Quantcast
Jump to content

ATV Front End Alignment How To

Admin

By Admin
in General ATV Discussion

 Share

Recommended Posts

Admin

Admin

Posted
Posted

Here's a good article and video on the basics when it comes to ATV front end wheel alignments.

Source: http://www.cyclepedia.com/manuals/online/free/steering/atv-front-end-alignment/

When you hear the words front end alignment what comes to mind? Automobiles and potholes may be the first thought. There are other four wheeled vehicles out there running over a lot more than potholes. ATVs and side-by-sides live hard lives crawling over rocks, hauling loads, and crossing trails no other man-made vehicle would dare.

One of the most basic services these vehicles call for is the adjustment of the toe-in of the front wheels. The Suzuki Eiger LT-F-400F calls for this to be checked initially after 100 mi. or 1 month of use, and every 600 mi. or 3 months for the rest of its operational life. Be it a Yamaha Banshee, 50cc mini-quad, or Kawasaki Mule this is a periodic maintenance item that is essentially the same no matter the scale of machine.

Toe-in specifically refers to the amount the front wheels are pigeon toed. At axle level the center of the front tires are closer in the front than in the back. Most ATVs and side-by-sides call for the front wheels to be slightly pigeon toed to parallel.

Keeping the toe-in aliment in specification and adjusted correctly is important for performance, safety, and tire wear. If the front end of the vehicle is in a toe-out position, duck footed, the tires will wear more rapidly and the vehicle will be inherently unstable. In addition, if the toe-in adjustment is in specification but it has been improperly adjusted it may put excess strain on the steering components.

 

atv front end alignmen tire pressure reading

The first step in checking the toe-in is to check the tire pressure. Make sure the tire pressure set correctly in all four tires. The air pressure in the front tires should be as close to the same as possible. Place the vehicle on a level surface and position the steering straight ahead. Be sure to check with the appropriate service manual to see if there are any extra specifics for the vehicle. The Suzuki Eiger for example calls for the vehicle to be weighted as to simulate the rider.

atv front end alignment toe gauge procedure

Make a chalk mark on the front, center of each front tire at the height of the front axle. If available set up a toe gauge so that the pointers line up with the chalk marks.

atv front end alignment toe gauge measurement procedure

Measure the distance between the front chalk marks. Record this measurement as A. Rotate the front wheels 180° so the marks remain at axle height, but are now facing to the rear. Record the distance between the marks on the backside of the tires as B.

atv front end alignment toe in toe out procedure

Subtract the front measurement A from the rear measurement B to calculate the toe-in. If the number is negative you have a toe-out condition. Compare your toe-in figure with the factory specification found in the vehicles service manual.

To adjust the toe-in on atv for alignment, loosen the lock nuts on the tie-rods.

To adjust the toe-in loosen the lock nuts on the tie-rods. The outer tie-rod lock nuts often have left hand threads.

for atv front end alignment, turn the tie rods with a wrench at the flats to change the toe-in

Turn the tie rods with a wrench at the flats to change the toe-in. Be sure to evenly adjust the left and right tie-rods for proper alignment. Check with the service manual to see if there are any specifications for the length of the tire rods or the amount of threads that should be showing. If the tie-rods are not adjusted according to the OEM specifications the proper toe-in may be achieved, but the vehicle will not steer correctly and it could be at risk of breaking a tie-rod.

When adjustment for atv alignment is correct, hold the tie-rod flats and tighten the lock nuts to specification against each side of the tie-rod.

When the adjustment is correct hold the tie-rod flats and tighten the lock nuts to specification against each side of the tie-rod. Take a slow test ride to make sure the steering functions correctly.

 

Check out this additional video on ATV wheel alignments:

 

  • Like 3
  • 1 month later...
  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Similar Forum Topics

    • TomJulio
      Wanted- Honda TRX300 front wheels -2WD
      By TomJulio
      Looking for two stock front wheels for 92 TRX300 2WD.   I think they are 6 x11" size.     
    • toe420
      Alignment
      By toe420
      Hey everyone. How do you guys typically set your alignment on your quads? 
    • TomJulio
      1992 Honda TRX300 front wheels
      By TomJulio
      I recently noticed my Fourtrax 2WD has 4WD wheels installed on the front.  The back spacing is significantly different than 2WD wheels and they are almost touching the strut springs and the tires actually do touch the springs..   So far, no luck locating 2WD wheels to correct this issue. 
    • Olchap
      1989 Yamaha big bear 350 front brake cylinders
      By Olchap
      Hi, I am new to this forum I am currently working on my 1989 Yamaha front end.  The cv axles were bad so I changed them on both sides with all new wheel bearings. Now I'm looking at the front brakes and the 2 cylinders for the brake shoes on both sides do not work at all. I am also new at working on brakes so its a mystery to me what needs to be done to fix the cylinders.  Can somebody please help me with these brake issues? See the image below.
      Thank you,
      Olchap

    • mikeexplorer
      Old video of riding
      By mikeexplorer
      I took this video back in 2007. Recently the trail (old railroad grade) I was riding was converted into a walking trail (obviously no more ATV riding on it) 👎 I dug up this old video and put it together since it shows the entire section and what it used to look like. The quality of the video is lacking, but this was from 18 years ago. Image stabilization didn't exist back then so I wore the camera on my helmet. (mounted to the quad was useless with all the shaking) so there is some annoying frames of me looking around. I noted any historical items from the railroad in the video. There is a section where the railroad grade is wiped out due to erosion so I had to jump off it and ride an abandoned road for a section to get around it. 
       

COMMUNITY SECTIONS

ATV FORUMS

QUADCRAZY MEMBERSHIP

Be a part of best online community of ATV riders and join thousands of people who love ATVs! Share your ATV photos, videos, ATV rides, get help with your ATV and more. Not a member?

SIGN UP TODAY

ADVERTISE WITH US

FOLLOW US ON

  • Automotive Webmaster
×
×
  • Create New...