Engine Cradle Alignment

Before aligning a vehicle, perform a pre-alignment inspection. This inspection includes visual inspection of the engine cradle. If the inspection reveals a bent or loose engine cradle, it must be repaired or refastened to the vehicle correctly before any measurements are taken.

The engine cradle has both lower control arms attached. These control arms affect the vehicle's alignment angles. A crooked or misaligned engine cradle will affect a vehicle's camber angle. Camber angles result in pull and tire wear. A vehicle will always pull to the side with the most positive (+) camber. If it has shifted during a repair, one side will have too much positive camber, and the other side will have too much negative camber.

Engine cradles can bend from hitting curbs, and parking stops. If an engine cradle is bent or misaligned even a little, it will need repairs before attempting wheel alignment. The camber angle is the inward and outward tilt of the top of the tire as viewed from the front of the vehicle. This and a few other alignment angles (SAI) affect the steering and suspension of a vehicle.