be after an accident in which the rear of the car has suffered damage or where a rear end skid has caused a side impact on a rear roadwheel.

Severely worn components of the rear suspension can also cause the angles to be misaligned, in which case renewal of the defective components should rectify the suspension angles and alignment.

The actual settings have been revised a number of times as a result of component changes during the course of production and also to improve directional stability. The settings also vary according to model year, engine size and optional equipment, and to list all the settings would be beyond the scope of this manual. If in any doubt about the rear suspension angles, or if the rear tyre wear appears excessive it is recommended that the car be taken to a Ford dealer for accurate checking on optical alignment equipment.

    See also:

    Ignition system component check (Every 24 000 miles (40 000 km) or 2 years)
    1 Before disturbing any part of the ignition system, disconnect the battery negative lead. 2 Identify and clearly mark all HT leads before disconnecting them from the spark plugs. 3 Refer to the a ...

    Heated rear window aerial amplifier - removal and refitting
    Removal 1 On some 1986 models onwards the radio aerial is incorporated in the heated rear window element, and to assist reception an amplifier is fitted. This is located in the tailgate adjacent ...

    Steering intermediate shaft and flexible coupling - removal and refitting
    Removal 1 Apply the handbrake, jack up the front of the vehicle and support on axle stands. 2 Working in the engine compartment, unscrew the bolt securing the intermediate shaft to the inner colu ...