What is a Wheel Alignment & Why is it Important? Know The Procedure of Wheel Alignment

Imagine you are driving your car and enjoying everything from your ride to music. But something isn’t right.

Your car is drifting to one side, the steering wheel is not centered, and unusual vibrations are coming from it.

If you’re wondering, what is happening? Then the chances are that your wheel alignment is misaligned. But what is it and why is it important?

So, to know the answer to these questions read more about the wheel alignment and its procedure.

What is Wheel Alignment?

Wheel alignment, also known as car alignment, is an important component that enhances safety and handling.

The angles of the wheels are adjusted according to the car manufacturer’s specifications. It involves three angles: camber, caster, and toe.

These angles enhance vehicle performance and longevity by ensuring they stay perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. It optimizes contact with the road while promoting uniform tire wear.

Importance of Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment is important because of many factors as it improves your driving experience and safety.

1) Improved Handling

The properly aligned wheels provide a smooth and safe driving experience by improving handling. It offers more control and stability, making the vehicle more responsive to steering inputs.

2) Enhanced Safety

The correct alignment of the wheels ensures enhanced safety, especially during emergency situations or at high speeds.

It does not pull the vehicle to one side, preventing the chances of accidents while offering overall safety and optimal braking performance.

3) Tyre Longevity

The proper wheel alignment ensures even tyre wear, extending the lifespan of the tyres. It will save you money in the long run by reducing the need to replace your tyres frequently.

4) Fuel Efficiency

The rolling resistance can increase due to the misaligned wheels. That is why well-aligned wheels are important to decrease the rolling resistance. Your vehicle also moves efficiently and uses less fuel, reducing fuel costs.

5) Reduced Wear and Tear

Correct alignment of wheels reduces wear, maintenance costs, and stress on the suspension components. This decreases the risk of premature wear and failure.

Types of Alignment Angles

There are three alignment angles that work together to offer great performance, safety, and tyre longevity.

1) Camber - The camber angle of a wheel alignment is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel when viewed from the vehicle's front. It ensures even tyre wear and stable handling.

2) Toe angle - The toe angle of the wheel is viewed from above the vehicle. If the leading edges of the tyre point towards each other, it is called toe-in and when they point away, it is called toe-out. It ensures improved straight-line stability and steering response.

3) Caster angle - It is the angle of the steering axis that can be viewed from the side of the vehicle. It provides increased stability and cornering ability.

Types of Wheel Alignment

Just like the angles, there are three types of wheel alignment to meet your specific needs.

1) Front-end alignment - It adjusts the front wheels’ alignment including the camber, toe, and caster. It is ideal for those vehicles that have non-adjustable rear suspension or experience issues related to it.

2) Four-wheel alignment - It adjusts the angles of all four wheels including the front and rear to ensure they are parallel and perpendicular to the centerline. It is best suited for modern vehicles with AWD systems or independent rear suspension.

3) Thrust alignment - This involves aligning the vehicle's rear wheels to the centreline so that they are parallel to the front wheels. Proper alignment will prevent accidents, damages, or rear suspension issues.

The procedure of Wheel Alignment

1) Initial Inspection

Before starting the alignment process, tyre pressure, tyres, suspension, and steering components are inspected to ensure they match the manufacturer’s recommended levels.

This helps to avoid any existing issues that can affect the alignment procedure. Check the tyres for uneven wear patterns and steering components for damages.

2) Measurement

For measuring the alignment angles, the vehicle is positioned on an alignment rack and sensors are attached to each wheel. These sensors are used to gather the data throughout the process.

Current alignment angles are measured by comparing them with manufacturers' specifications using an alignment machine.

3) Adjustment

The three angles of the wheel alignment are adjusted in this stage.

The adjustment is made to the camber angle by tilting the wheel inward or outward by using methods such as control arms and strut mounts.

The adjustment is made to the camber angle by tilting the wheel inward or outward by using methods such as control arms and strut mounts.

