Abstract: A device for adjusting at least one alignment characteristic of an automotive vehicle wheel that is adjustable through an adjusting bolt and nut, the device including a cam member having an eccentrically disposed aperture that receives the bolt. The cam member includes a mechanism for detachably attaching the cam member to the nut or to the head of the bolt such that the cam member is rotatable by engagement of the nut or the head of the bolt. When the cam member is rotated, the member works against a cam member bearing surface such that the bolt is moved sideways thereby adjusting camber.

Abstract: A device for adjusting at least one alignment characteristic in a suspension system of an automotive vehicle that includes a wheel support member and a wheel attached to the wheel support member by at least one removable bolt, whose removal permits the alignment characteristic of the wheel to be adjusted. The device includes an adjusting bolt means having a shaft whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the removable bolt and a mechanism for engaging the adjusting bolt such that the adjusting bolt is axially offset in the bore from which the removable bolt was removed and a mechanism for acting against the wheel assembly due to the offset axial position of the adjusting bolt for movement of the wheel assembly relative to the wheel support and means for securing the bolt in a non-rotatable position once the adjustment of the alignment characteristic has been completed.

Abstract: A shim device adjusts camber and/or toe of a wheel assembly that is attached to an axle assembly by a plurality of spaced apart bolts. The shim device includes a relatively flat tapered plate that has a indicia selectively positioned thereon to indicate the angular position of the plate with respect to the bolts such that the plate may be selectively positioned to adjust camber and/or toe a selected amount.

Abstract: A device for adjusting at least one alignment characteristic in a suspension system of an automotive vehicle that includes a wheel support member and a wheel attached to the wheel support member by at least one removable bolt, whose removal permits the alignment characteristic of the wheel to be adjusted. The device includes an adjusting bolt means having a shaft whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the removable bolt and a mechanism for engaging the adjusting bolt such that the adjusting bolt is axially offset in the bore from which the removable bolt was removed and a mechanism for acting against the wheel assembly due to the offset axial position of the adjusting bolt for movement of the wheel assembly relative to the wheel support and means for securing the bolt in a non-rotatable position once the adjustment of the alignment characteristic has been completed.

Abstract: A tool for use in adjusting the camber and/or caster of a vehicle wheel attached to a suspension system of a vehicle having a strut member which is secured at an upper end of the vehicle at a first position includes a mechanism for selecting a second position to secure the strut member to the vehicle and includes a mechanism for selecting the second position including a guide for assisting in making an aperture at the second position.

Abstract: A tool for use in adjusting the camber and/or caster of a vehicle wheel attached to a suspension system of a vehicle having a strut member which is secured at an upper end of the vehicle at a first position includes a mechanism for selecting a second position to secure the strut member to the vehicle and includes a mechanism for selecting the second position including a guide for assisting in making an aperture at the second position.

Abstract: A tool for adjusting the alignment in a wheeled vehicle steering structure using a bushing includes a plate having indicia disposed around an aperture that runs through the plate wherein the indicia indicate an angular position for rotatably adjusting the bushing and including a mechaism for securing the plate to the steering structure in a selectable and fixed position and for retaining the bushing in a position during alignment.

Abstract: A device is used to adjust caster of a wheel in a suspension system that includes a rod member that affects the caster of the wheel. A portion of the rod member is disposed within a bushing that is attached to the vehicle. The device includes a curved longitudinal member for insertion between the portion of the rod member disposed within the bushing and the bushing.

Abstract: A device is used to adjust caster of a wheel in a suspension system that includes a rod member that affects the caster of the wheel. A portion of the rod member is disposed within a bushing that is attached to the vehicle. The device includes a curved longitudinal member for insertion between the portion of the rod member disposed within the bushing and the bushing.

Abstract: A system of locking a pinch bolt assembly through a yoke arm of a vehicle steering assembly. The yoke arm of a steering assembly has an outward end, a forward face and a rearward face. A bolt receiving aperture through the yoke arm connects the forward face and the rearward face. A pinch bolt is fitted through the bolt receiving aperture to control the radius of an aperture for receiving an adjustment bushing. The head of the pinch bolt impinges against a selected one of the rearward and forward faces and a nut fitted to the bolt is tightened against the unselected face resulting in the head and nut pressing against their respective faces. A C-shaped channel section is fitted around the forward face, the rearward face and the outward end of the yoke arm. The channel section includes coaxial apertures fitted around the head of the bolt and the nut, respectively, for preventing the rotation of the nut and the bolt and thus preventing the nut and bolt from loosening.

Abstract: A device is used to adjust alignment of a vehicle wheel connected to a vehicle by a suspension system having an arm member affecting wheel alignment. The arm member has a first bore transversely disposed therethrough with respect to the axis of the member with the arm member being attached to the vehicle by a bolt extending through the first bore. The device displaces the bolt of the control arm from its original position to a second preselected position, thereby adjusting the alignment of the wheel.

