Wheel alignment
Although this page is about wheel alignment I do realize that you will not be able to perform this on your own. My goal here is to provide some information that will give you an increased chance of receiving a quality front end alignment. This service procedure is often oversimplified by repair centers and often up sold when you purchase tires or going in for regular maintenance. Sometimes the service writer will make it seem like a quick and easy add on that is well worth the money. The question is will they actually take the time to perform all of the adjustments that are needed.
I believe that a wheel alignment can provide value when it is truly needed. Modern day equipment is capable of providing extremely accurate readings. But it boils down to the technician that is operating this cutting edge tool. Learning about the adjustable angles and asking for a print out of the before and after readings will greatly increase your chances of receiving a quality wheel alignment.
Front end toe setting
This is one of the most common angles set during a wheel alignment. All vehicles have adjustable front toe settings and some have adjustable rear toe settings. When the rear end of the vehicle is adjustable it is known as a four wheel alignment. Four wheel alignments usually cost extra but are necessary on vehicles that have rear adjustments. All rear adjustments are made prior to taking readings on the front wheels. If the rear settings are out it can cause the vehicle to dog track. This is a condition where the rear end of the vehicle is out of alignment with the front as it travels down the road.
If the front of the tire is measured and the reading is less than the reading taken at the back of the tires this is known as a toe in condition. If the vehicle has too much toe in not only will the tires wear faster but this can also cause unnecessary drag and reduce fuel economy. Drag racers always set their front toe to zero. Meaning that there is no toe in or toe out. This provides the best rolling condition. Most passenger vehicles will require some toe in for stability and to prevent wandering.
About caster settings
My automotive instructor always referenced shopping cart front wheels when discussing this angle. Castor is the angle of the steering axis of a wheel as viewed from the side of the vehicle. There are three types of Castor measurements zero Castor is when the wheel is completely vertical. Negative Castor is when the top of the wheel is slightly towards the back of the vehicle.
When you swing your shopping cart around it tends to straighten itself and track straight due to this positive Castor setting. An incorrect caster setting can cause both a pulling and a wandering condition. The caster setting is also responsible for straightening the wheels automatically when you come out of a turn. If you're steering wheel is slow to return to center this would be an indication that a caster adjustment may be needed.
Camber wheel alignment settings
Camber is the angle represented by the tilt of either the front or rear wheels inward or outward as viewed from the front of the car. Camber is designed into the vehicle to compensate for road crown, passenger weight, as well as the total weight of the vehicle. This is why, when you take your vehicle in for a front end alignment it should be loaded the way it is normally used. If you have a load of bricks in the trunk you should remove them before taking the car in for this procedure.
A positive Camber setting is the opposite, as in the top of the wheel is tilted out compared to the bottom of the wheel. The camber angle can be affected by worn or loose ball joints, and worn out control arm bushings that have excess play. Also don't forget that wheel bearings that are not properly adjusted or extremely worn can through off this measurement.
How to get a good wheel alignmentKnowing about these three basic adjustments coupled with asking educated questions can give the shop a little extra motivation to make sure your wheel alignment is done properly. Asking for the before and after print outs can also increase your chances of a quality service. Modern-day wheel alignment equipment includes an onboard computer that has the specifications for all kinds of cars built right in to the software.
Take the prints home and study both the specifications and the final adjustment settings. The specs will provide a range of acceptable measurements. You want to make sure that your final settings are within these parameters. If they are not within tolerance a few problems can result. The two most common would be premature tire wear and the second would be a pulling condition.
 Custom Search Discover what else can go wrong with the parts you use for steering as well as the parts that hold the vehicle up on my page about car suspensions A popular item that is often upsold and misunderstood is the idler arm. See how to test them and what questions to ask the shop when they recommend a wheel alignment and idler arm Find out more about the covered material on this website. Also find out about the mechanic that thinks every driver should learn more about car repair
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These machines also have a printer on board so your request for a printout should be no bother to the repair center. And don't fall for the, we are all out of printer paper trick.