The toe angle is adjusted by changing the tie rod length to ensure the wheels roll parallel.

4) Re-measurement

When the angles of the wheel are aligned correctly, the measurement is done again to ensure that they meet the specified parameter. Additional adjustments are also made to achieve correct alignment.

5) Test Drive

Lastly, take your vehicle for a test drive to ensure that vehicle handling has no issues and the steering wheel is centered.

During the test drive, you can identify if there are any issues with wheel alignment so that further adjustments can be made if necessary.

You should also know how to take care of car tyres to maintain proper alignment after the procedure is completed.

Signs You Need a Wheel Alignment

There are various signs that indicate the wheels are misaligned and you should consider this to get their alignment adjusted on time to improve the safety and handling of your vehicle.

1. Uneven tyre wear: Uneven tread wear or tyres wearing down more quickly are the signs of misalignment.
   
2. Vehicle Pulling: If your vehicle is being pulled to one side while driving even on a straight road indicates misalignment.
   
3. Steering wheel off-center: If you notice that your steering wheel is not centered while driving, it is another sign of misalignment.
   
4. Vibrations: The unusual and excessive vibrations from the steering wheel, especially while driving at certain speeds or turns.
   
5. Uneasy handling: The wheel alignment needs to be corrected when handling is less stable or you find it hard to control.

When to Get a Wheel Alignment

If you know when to get a wheel alignment done, it will help you to maintain the vehicle's performance and safety.

1. Annually: You should get the alignment checked at least once a year or during your vehicle's regular maintenance.
   
2. After impact: The misalignment may occur when your vehicle hits a curb, or pothole, or faces any form of collision that is when you should get it inspected.
   
3. New tyres: If you are replacing the vehicle tyres with new ones, you should check they wear evenly. Whatever type of car tyres you choose, you should thoroughly check them for any misalignment.
   
4. Suspension work: Ensure that everything is aligned correctly after you have replaced the suspension components.
   
5. Symptom onset: Notice the signs of misalignment mentioned above such as vehicle pulling, uneven tyre wear, etc, and get the wheel alignment done.

Wheel Alignment and Balancing Cost

The wheel alignment ensures proper positioning by adjusting the angles of the wheel based on the manufacturer’s specifications. This improves the fuel efficiency, handling, safety, and stability.

On the other hand, wheel balancing ensures the weight around the axle is evenly distributed to provide improved ride quality by eliminating the vibrations.

The wheel alignment and balancing cost depends on many factors such as location, vehicle type, and the dealership you choose.

Wheel Alignment Cost

Wheel Balancing Cost

Conclusion

Wheel alignment plays an important role in providing better fuel efficiency, handling, and safety.

Misalignment can cause various safety hazards that can lead to accidents, collisions, etc. Proper alignment is, therefore, necessary to avoid such incidents.

It has many benefits, and the proper procedure is followed to ensure that the wheel alignment matches the manufacturer’s specifications.

You should not ignore any signs of misalignment and get it checked regularly as it enhances comfort and safety. Hence, get your vehicle wheel alignment done to enjoy a pleasant driving experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 Why do you need an alignment?

Ans The wheel alignment is needed because misaligned wheels can cause issues such as making your tyres wear out quickly or unevenly, leading to a less enjoyable driving experience.

Q2 Can misalignment cause my vehicle to consume more fuel?

Ans Yes, misalignment can cause your vehicle to consume more fuel because when rolling resistance is increased, the engine works harder and uses more fuel.

Q3 What happens if I don’t get a wheel alignment?

Ans In case you don’t get the wheel alignment, it can lead to uneven tire wear, reduced fuel efficiency, poor handling, increased strain on suspension and steering components, and potentially unsafe driving conditions.

Q4 Can I do a wheel alignment myself?

Ans You can’t do wheel alignment yourself because it requires precise measurements and specialized equipment. This can be best done by professionals.