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:

    Instrument panel components - removal and refitting
    1 Remove the instrument panel. Panel illumination and warning lamp bulbs 2 Twist the relevant bulbholder anticlockwise and withdraw it from the printed circuit board on the rear of the instrument ...

    Headlamps and auxiliary lamps - beam alignment
    The headlamps are adjustable individually for both horizontal and vertical alignment from within the engine compartment. The auxiliary lamp adjustment is carried out by slackening the lamp mountin ...

    Maintenance - bodywork, underside and fittings
    The general condition of a vehicle’s bodywork is the one thing that significantly affects its value. Maintenance is easy but needs to be regular. Neglect, particularly after minor damage, can lead ...