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:

    Hydraulic unit (ABS) - removal and refitting
    Note: A new gasket must be used between the hydraulic unit and the bulkhead on refitting. Caution: Refer to the precautions in Section 1. Removal 1 Disconnect the battery negative lead. 2 Depre ...

    Front disc caliper - removal, overhaul and refitting
    Caution: Refer to the precautions in Section 1. Removal 1 Apply the handbrake, loosen the relevant roadwheel nuts, then jack up the front of the vehicle and support on axle stands. (see “Jacking ...

    Flywheel/driveplate - removal, inspection and refitting
    Note: New flywheel securing bolts must be used on refitting. 1.8 litre (R2A type) 1 Refer to Section 26, Chapter 2, Part A but also note the following points. 2 The flywheel/driveplate securing b ...