Toe Arms

Toe arms provide additional control over rear wheel alignment by allowing the toe angle to be adjusted where the standard suspension does not provide enough range. Rear toe arms are particularly useful when lowering or other suspension changes alter geometry and prevent the desired alignment from being achieved with the original adjustment.

Adjustable toe arms can allow alignment changes to be made while installed, making accurate setup easier on compatible suspension systems. They are used across performance, modified and motorsport applications where additional rear toe adjustment is required. Correct fitment and a professional wheel alignment are essential because even relatively small toe changes can significantly affect tyre wear and vehicle behaviour.

What Are Toe Arms?

Toe arms are suspension links that help establish and control the toe angle of a wheel. On independent rear suspension systems, changing the effective length or position of a toe arm can alter the direction in which the rear wheel points relative to the vehicle's centreline.

An adjustable toe arm provides additional alignment range where the standard suspension cannot achieve the required setting.

The component works as part of the complete rear suspension geometry. Its effect therefore depends on the suspension layout and the relationship between the toe arm, knuckle and other suspension links.

What Does Rear Toe Do?

Rear toe describes whether the rear wheels point slightly inward or outward when viewed from above. It is an important wheel-alignment measurement because relatively small changes can influence straight-line behaviour, cornering response and tyre wear.

The correct rear toe setting depends on the vehicle and suspension setup.

Toe should not be considered independently from camber and the rest of the alignment. Changes elsewhere in the suspension can alter toe, while adjusting one suspension link can sometimes influence more than one alignment measurement.

Toe-In and Toe-Out Explained

Toe-in means the fronts of the tyres point slightly towards the vehicle's centreline. An appropriate amount can contribute to directional stability, depending on the suspension design.

Toe-out means the fronts of the tyres point away from the centreline. Rear toe-out can make the rear of a vehicle more responsive to direction changes, but inappropriate settings can also reduce stability.

Excessive toe in either direction can increase tyre scrub and accelerate wear.

There is no universal ?best? rear toe setting. Alignment should be set to an appropriate specification for the vehicle, suspension configuration and intended use.

Why Does Toe Change When a Vehicle Is Lowered?

Lowering changes where the suspension sits within its normal range of movement.

On many independent rear suspension designs, the wheel does not move perfectly vertically as the suspension compresses. Instead, the geometry of the arms causes camber and toe to change through suspension travel.

Lowering can therefore leave the suspension resting at a point where rear toe differs from its original setting.

Whether additional correction is required depends on the suspension design, lowering amount and factory adjustment range. Measure the alignment first rather than assuming every lowered vehicle requires adjustable toe arms.

Types of Rear Toe Arms

Rear toe correction can be achieved through different arm designs depending on the suspension layout and alignment requirements. Some arms primarily control toe, while other suspension links can influence more than one alignment angle.

The appropriate design depends on how the vehicle's rear suspension controls wheel geometry.

Adjustable Rear Toe Arms

Adjustable rear toe arms allow their effective length or mounting relationship to be changed, moving the rear wheel towards the required toe setting.

On-car adjustment allows applicable arms to be fine-tuned while installed. This can make it easier for an alignment technician to measure the existing toe, make an adjustment and recheck the result without repeatedly removing the component.

Adjustment mechanisms and procedures vary, so the applicable instructions should always be followed.

Some designs may also incorporate hardware intended to secure or maintain the selected adjustment. Where specialised locking or alignment hardware is supplied for an application, it should be installed and set according to the specified procedure.

Combined Camber and Toe Adjustable Arms

On some multi-link suspension designs, an adjustable arm can influence both camber and toe because changing its length alters the position of the wheel or knuckle in more than one plane.

This means adjusting the arm to correct one measurement may also change another.

Where an arm affects both angles, camber and toe should be measured together during alignment. The goal is to achieve the required overall geometry rather than correcting one measurement while allowing another to move outside its intended setting.

