What is the difference between positive and negative camber?

The diagram shows camber as the angle between the tire's centerline and true vertical when viewed from the front. Positive camber tilts the top of the tire outward from vertical; negative camber tilts it inward.

How is the caster angle defined in this diagram?

Caster is shown as the angle between vertical and the steering pivot axis, which is the line drawn through the upper ball joint and lower ball joint when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

How are toe-in and toe-out illustrated?

Viewed from above, the distance between the tires at the front (F) and rear (R) of the wheels is measured. Toe-in occurs when the fronts of the tires are closer together than the rears; toe-out is the opposite, per the F and R dimensions labeled in the diagram.

Does this document give alignment specifications for a specific vehicle?

No. It is a generic illustration of camber, caster, and toe concepts with no numeric specs, years, or model information.

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Camber, Caster & Toe Alignment Angles Diagram - Ford Festiva Reference

Wheel alignment diagram showing camber, caster, toe-in and toe-out angles

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Alignment schematic illustrating positive/negative camber, caster angle, and toe-in versus toe-out.

AI caption January 2007 · Photo 5 of 5

This scanned schematic illustrates the three basic front-end wheel alignment angles: camber, caster, and toe. The top portion shows two front views of a vehicle's suspension comparing positive camber and negative camber, each measured as the camber angle between the tire centerline and true vertical. The middle illustration is a side view of a front wheel and fender showing the upper ball joint and lower ball joint, with the steering pivot axis drawn through them; the caster angle is the tilt of this axis relative to vertical. The bottom portion shows two top-down views of the front wheels illustrating toe: the front (F) and rear (R) distances between the tires are dimensioned, with an arrow indicating the forward direction of travel. Toe-in is defined as the condition where F minus R is such that the wheels point inward at the front (F less than R), and toe-out is the opposite condition. The document contains no year, make, model, part numbers, or alignment specification values — it is a generic conceptual reference for understanding alignment terminology, useful as background for the camber-adjustment documents filed alongside it for a Ford Festiva.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between positive and negative camber?: The diagram shows camber as the angle between the tire's centerline and true vertical when viewed from the front. Positive camber tilts the top of the tire outward from vertical; negative camber tilts it inward.
How is the caster angle defined in this diagram?: Caster is shown as the angle between vertical and the steering pivot axis, which is the line drawn through the upper ball joint and lower ball joint when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
How are toe-in and toe-out illustrated?: Viewed from above, the distance between the tires at the front (F) and rear (R) of the wheels is measured. Toe-in occurs when the fronts of the tires are closer together than the rears; toe-out is the opposite, per the F and R dimensions labeled in the diagram.
Does this document give alignment specifications for a specific vehicle?: No. It is a generic illustration of camber, caster, and toe concepts with no numeric specs, years, or model information.