There are three primary wheel alignment angles: camber, caster, and toe. From the factory, most vehicles have a slightly positive camber on the front wheels, meaning the wheels lean outward slightly at the top. With negative camber, which is the exact opposite, the wheels lean inward at the top.
To illustrate camber, simply put your hands side by side on the table like the wheels sit on the ground, but with your thumbs pointing up. If you tilt your hands so your thumbs are farther apart at the tips, that’s positive camber. If you tilt your hands so your thumbs are closer together at the tips, this is negative camber. So, you see, leaning out would be positive while leaning in would be negative.
Some racers and car enthusiasts set their camber angle so that it leans inward at the top (negative) beyond the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. They do this because negative camber can increase handling during extreme performance driving.
But for a vehicle that’s a daily driver, it’s best to keep the camber angle set to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification. Doing so will help the tires wear evenly and promote their longevity.
Camber is one of the three basic alignment angles in a vehicle (together with toe and caster). It is the inward or outward tilt of the wheels from the true vertical as seen from the vehicle’s front or rear. If a vehicle has zero camber, it means the tires are perpendicular to the road, producing the least amount of rolling, resistance, friction, tire wear, and the greatest traction.
To put it differently, camber is the vertical alignment of the tire (toe is the horizontal alignment). The tires should be parallel when the wheels are straight if toe is set to zero.
Camber alignment is not adjustable on many vehicles. However, it may change unintentionally every time you drive over bumps or potholes and whenever the vehicle is being loaded. This is due to the adjustments done by the control arms and struts as the suspension bounces up and down. Older vehicles with weak suspension springs may develop an issue with negative camber that can only be corrected by replacing the springs with new ones of the proper tension.
Older vehicles with weak suspension springs may develop an issue with negative camber that can only be corrected by replacing the springs with new ones of the proper tension.
– Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
For vehicles with adjustable camber, shims, eccentric cams, and slots are often used to move the upper or lower control arm or the entire strut assembly to achieve the desired angle.
Negative camber means the top part of the vehicle’s front wheels are tilting inward (towards the center of the vehicle’s frame) as viewed from the front or rear. In contrast, if the vehicle has positive camber, the front wheels tilt outward.
Camber should always be within specification to optimize tire life and steering performance. Excessive negative camber can lead to one or more of the following problems:
Excessively negative camber will cause accelerated wear on the inside (shoulder) of the tire tread. The issue can also cause the wheel bearings to wear prematurely.
The vehicle may pull to the side with the most positive camber, even more so if the camber is negative on the opposite side and the caster is negative on the side with the positive camber.
A difference of more than ½ degree from one side to the other may cause the vehicle to pull, affecting its stability and straight-line performance.
There are several reasons why your wheels could have negative camber. Some of the most common include:
In some cases, yes. But as mentioned above, camber issues often result from worn or broken parts. Those parts must be replaced before a wheel alignment can be performed. Most experts also recommend an annual alignment check or whenever the tires are replaced.
Driving with misaligned tires can cause several drivability issues and accidents while on the road. Make sure to get a certified mechanic to do the job for you, as wheel alignment is a complex process that requires a series of detailed steps.
The different types of car camber affect the vehicle’s handling differently. Neutral camber angles are best for straight, level roads because the tire and pavement meet evenly. This makes a large contact patch as long as the road is flat and straight. When cornering though, the tire will inevitably roll onto its sidewall, lessening contact and reducing the contact patch. This results in less grip and worse handling.
For everyday driving, vehicle engineers typically compromise and design their vehicles with a slightly negative camber angle. This accounts for the many twists and turns that drivers take on a daily basis.
A camber and alignment kit can cost anywhere between $100 and $500, depending on the brand, and your vehicle’s year, make, and model plus labor costs.
If you’re ever in the market for a camber and alignment kit, check out CarParts.com. Our catalog includes a wide range of quality aftermarket parts from trusted manufacturers. It takes only a few quick clicks to place your order on our easy-to-navigate website. We’ll ship your order straight to your door in as fast as two business days.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
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Great explanation of a commonly misunderstood issue.