How do mechanics align tires?
An alignment essentially requires squaring a car’s wheels and axles with each other so that they’re moving in the same direction. The mechanic adjusts the various suspension angles — known as toe, thrust, camber and caster — that influence tire movement and position.
What to do if your car alignment is not working?
Check your tire pressure. Your tires should be appropriately and evenly inflated before you proceed. Tires that are not properly inflated may actually be the cause of your performance issues, so it’s a good idea to check this first. You may not need to do anything else.
What happens when rear wheels are not aligned?
If a repair shop’s alignment equipment says the rear wheels are already aligned, a thrust-angle alignment uses the rear wheels to align the fronts. If the rears aren’t aligned, a four-wheel service is needed.
Can a camber problem cause a car to be out of alignment?
Problems with camber, front or rear, can affect how your car handles. . At the same time, however, unless your car has been in a serious accident, it is unlikely that your camber will be seriously out of alignment. If your camber does need to be corrected, it should be done before adjusting the toe.
Do you need a 4 wheel alignment if your car is thrust angle?
If the rears aren’t aligned, a four-wheel service is needed. But while four-wheel alignments are more expensive than the thrust-angle version, there’s nothing “premium” about it. So beware the mechanic who tries to sell you on a four-wheel alignment as soon as you bring your car in.
How do you know if your car needs an alignment?
So, the best way to know if your car needs an alignment is to take it to a reputable car repair facility. Here are 10 of the most common misconceptions about alignment we hear regularly: Wheel alignment falls under the repair category, not scheduled maintenance.
Do you have a problem with Your alignment?
You might assume the problem is the alignment, but that may or may not be true. Just like with the health of your body, there are some things about the health of your car that are easy to diagnose on your own—and other things you’ll need a professional to confirm. Alignment is usually one of the latter.
Why is my car falling out of alignment?
Some older cars with mileage in the six digits can have worn steering components that make it difficult to stay within alignment specs, but in general, if a car is falling out of alignment soon after having the repair done, the blame can be placed on the mechanic who’s missing one of the crucial adjustment angles.
How often do you need a wheel alignment?
Your alignment can affect your vehicle in many different ways, and understanding the signs of an alignment problem can help you in achieving a more comfortable ride and longer tire life. Though there are not any definite recommended service intervals for a wheel alignment service, it should be checked about once every 6 months.