Method and apparatus for wheel alignment adjustment

#Not Applicable.

#The present invention relates to vehicle wheel alignment and more particularly, to an improved system for installing alignment adjustment components, such as cams, wedges, adjustable ball joints, and upper strut mounting plates which are used to adjust toe, caster, and camber alignment angles, and which usually require removal and reinstallation of a vehicle wheel rim and tire assembly.

#As is well known in the automotive industry, some automotive vehicles utilize a cam bolt installed in a two-bolt strut to adjust the camber orientation of the automotive vehicle. The amount of adjustment and the orientation of this cam bolt primarily determines the amount of change in camber, but may also affect caster depending upon how the strut is mounted to the vehicle frame. A separate cam bolt is required for each vehicle wheel rim and tire assembly. It is also well known to use various wedges to adjust the camber of a particular wheel rim and tire assembly. Camber adjustment wedges come in various types, each having different sizes and configurations. Similarly, adjustable ball joints and upper strut mounting plates are used to offset camber and caster, and are available in a variety of sizes and configurations, each providing a varying degree of adjustment.

#In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

#FIG. 1 illustrates the components of a conventional vehicle wheel alignment system;

#FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the fixture of the present invention for mounting a wheel alignment sensor to a vehicle wheel hub;

#Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

#The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

#It is preferred that the present invention be utilized in combination with a conventional computer controlled vehicle wheel alignment system 10, shown in FIG. 1, such as those shown in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 33,144 to Hunter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,357 to Colarelli et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,548 to Grossman et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Conventional computer controlled vehicle wheel alignment systems, such as the Series 611 console with DSP-300 series wheel sensors are sold by Hunter Engineering Company of Bridgeton, Mo. The present invention may further be utilized with alternate vehicle wheel alignment systems utilizing active or passive optical alignment targets such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,522 to Bernie F. Jackson, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,515, to Daniel B. January in place of conventional angle transducer alignment sensors. Alternative computer controlled vehicle wheel alignment systems utilizing optical targets and sensors, such as the Series 611 console with DSP400 series wheels sensors are additionally sold by Hunter Engineering Company.