There is much more to correct alignment of the wheel than to change the positions of the tires of the vehicle, it also relates to changing the suspension of the car.
Driving on wonky wheels is a real hazard as it can lead the car to wander out of the roads and cause a crash. It also leads to greater friction between your tires and the ground, resulting in a significant decrease in tires, bad road performance and even a dramatic deterioration of inflationary pressure.
What is Wheel Alignment?
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) offer wheel alignment specs when going to sell their cars. You can optimize your car driving experience and retain its driving path by inspecting your vehicle’s wheels routinely as per the manufacturer’s standards and requirements. If misaligned, you can re-align the suspension as well as the tires by correcting the orientation angles of the wheel, such as,
Camber angle is the inside or the outside direction of the tire as perceived from in front of the vehicle. Far too much outward or inward tilt, also identified as positively and negatively camber, suggests an incorrect orientation and needs to be changed.
Toe tilt Is the left or right tyre arrangement slant and is the degree to which the tires, when perceived from above, move outward or inward. If you think that is confusing, just stand up and take a look at your feet. Align them inward to the middle of your body. If the tires on your vehicle are pointed the same direction, we call this toe-in orientation. Point the feet outward and you’ve got toe-out alignment. Both of them need a change using a wheel alignment machine.
Castor angle is the vertical orientation of the steering wheel of the vehicle that helps stabilize steering and maintains balance when steering. Specifically, as perceived from the side of your car, it is the degree of your steering axis. If you have a positive caster, the steering direction will be tilted in the direction to the driver. Negative caster, on the other hand, means that the steering axis is tilting towards the front of the engine.
Causes of Wheel Misalignment
Wheel alignment issues can arise slowly as a result of badly maintained roads and vehicle damage, or unexpectedly as a consequence of impacts.
The most likely reasons for slow-wheel misalignment are:
- Wear of suspension element
- Huge torque and friction from driving, putting pressure on shocks, springs and tires.
More significant reasons for wheel misalignment involve:
- Hit potholes at pace
- Collapsing large road barriers
- Parking by force against the sidewalks
What are the signs of Bad Wheel Alignment?
Wheel alignment issues may become evident while cruising or even when your vehicle is stopped. Here are some methods for identifying poor alignment of the wheels:
When you drive
- Steering wheel squeezing or buzzing and not returning to its usual spot after making a turn
- Uneven tire tread damage
- Shrieking of tires while having to turn
- Increased wear of the shoulder rib on the inside or outside of the tyre (indicating camber setting problems)
While Stationary
Stop your car with the tires faced forward and stand a few meters in front of it. Look at both sides of your car and see if your wheels are standing up or slanting in or out.