How to adjust camber correctly?

Adjusting the camber of your vehicle's wheels is an important maintenance task that can improve handling, tire wear, and overall driving performance. Camber refers to the inward or outward tilt of the wheels when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Proper camber adjustment is crucial for ensuring your car tracks straight and handles predictably.

Understanding Camber Adjustment

Camber adjustment is the process of aligning the wheels so that the top of the tire leans either inward (negative camber) or outward (positive camber) relative to the vehicle's centerline. The optimal camber setting depends on the vehicle's design, driving conditions, and personal preferences.

• Negative Camber: Wheels tilted inward, which improves cornering grip and stability but can lead to faster inside tire wear.


• Positive Camber: Wheels tilted outward, which provides a more stable straight-line feel but may reduce cornering performance.

Most passenger vehicles are designed with a slight negative camber, typically between -0.5 to -1.5 degrees. This setting provides a good balance between handling, stability, and tire wear.

Steps to Adjust Camber

1. Gather the necessary tools: You'll need a camber gauge, a wrench or socket set, and a jack and jack stands (if working on the vehicle).


2. Locate the camber adjustment components: These are usually found on the suspension components, such as the control arms or strut assemblies.


3. Loosen the adjustment components: Carefully loosen the bolts or nuts that secure the adjustment components, being careful not to lose any parts.


4. Adjust the camber: Use the camber gauge to measure the current camber angle, then adjust the components to achieve the desired setting. Rotate the adjustment components to increase or decrease the camber as needed.


5. Tighten the adjustment components: Once the desired camber angle is achieved, securely tighten the bolts or nuts to lock the adjustment in place.


6. Recheck the camber: After tightening, double-check the camber angle to ensure it's within the recommended range.

It's important to note that camber adjustment should be performed by a qualified mechanic or someone with experience in vehicle suspension work. Improper adjustment can lead to uneven tire wear, handling issues, and potentially unsafe driving conditions.

What are the symptoms of incorrect camber?

Vehicle pulls to one side - often caused by incorrect camber angles. Loose or wandering steering - usually tied to toe or caster misalignment. Uneven tire wear - especially on the inner or outer edges, indicating camber or toe issues.

What should camber be set at?

Camber should be set to a manufacturer's specified angle for a balanced compromise between tire wear, braking, and cornering grip, which is typically slightly negative camber (0.50.50.5 to 1.01.01.0 degrees) for modern daily drivers. The ideal setting varies based on driving style and vehicle use, with more negative camber needed for performance or track driving to improve cornering. 
This video explains how camber affects driving and how to adjust it: 30sRatchets And WrenchesYouTube · Dec 10, 2022
Camber settings by driving style
This video shows how to adjust camber with camber bolts: 55sGeorge AustersYouTube · May 13, 2019

• Daily Driver: The manufacturer-specified angle, often around 0.50.50.5 to 1.01.01.0 degrees of negative camber, provides the best balance for normal driving. 
• Spirited Daily Driver/Occasional Track: -1.5negative 1.5−1.5 to -2.0negative 2.0−2.0 degrees in the front and -1.8negative 1.8−1.8 degrees in the rear is a good compromise. This improves handling without excessive tire wear for a street-driven car that sees some track time. 
• Frequent Track Day: -2.5negative 2.5−2.5 to -3.0negative 3.0−3.0 degrees in the front and -1.8negative 1.8−1.8 degrees in the rear offers more grip during hard cornering. 
• Dedicated Track Car: -3.2negative 3.2−3.2 to -3.8negative 3.8−3.8 degrees in the front and -2.2negative 2.2−2.2 degrees in the rear maximizes grip for dedicated track use. 
• Drifting: Typically, a lot of negative camber (1.01.01.0 to -4.0negative 4.0−4.0 degrees) is used in the front for steering control, while the rear is kept at or near zero to help the car slide. 

This video demonstrates how to adjust camber and toe: 22sD3SshooterYouTube · Nov 30, 2023
Important considerations

• Negative camber: The top of the tire tilts inward. This improves cornering grip by keeping more of the tire's contact patch on the road during a turn, but can cause the inside edge of the tire to wear faster on a straight road. 
• Positive camber: The top of the tire tilts outward. This is rare for modern cars and generally reduces braking efficiency and initial acceleration. 
• Manufacturer specifications: Always start with the manufacturer's recommended alignment settings, as they are designed for optimal performance and safety for the vehicle's intended use. 
• Driving style: Adjustments should be made based on how you use the car. For example, a car used for both daily driving and occasional track days will need a different alignment than one used exclusively for track events. 

