Abstract: Disclosed are a bending roller apparatus and methods for use thereof for repairing a control arm of automotive suspension. An example apparatus includes a base having a saddle supporting a matrix to which the control arm is removably affixed. The matrix provides longitudinal and lateral movements and rotation of the control arm in a horizontal plane. The apparatus includes a matrix position calibration means for calibrating longitudinal, lateral and rotary positions of the matrix. The apparatus includes a bending roller positioning means for calibrating vertical and longitudinal positions of a bending roller to bring the bending roller in a contact with the upward-extending flange. The apparatus further includes bending roller means for bending the upward-extending flange inwards by rolling the bending roller along the circumference of the flange while applying a downward force on the flange thereby bending it inwards and sealing off the ball stud in the receptacle.

Abstract: A portable tool designed for effective and efficient lateral truing of damaged spoked wheels, in particular bicycle wheels, is described. The tool is mountable on the bicycle frame, and allows the user to position the truing gauge with four spatial degrees of freedom. The inventive tool features a non-rigidly mounted (floating) truing indicator tip to maintain accurate tool alignment when in contact with a rotating wheel rim that is severely bent out the of the plane of the rim by decoupling rim forces from the rest of the tool. In addition, the combination of the floating action of the truing tip and its construction from a soft polymeric material avoids scratching or otherwise marring the surface of the rim during the truing procedure.

Abstract: Method for shaping a rim of a three dimensionally arched sheet metal, wherein the sheet metal is placed on a female die provided with a chamfer which follows the contour of a peripheral edge of the rim, the rim spanning the chamfer, and a male roller die is rolled on the sheet metal following the course of the chamfer while being pressed against the rim, thereby plastically deforming the rim locally into the chamfer while advancing along the chamfer in rolling contact.

Abstract: The caster angle of a unibody vehicle may be adjusted by securing a fixed frame member to the vehicle's rocker panel pinch weld to provide an anchor point for adjustment. An hydraulic porter power ram mounted between the forward end of the frame leg and the lower control arm of the steering assembly is used to push the lower control arm forward to the proper caster angle. A stabilizing bar attached to the fixed frame member minimizes twisting of the fixed frame member under hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: The caster angle of a unibody vehicle may be adjusted by securing a fixed frame member to the vehicle's rocker panel pinch weld to provide an anchor point for adjustment. An hydraulic porter power ram mounted between the forward end of the frame leg and the lower control arm of the steering assembly is used to push the lower control arm forward to the proper caster angle. A stabilizing bar attached to the fixed frame member minimizes twisting of the fixed frame member under hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A pulling tool for drawing the wheel of a motor vehicle into correct camber. The pulling tool has a base on which the wheel rests during adjustment of camber. A vertical support arm projects upwardly from the base, and supports a reel controlled by a ratchet. A strap paid out from the reel engages the wheel by a hook and pulls the top of the wheel towards the vertical support arm when the reel draws in the strap. A brace pivotally fixed to the vertical support arm includes two struts propped against the wheel, and prevents the vertical support arm from being drawn ineffectually towards the wheel. The base is bent to form an offset portion at that end to which the vertical support arm is connected, so that the novel tool may overlie a side rail of a conventional alignment rack without interference. The base and vertical support arm are separable. The top of the base has tread.

Abstract: A tool for adjusting camber includes a body terminating at a forward end in a downwardly turned portion, and an advancing arm, slidingly mounted to the body, and forwardly extendable therefrom. The advancing arm may be advanced or retracted with respect to the body, for example, by rotation of a lead screw. A crank is disposed at an opposite end of the body from the downwardly turned end for rotating the lead screw. The leading edge of the advancing arm is designed to provide a stop against a part of the vehicle fixed with respect to the wheel, conveniently the strut. In operation, a level is attached to the center of the wheel to be adjusted, to indicate a desired setting. The downwardly turned portion of the body is hooked over the top of the wheel and the advancing arm is advanced until it is in engaged contact with the strut. Camber bolts holding the wheel in position are then loosened.

Abstract: Apparatus for vehicle wheel alignment comprising a wheel engaging member and a bearing surface rigidly mountable to the wheel engaging member. A lever with a movable fulcrum is mounted to the bearing surface for applying an appropriately directed force to the bearing surface to adjust the alignment of an engaged wheel. A bracing member is provided extendable from the lever for attachment to an anchor surface. The bracing member provides a reaction force to ensure that the aligning force generated by the lever is directed toward the engaged wheel. Alternative embodiments of the invention can be used to adjust wheel alignment on straight axle and trailing arm axle vehicles.

