ASE G1 Auto Maintenance and Light RepairSuspension and SteeringHard
A vehicle with a solid rear axle is undergoing a pre-alignment inspection. The technician measures the rear camber and finds it to be outside the manufacturer's specifications. What is the most common cause of an incorrect rear camber angle on a vehicle with a non-adjustable solid rear axle?
- ABent rear axle housing
- BIncorrect tire inflation pressure
- CWorn rear control arm bushings
- DWorn rear shock absorbers
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Bent rear axle housing
For vehicles with non-adjustable solid rear axles, camber is typically fixed. If camber is found to be out of specification, it almost always indicates a bent component, most commonly the rear axle housing itself, which can be caused by impact damage or overloading. Worn shock absorbers, tire pressure, or even control arm bushings would not directly alter the fixed camber angle of a solid axle housing.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Incorrect tire inflation pressure affects the tire's contact patch, not the wheel's camber angle relative to the vehicle.
- C. Worn rear control arm bushings can affect toe or thrust angle on some solid axle setups, but typically not the camber angle itself, which is determined by the axle housing.
- D. Worn rear shock absorbers affect damping, not the fixed geometric camber angle of a solid axle.
Solid Axle Camber Cause
On a vehicle with a non-adjustable solid rear axle, out-of-specification rear camber is almost exclusively caused by a bent rear axle housing, usually from impact or overloading.
- Camber is fixed on solid axles.
- Requires physical deformation to change.
- Commonly caused by impact damage.
Memory trick: Solid Axle, Camber's Fixed, If It's Off, Housing's Kicked.