WHEEL ALIGNMENT: WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
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A wheel alignment is a mechanical adjustment to the suspension system (the parts that connect your wheels to the car) to ensure that your wheels are in the correct position. It may also be called tire tracking or alignment. Wheel alignment is important because misaligned wheels can cause problems such as rapid or uneven tire wear and lead to a less pleasant experience of driving or driving the car.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A MISALIGNED CAR?
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One of the signs that your car may be out of alignment is if it constantly pulls to one side or the other in a straight line. The steering wheel can also give you clues that you have an alignment problem, for example, if it seems off-center when you drive straight or if it vibrates.
HOW TO ALIGN THE WHEELS?
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Wheel alignment is not a do-it-yourself project; the process is more involved than making sure the wheels are parallel and pointing straight ahead. Alignment must be performed on approved equipment by trained personnel to return the vehicle to OEM specifications. There are three main factors at play in this process.
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CONVERGENCE
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It is the term for how far the wheel leans outward from the vehicle or how far it leans towards it. Getting the camber angle right is important to guarantee your car will corner safely. A camber angle that is off can cause a wear ring toward the inner or outer edge of the tire, depending on which way the excess camber is leaning.
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ANGLE OF FLIGHT
Toe angle is what most people first associate with alignment and has to do with whether the wheels are straight before or not. Your wheels should not be too "pointed" or "out". Alignment issues are the ones that can tear the tire tread the fastest.
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