Nissan Terrano (1st generation, WD21) (Pathfinder): Checking and Adjusting Wheel Alignment Angles

Part numbers are from the manufacturer's original catalogue. Check them against your VIN before ordering.

• Alignment machine (3D or optical) and a lift or a level surface
• tire pressure gauge
• 19/21/22 mm and 24 mm wrenches for tie rod locknuts
• wrench for the control arm adjusting bolts
• pry bar for checking play
• torque wrench

1. Preparation. Set the tire pressure according to the placard on the vehicle. The tires should be the same size and have equal wear. The fuel tank should be about full, with no cargo in the cabin or cargo area, and the spare tire in its normal location.
2. Check the condition of the suspension before taking measurements. Lift the front axle and check for play: wheel bearings (rock the wheel by the top and bottom), ball joints, tie rod ends and rods, idler arm and pitman arm, and control arm bushings. Replace any worn parts with play. Adjusting with them in place is pointless and the settings will quickly drift.
3. Check the body height on the left and right sides. On a torsion bar suspension, a height difference or a sagging torsion bar changes camber and caster. If the vehicle sits unevenly, first level the ride height with the torsion bar adjusting bolts, then bounce the body and let the suspension settle.
4. Roll the vehicle 5-10 m on a level surface so the suspension takes its working position. Place the vehicle on the alignment rack, with the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position, and install a steering wheel holder. Install the sensors and perform wheel runout compensation.
5. Measure camber, caster, and toe, and compare them with the values in the alignment machine database for the Terrano/Pathfinder WD21. The most important thing is that the left and right sides match: the difference in camber and caster between the wheels should be minimal. Otherwise, the vehicle will pull to one side.
6. Adjust camber and caster at the front suspension control arms (using the adjusting elements where the arms attach to the body or frame). Loosen the control arm fasteners, move the adjuster in small increments, and check the readings after each step. Tighten the control arm fasteners with the suspension unloaded, to the torque specified by the manufacturer. For body-on-frame SUVs this is usually high, so do not just tighten them by hand.
7. Adjust toe by changing the length of the tie rods. Loosen the locknuts or clamps on the center tie rod (drag link/cross rod), and turn the rod to change the length equally on both sides so that the steering wheel stays straight. Toe on SUVs is small, on the order of a few millimeters of toe-in, so follow the values from the alignment machine.
8. Tighten the tie rod locknuts, and check that the tie rod end threads are screwed in far enough and that the boots are not twisted. Locknut torque is per the service manual, and roughly no lower than 40-60 N·m (30-44 lb-ft).
9. Re-measure all the angles after tightening. Remove the sensors and tighten the wheel nuts (a reference for steel and alloy wheels of this class is 100-120 N·m (74-89 lb-ft); check the exact value in the service manual).
10. Take a test drive on a level road: the vehicle should track straight without steering effort, with the steering wheel centered and no vibrations. If it pulls to the right or left, check the tire pressure and the caster difference.

• Alignment angles affect handling and safety
• If you find play or damaged tie rods or control arms during the inspection and you lack experience, leave the job to a repair shop
• Secure the vehicle on a lift with safety stands, and do not leave it on a single jack
• A body-on-frame vehicle with torsion bar suspension does not tolerate adjusting "by eye," so do the final check only on an alignment machine