How to correct camber alignment?

To fix camber alignment, you can either replace or adjust existing suspension components like camber bolts, adjustable control arms, or adjustable strut mounts, depending on your vehicle's suspension system. The process involves loosening the appropriate bolts, making the necessary adjustments to change the wheel's angle, and then tightening the bolts securely. After making these changes, a professional alignment is recommended to ensure all wheel angles are correct for optimal handling and tire wear.
 
Methods for adjusting camber
This video demonstrates how to adjust camber using camber bolts: 55sGeorge AustersYouTube · May 13, 2019

• Camber Bolts: These replace standard bolts in the suspension and allow for adjustment by turning the bolt. Turning the bolt rotates a lobe that pushes the steering knuckle in or out, changing the camber angle. 
• Adjustable Control Arms: These are often used on cars that have been lowered. You can lengthen or shorten the control arm by adjusting its threaded collars or rose joints, which moves the steering knuckle and adjusts the camber. 
• Adjustable Strut Mounts: On vehicles with a MacPherson strut system, the top strut mount can be replaced with an adjustable plate that has slots. Loosening the bolts on the mount and sliding the strut in the slots adjusts the camber. 
• Aftermarket Parts: On some vehicles that don't have factory camber adjustment, aftermarket parts like adjustable ball joints or top mounts can be installed to allow for adjustment. 

Steps to take
You can watch this video to see the steps involved in adjusting camber with camber bolts: 50sSubearuYouTube · Feb 26, 2024

1. Perform a pre-alignment check: Ensure the vehicle is on a level surface, tire pressures are correct, and there are no other suspension issues, such as broken springs. 
2. Measure the current camber: Use a magnetic camber gauge or a laser alignment system to measure the current camber angle. Write down the measurements. 
3. Locate the adjustment point: Identify the components on your suspension that can be adjusted. This is often an eccentric cam bolt on the strut or a nut on a control arm. 
4. Loosen the bolts: Loosen the bolts on the component that you will be adjusting. You may need to support the weight of the vehicle with a jack, but leave it on the ground for the initial loosening. 
5. Adjust the camber: Use the appropriate tool to make the necessary adjustment, referring to the measurements from step 2 and your desired alignment settings. 
6. Tighten the bolts: Tighten the bolts to the manufacturer's recommended torque specifications to lock the new camber setting in place. 
7. Final alignment: Take the vehicle to a professional shop for a full wheel alignment to ensure the camber, toe, and other angles are correctly set for safe and proper handling. 

What happens if camber is off?

If a vehicle's camber is off, it can cause uneven tire wear, with the inner or outer edge wearing down faster, and poor handling, making the car pull to one side and feel unstable during turns. This misalignment can also lead to reduced fuel efficiency and decreased traction, which can affect braking and overall stability. 
This video explains how camber works and its effects on vehicle handling: 45sKYLE.ENGINEERSYouTube · Nov 25, 2015
Effects of incorrect camber

• Uneven tire wear:
  • Excessive negative camber (top of the wheel tilting inward) causes the inside edge of the tire to wear down quickly. 
  • Excessive positive camber (top of the wheel tilting outward) causes the outer edge of the tire to wear down faster. 
• Poor handling and steering: 
  • A car may pull to one side because one tire has more positive or negative camber than the other. 
  • Steering can feel unstable, especially at high speeds. 
• Reduced fuel efficiency: 
  • Increased friction from misaligned wheels requires the engine to work harder, which lowers fuel economy. 
• Decreased traction and stability: 
  • Uneven contact between the tire and the road surface reduces grip, leading to longer stopping distances and less stability, particularly in wet conditions. 

When to check camber

• If you notice one edge of your tires is wearing faster than the other. 
• If your car pulls to one side when you're driving on a straight, level road. 
• If your car feels unstable or difficult to control when turning. 
• After hitting a large pothole or curb, which may have damaged suspension components and knocked the alignment out of specification. 

You can watch this video to learn how to identify the signs of excessive negative camber: 35sEngineering ExplainedYouTube · Oct 7, 2015