If steering axis inclination is out of specification, which technician's explanation is accurate?

When the steering axis inclination is out of specification, it indicates an issue with the vehicle’s steering geometry, which can significantly affect handling and stability. A bent control arm can cause the steering axis to be misaligned. The control arm is a critical component that connects the wheel assembly to the vehicle’s frame and plays a key role in maintaining the proper alignment of the steering components.

If the control arm is bent, it alters the angles at which the wheels are positioned relative to the body of the vehicle, likely resulting in an inaccurate steering axis inclination. This misalignment can lead to uneven tire wear and handling problems. Therefore, mentioning a bent control arm as a potential cause of incorrect steering axis inclination is accurate and highlights a common issue that technicians encounter.

On the other hand, shimming the spindle is a different approach used to adjust the steering geometry, but if the inclination is out of specification due to a physical defect like a damaged control arm, simply shimming the spindle may not effectively resolve the underlying problem. Thus, while shimming may address some misalignments, it does not address the structural issue introduced by a bent control arm, which is why the explanation from Technician A is the more accurate representation of the situation.