A CLARIFICATION OF TOE SPECIFICATIONS FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Classification: Reference: Date:

GI91-005 NTB91-049 May 16, 1991

A CLARIFICATION OF TOE SPECIFICATIONS FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT

APPLIED VEHICLE(S): All Models

SERVICE INFORMATION

Toe, front or rear, is the position of the tire and wheel assembly in relation to the center line
of the vehicle, as viewed from the top. This alignment measurement influences the track
holding characteristics of the vehicle. Incorrect Toe alignment can cause excessive tire
wear.

Nissan Service Manuals give toe specifications as either "total toe-in" or "total toe-
out." Total toe-in or -out, means that one-half (1/2) of the listed dimension should be
applied, equally, to each wheel.

• Toe-in is present when the tire is closer to the center line at the front (Figure 1a).

• Toe-out is present when the tire is closer to the center line at the rear (Figure 1b).

Figure 1a Figure 1b

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Adjustments
1. Toe should be the last alignment specification adjusted. Refer to the Front Axle (FA)

and Rear Axle (RA) sections of the appropriate Service Manual to determine the proper
locations to adjust the front and rear Toe.
2. Toe should be equal, side-to-side.
3. Toe-In
When the specification is labeled "Toe-In" and dimensions are negative numbers
(i.e.: -6 to -2mm), the wheels should be adjusted to the "Toe-Out" position (Figure 2).
NOTE: Positive (+) Toe-In specification = Toe-In wheel setting.

Negative (-) Toe-In specification = Toe-Out wheel setting.

Figure 2
Toe-out
When the specification is labeled "Toe-Out" and dimensions are positive (+) numbers
(i.e.: 2 to 6mm), the wheels should be adjusted to the "Toe-Out" position (Figure 3).
NOTE: Positive (+) Toe-Out specification = Toe-Out wheel setting.

Negative (-) Toe-Out specification = Toe-In wheel setting.

Figure 3

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4. Rear Toe is adjustable on some Nissan vehicles with independent rear suspensions.
Usually, the adjustment, itself, is not difficult but it is extremely important.
Nissan uses two (2) different terms to describe "Rear Toe". "Toe-In" and "Toe-Out".
Contemporary wheel alignment equipment measures rear "Toe-In" and, if the wheels
are actually "Toed-Out", displays the measured values as a negative (Figure 4).

Figure 4
5. Toe is measured as a distance or as an angle. When measuring toe as a distance, it

is found by measuring the difference between the center of the front of the tire and the
center of the rear of the tire at spindle height. The difference between the distances
is Total Toe.
When measured as an angle, the center line of the vehicle is zero degrees (0o, 0.00 o,
or 0o 00') and the angle of a line drawn through the center of the tire and wheel, as
viewed from the top, is the Toe angle for the individual wheel.

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6. Nissan Total Toe specifications are given two (2) ways:

Distance: Millimeters and Decimal Inches
Angle: Degrees and Minutes

The following chart (Figure 5) shows the relationship between the common units of Total
Toe measurement. Conversions vary with wheel size. Reference the appropriate service
manual for exact specifications.

TOE
UNIT CONVERSIONS

Units Conversions
fractional inches
decimal inches 1/16" 1/8" 3/16" 1/4"
millimeters
decimal degrees .062" .125" .188" .250"
degrees & minutes
fractional degrees 1.60 mm 3.18 mm 4.76 mm 6.35 mm
0.125o 0.25o 0.375o 0.5o
0o 15' 0o 23' 0o 30'
0o 8' 1/4o 1/2o
1/8o 3/8o

Figure 5

NOTE: When adjusting Total Toe on a vehicle with oversized tires, use the angle
values on the alignment machine. Oversized tires have a larger diameter.

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