Why Choose Adjustable Toe Arms?

Adjustable toe arms provide additional alignment range when the existing rear suspension adjustment cannot achieve the required toe setting. This can be useful after lowering or other suspension changes, or where a more specific alignment setup is required.

Their key advantage is adjustability rather than a universal handling improvement.

Depending on the design, an adjustable toe arm can provide:

• Additional rear toe correction
• More precise alignment adjustment
• On-car adjustment on applicable designs
• Greater flexibility when suspension geometry has changed

Additional adjustment should only be used where it is actually required. If the desired rear toe can already be achieved with the existing adjustment, replacing suspension arms solely to gain more range may be unnecessary.

What Are the Signs Rear Toe May Be Out?

Incorrect rear toe can contribute to abnormal tyre wear or changes in how the rear of the vehicle tracks, but these symptoms do not prove that toe is the cause. The alignment needs to be measured before deciding that adjustable arms are required.

Signs worth investigating include:

• Uneven rear tyre wear
• Rapid tyre wear or visible tyre scrub
• A vehicle that appears to track at an angle
• An unsettled feeling from the rear
• Changes in stability after suspension modifications
• Rear toe measurements outside the required specification

Other faults can produce similar symptoms.

Worn suspension bushes, damaged arms, wheel bearing wear, tyre problems, incorrect tyre pressures or other alignment angles should also be checked.

An alignment specialist can measure the suspension and determine whether the issue is insufficient toe adjustment or another mechanical problem.

Are Toe Arms Suited to Street or Motorsport Use?

Whether a toe arm is appropriate for street, performance or motorsport use depends on the individual component and its specified application. Do not assume every adjustable toe arm carries the same usage approval or warranty conditions.

Some components are specifically intended for motorsport or competition applications.

For road vehicles, check the individual product information and applicable state or territory modification requirements before installation.

Competition or motorsport use can also affect warranty coverage. Check the applicable warranty conditions for the individual component and intended use rather than assuming standard coverage applies in every situation.

How Are Toe Arms Fitted?

Toe arm installation generally involves safely supporting the vehicle and rear suspension, removing the existing arm and installing the replacement at its specified mounting points. An adjustable arm then requires an appropriate initial setting before final alignment.

What the Job Involves

Depending on the suspension design, installation may involve:

• Safely raising and supporting the vehicle
• Supporting relevant rear suspension components
• Removing the existing toe arm and mounting hardware
• Inspecting the mounting points and surrounding suspension
• Setting the replacement arm to an appropriate initial length
• Installing it in the specified orientation
• Installing any application-specific alignment or locking hardware
• Checking suspension, wheel and tyre clearances
• Tightening fasteners according to the specified procedure

Where compliant bushes are used, follow the applicable procedure for final tightening at normal ride height where required.

Never work underneath a vehicle supported only by a jack. Use appropriate stands or workshop lifting equipment and use a qualified technician where specialised suspension work is required.

Wheel Alignment After Fitting

A professional wheel alignment is required after fitting or adjusting rear toe arms.

The final toe setting cannot be established accurately by visually positioning the arm or matching its length to the component removed.

Rear toe should be measured using appropriate alignment equipment. Camber and other applicable alignment measurements should also be checked, particularly where the suspension design allows one adjustment to influence another.

Choosing Toe Arms for Your Vehicle

Choose rear toe arms according to the vehicle's suspension design, mounting position and amount of additional adjustment required.

Start with current alignment measurements to establish whether the standard adjustment is insufficient. Fitment assistance is available if you're unsure which adjustable toe arm is appropriate for your suspension setup.

Shop Rear Toe Arms with Whiteline

Our rear toe arms and adjustable toe arms provide application-specific alignment adjustment where additional control over rear toe is required.

Choose the correct fitment with the added confidence of our Fitment Guarantee, warranty and 60 Day Returns. Check the applicable product and warranty information where the vehicle will be used for motorsport or competition.