Abstract: The present invention includes a bushing indexing tool having an aperture in its upper surface which may be reproducibly located around a rotatable caster and camber adjustment offset bushing. A scale disposed around the aperture indicates the angular position of the bushing with respect to the steering structure. The invention also includes a data base to predetermine the desired rotational angular setting of a particular bushing in order to correct caster and camber.

Abstract: An apparatus for guarding against accidental displacement of two members of an automotive vehicle, after an adjustment of an alignment characteristic has been made, involving the use of cams which are used to adjust the alignment characteristic and which have prongs which are pressed into the adjacent surfaces of a member of the suspension system. The prongs are of case hardened steel so as to be capable of penetrating the adjacent material and thus prevent shifting of the position of the cam after tightening has been accomplished. The cams may be non-rotatably secured to a bolt with which they are associated so that the cams are adjusted by turning of the bolt. Or, they can be provided with slots or other openings which are placed over the bolt, the cams being adjusted after being placed over the bolt.

Abstract: A device is used to adjust toe angle of a vehicle wheel connected to a car by a suspension system having at least one control arm transversely disposed to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The control arm is attached to the wheel at one end and pivotally attached to an underside of the vehicle at another end by a bolt. The device displaces the bolt of the control arm from its original position, thereby adjusting the toe angle of the wheel.

Abstract: A camber and toe arrangement includes an improved shim device that adjusts both the camber and toe of a motor vehicle wheel. The shim device includes a tapered plate having a plurality of spaced apart bolt-engaging notches around the periphery. The bolt-engaging notches permit the shim device to be inserted between the wheel and the axis without removing the wheel mount and permit the shim device to be rotated so that the position of the taper is adjustable for correction of both toe and camber. The shim is inserted between the axle and the wheel mount by loosening all the bolts and removing two of the bolts, inserting the shim in the desired position and so that the remaining bolts engaging the bolt-engaging notches of the shim, inserting back the two bolts that were removed, and tightening all four bolts.

Abstract: The present invention includes a bushing having an eccentric inner bore, used for adjusting camber and caster in conventional vehicle steering structures. The bushing assembly is preset to provide a desired camber and caster adjustment when mounted on the steering structure in a predefined orientation.

Abstract: Camber is adjusted in a strut-type suspension by replacing one of the two factory-installed bolts that holds the wheel onto the strut with a replacement bolt having a shaft portion that is narrower in diameter than the hole which retains the original bolt. A wedge is then inserted between the strut and the wheel mounting such that camber is adjusted with the wheel mounting pivoting about the remaining second factory bolt holding the wheel mounting to the strut. Preferably, the wedge has a threaded rod extending from the narrower portion of the wedge through a washer that is retained by a bracket holding the wheel mounting to the strut. A nut is threaded onto the bolt and works against the washer to pull the wedge between the wheel mounting and the strut to adjust camber and to retain the wedge between the wheel mounting and the strut.

Abstract: An apparatus secures a damaged vehicle for straightening with a vehicle straightening device. The apparatus includes a base and a mechanism for securely attaching the base to a support in a plurality of positions such that the base is in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the vehicle straightening device in each position and is easily transferable from position to position. A clamping mechanism securely holds the vehicle by clamping a portion of the vehicle. A vertical positioning mechanism positions the clamping mechanism along a substantially vertical axis between the base and the vehicle portion to be clamped and a preferred horizontal positioning mechanism positions the clamping mechanism along a substantially horizontal plane. The clamping mechanism is pivotable about two separate pivot axes located between the base and the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for repairing and straightening is disclosed in its preferred form for use in repairing and straightening the body and frame of a vehicle. The preferred apparatus includes a tread member including left and right track members for supporting a vehicle thereon, a tram member movable along and between the right and left track members and including two elongatable pull towers pivotally mounted thereto, and an additional elongatable pull tower mounted adjacent an end of the apparatus. A flexible connector, preferably a chain, is arranged for connection between the pull towers and the vehicle. The track members further include regularly shaped apertures which vertically pass therethrough. Locking pins are also provided which extend through an aperture of the track members and abut with a portion of the pull towers to lock the pull towers at any desired angle to the tread member.

Abstract: Accessory is disclosed, in its preferred form, for use in conjunction with an apparatus for repairing and straightening vehicles having a support surface for supporting vehicles thereon. The support surface includes an array of regularly shaped apertures which extend vertically therethrough. A unibody clamp is disclosed including adjustable jaws for removably gripping the pinch weld of a unibody frame. A first connector member is further provided on the clamp for allowing the use of a down pull member including a chain directed to the clamp by a rotatably mounted pulley. The down pull member is removably attached to the support surface by an attachment member which extends into a selected support surface aperture and allows self-alignment thereof in the support surface.