What Is Wheel Alignment?
It's a process involves adjusting the wheels to certain specifications so they track in a straight line. The front wheels are more often become misaligned. Improper alignment causes poor handling, premature tread wear and reduces fuel efficiency.
Causes of Misalignment?
It's a process involves adjusting the wheels to certain specifications so they track in a straight line. The front wheels are more often become misaligned. Improper alignment causes poor handling, premature tread wear and reduces fuel efficiency.
Causes of Misalignment?
- Aggressive cornering
- Hard braking
- Bumping a curb
Symptons
- Vibration
- Vehicle pull to one side when driving at highway speeds, rather than maintaining a straight line.
Several factors are checked when a mechanic performs an alignment :
Camber - inward and outward tilt of the wheels. Proper adjusted camber angle keeps the outside tires flat and stable on the ground during a turn, resulted in better handling of vehicles. Improper camber angle causes tires to wear out prematurely.
Caster - angle of the vertical axis of the wheel in relation to the steering connection.
Higher
caster angle gives greater stability at high speeds, but at lower speed, steering may be more difficult. Like wise, lower caster angle results in more ease in steering, but vehicle may wander at higher speeds. Properly adjusted caster allows the wheels to track in a straight line and prevent shimmy.
Toe - refers to the front end of the
wheel. Improper adjusted toe causes uneven and excessive wear - one side of the tread wears out more quickly than the other.
More reading can be found here.
Camber - inward and outward tilt of the wheels. Proper adjusted camber angle keeps the outside tires flat and stable on the ground during a turn, resulted in better handling of vehicles. Improper camber angle causes tires to wear out prematurely.
Caster - angle of the vertical axis of the wheel in relation to the steering connection.
Higher
caster angle gives greater stability at high speeds, but at lower speed, steering may be more difficult. Like wise, lower caster angle results in more ease in steering, but vehicle may wander at higher speeds. Properly adjusted caster allows the wheels to track in a straight line and prevent shimmy.Toe - refers to the front end of the
wheel. Improper adjusted toe causes uneven and excessive wear - one side of the tread wears out more quickly than the other.More reading can be found here.
3 comments:
I like to park half-half on the kerb. My atm always nagged me, said bad for the car. I tak peduli la. Left side on kerb, right side on the road.
agreed, very good tips.
JM, Tina - Thanks. More tips to come.
5xmom - ohh, tat's pretty bad. Needs frequent alignment.
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