Abstract: A force applying structure is made to be fixed on the periphery of a frame straightening bench for a vehicle for simultaneously pushing and pulling on a part of the vehicle. The structure includes an upstanding post rigidly fixed in spaced relationship with the straightening bench. A device is mounted on the post for pulling on a chain and pushing with a hydraulic cylinder. The device comprises a base plate vertically fixed on the post and partition plates mounted edgewise on the base plate for forming a horizontal and a vertical channel forming a cross-shape recess. A first hydraulic cylinder is secured in one of the channel parallel to the base plate and has a piston projecting away from the intersection of the channels. At the intersection of the channels adjacent the first cylinder a pair of guide member having a partly circular contour extends inside the channels.

Abstract: A camber adjustment device including a cam bolt and cam plate assembly and method of installation thereof which enables a vehicle to be quickly and conveniently provided with an assembly for adjusting the front wheel camber.

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: A toe adjustment assembly for adjusting the toe in the rear wheels of a vehicle having an independent rear suspension including: a cam device operatively associated with a lateral control arm, a slot provided in fixed relationship with the vehicle frame, and, cam engaging surfaces associated with the slot. When the cam device is rotated, it coacts with the cam engaging surfaces to cause relative lateral shifting of a shaft portion of the cam device. This lateral shifting of the cam device shaft portion causes lateral shifting of the associated control arm and thus toe adjustment of an associated wheel.

Abstract: A wheel alignment device for independently suspended wheels of a motor vehicle which comprises two mutually parallel tracks with interconnecting structure upon which are mounted traveling journals which receive and support the bi-laterally projecting spindles of an upstanding wheel attachment plate. A jack is provided to bear against the plate and the parallel track structure to selectively force the plate to pivot about the axis formed by the projecting spindles or about a vertical axis of the wheel plate in order to bring the wheel back to normal from a position of excessive toe in or toe out or positive or negative camber.

Abstract: A caster adjustment tool is used to adjust the caster angle on a McPherson front end suspension system having a strut arm connected to an upper bearing assembly which, in turn, is adjustably connected to a strut mounting plate affixed to the frame of a vehicle. The upper end of the strut arm is connected to the bearing assembly by a strut fastener exposed in an opening in the strut mounting plate. The caster adjustment tool includes a ring for fitting around the upper strut fastener, a lever arm, and a force arm of adjustable length extending between the ring and a lower portion of the lever arm. The force arm pivots on the lower portion of the lever arm. A connector on the lever arm below the pivot engages an edge of the strut mounting plate as the ring fits around the strut fastener.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for adjusting the suspension struts in vehicles, in order to correct wheel camber. A web is bolted to the lug bolts corresponding to the strut being adjusted. A first hydraulically actuated ram is connected to the web and to a portion of the strut, while a second such ram, which pushes in a direction opposite to the first, is connected to a chain which is in turn connected to another portion of the strut. The operator applies hydraulic pressure to the rams, which push and pull on the strut until a predetermined deflection is achieved. Because the rams act on the web in directions opposite to each other, and in approximately the same plane, the forces acting on the web are substantially cancelled, and little force is thereby placed on the lug bolts of the vehicle, which might otherwise deform or destroy the wheel bearings.

Abstract: A mount is provided having a central portion defining first and second sides and provided with a plurality of openings formed therethrough for support of the mount from a vehicle hub wheel mounting portion with the first side of the mount opposing the hub. The mount includes remote lever arm portions extending outwardly from the central portion in opposite directions generally normal to a ray normal to the first side of the mount and an anchor arm is carried by one of the lever arm portions and projects outwardly of the second side of the mount. An elongated lever arm is also provided and has one end portion pivotally supported from the anchor arm outer end for oscillation about an axis transverse to the lever on end of the anchor arm and the other end portion of the lever arm spaced laterally outwardly from the second side of the mount in registry with the other lever arm portion.

Abstract: A wheel to wheel strut camber correcting tool including a heavy rigid frame channel body with wheel bolt openings to facilitate wheel bolt mounting of the channel body on a strut wheel mounting disk, and a reversible direction screw drive assembly mounted on the top of the channel body. The reversible direction screw drive assembly has a pivotal mount in parallel spaced mounting flanges for a rotationally fixed drive screw hub housing member rotationally mounting a drive nut. The drive nut is drivingly threaded to an elongated non-rotational bolt member having a strut attachment head constructed for being removably clamped to a strut.

