Maintaining your ATV Front – End
alignment
As quads become more advanced, their handling characteristics become more refined. Most
quads today have front-end geometry that has alignment specs similar to any fine-tuned
race car. These configurations are what allow one quad to out-handle another. They can be
altered to make the machine handle different terrain with improved results, as top riders
and racers try to do to give them optimum performance. Knowing how to alter or maintain
these settings is a part of keeping your quad, in peak condition.
Quads incur a lot of abuse, crashes and unforeseen obstacles that causes misalignments and
damage to the front – end. For that reason they must always be checked and adjusted
for optimal performance.
Here’s how you can keep your ATV in tough condition without bringing your ATV to the
mechanic First, have a buddy to help you set up your bike which is very important. Have
him set the ride height and hold the handle bars straight making the outcome much nicer.
Since the upper control arm, lower control arm, lower control arm and steering tie rod are
all different lengths, the quad must be aligned closest to ride height.
Then make sure you check the tire pressure in all four tires and also that the quad is on
flat, level ground. Then inspect the components for damage, making sure parts aren’t
bent, broken or loose. Checking the camber can be done by using carpenter’s square.
The camber is the amount of “lean” the tire has. Variations in camber can help
or hurt traction in corners. This measurement is usually taken at the gap between the edge
of the square and the top of the wheel. In most cases this is 0.2 to 0.8 inch depending on
the rack conditions.
In order to change the camber, the upper control arm ball joint jam nut is loosened and
the ball joint screwed in or out for the desired angle. In most cases the factory arm
cannot be adjusted for camber, but aftermarket A-arm kit usually allow camber
adjustability.
With the camber set, the toe can now be checked and be well adjusted. Toe in and out is
the angle which the tires face, toe-in and they are angled slightly inward, toe-out and
they are angled slightly out, from the perspective of straight ahead as the quad faces.
Use a straight edge at the front center of the wheel and measure the distance between the
front wheels. Remember, do this at the ride height to make these measurements more
accurate and precise.
Now measure the distance at the back of the wheel, 180 degrees from your last measurement.
In most cases the front of the tires should be toed-in 1/8 of an inch, so your first
reading is 1/8 less than the last. To adjust the toe, loosen the jam nuts on the tie rod
shafts and with the handled bars held in place theses shafts can be screwed in or out to
set the toe. Rolling the quad back and forth will relax the force against the tires.
With the jam nuts tight you are ready to ride. Remember the stance of the front end and
the alignment can be set into many different configurations. Find one that works best for
you is the key to proper control and comfort
By Contributing Writer
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