Abstract: Camber corrective adjustment tool having a rigid bar and opposed arms, one of which is fixed relative to the bar, and the other pivoted thereto in a manner to act as a fulcrum relative to the wheel mounting plate, for cooperation with a power unit to flex a trailing arm or McPherson strut suspension element against the weight of the vehicle to correspondingly vary the camber of the wheel coupled to the plate.

Abstract: An alignment system for non-adjustable motor vehicle front end suspension systems, such as those employing McPherson struts, includes anchors for mounting, by appropriate adaptors, to the opposite side forward sheet metal portions of the vehicle to which the upper ends of associated McPherson struts are secured. An elongated adjustable length thrust member is operatively connected between the anchors and a support assembly is provided anchorable relative to one side of the associated vehicle. The support assembly includes an upper portion to which the adjacent alignment system anchor may be connected by means of an adjustable length anchor member and the support further includes an adjustable support member to which the adjacent wheel hub may be releasably anchored.

Abstract: An alignment system for non-adjustable motor vehicle front end suspensions, such as those employing McPherson struts, has a support assembly anchorable relative to an adjacent vehicle being repaired, with a connector arrangement provided on the support assembly for permitting one of the struts to be restrained relative to the support assembly while the other of the struts is being pulled into proper position. Once the struts have been correctly positioned in accordance with factory specifications, the sheet metal forming the fender wells, and the like, can be welded or bolted in place while pressure is maintained on the struts so as to re-unitize the vehicle body portions with which the suspension system is employed.

Abstract: A tool for straightening a bent control arm in an automotive vehicle suspion system: said tool comprising a first presser element slidably positionable on the control arm shaft, a second presser element affixable to an end of the control arm pivot shaft, and screw-nut means for drawing the first presser element toward the second presser element to thereby effect a straightening action on the bent area of the control arm. A power wrench is the preferred instrumentality for advancing the nut along the screw.

Abstract: A technique and device for correcting front end misalignment resulting from bent or twisted front axle assemblies which may be performed without dismantling the front end of the vehicle. The apparatus includes means for laterally clamping the axle assembly and means for applying a bending force to the axle at a position laterally displaced from that of the clamping means. A base assembly is utilized to support the axle at its normal height after the wheel has been removed. A novel breast plate is utilized to support the base of a horizontally disposed hydraulic jack which provides the desired camber correction. Preferred embodiments are particularly designed to be utilized with Volkswagen automobiles.

Abstract: The tool disclosed includes a base for attachment to the wheel suspension system. Upright arms project from the tool base and carry an abutment assembly which is adjustable to support the end of different types of power cylinders in various operative relationships to the suspension system and which cylinders impart corrective bending forces to the suspension system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting misalignment resulting from a bent strut in a motor vehicle without requiring dismantling. The wheel support and alignment portion of a vehicle includes a wheel supporting hub, a wheel drum through which the hub extends and the strut which is connected between the hub and the frame of the vehicle. The technique comprehends the steps of holding the strut at a point adjacent the portion thereof to be bent, and applying a bending force to the portion of the hub which extends through the wheel drum. A wheel holding device is preferably connected to the wheel drum via the wheel's threaded bolts and lug nuts. The wheel holder has a horizontally extending thrust plate against which the piston of a jack is applied to push either upwardly or downwardly as the correction may require. An auxiliary U-shaped frame may be utilized to support the bending jack when a downward bending force is desired.

Abstract: A vehicle axle straightening system for straightening a bent and twisted vehicle axle includes members engaging the axle to hold certain portions while forces are applied to the axle at portions spaced therefrom to bend and twist the axle to return same to its original orientation, the system particularly includes a pair of axle engaging assemblies each extending between and having opposite end portions thereof attached to respective anchors mounted in a floor and each assembly having a top member engageable with an upper surface of the vehicle axle thereby resisting upward movement of the respective engaged portion of the vehicle axle in response to an upwardly directed force by a force applying device extending between the floor and a selected portion of the vehicle axle and spaced from the axle engaging assemblies.

Abstract: A toe adjustment assembly for adjusting the toe in the rear wheels of a vehicle having an independent rear suspension including: a cam device operatively associated with a lateral control arm, a slot provided in fixed relationship with the vehicle frame, and, cam engaging surfaces associated with the slot. When the cam device is rotated, it coacts with the cam engaging surfaces to cause relative lateral shifting of a shaft portion of the cam device. This lateral shifting of the cam device shaft portion causes lateral shifting of the associated control arm and thus toe adjustment of an associated wheel.