Wheel alignment is not a periodic maintenance service as per the service manual. But for the proper usage of a vehicle, it is very important and essential to do the wheel alignment at particular intervals.
Wheel alignment means?
It is an adjustment of some kind of angles. Mainly there are three types of angles related to this. Camber
Caster
Toe
It is the inward or outward angle of the tyre when viewed from the front of the vehicle.
The inward angle is called positive camber and the outward is called negative camber.
It is the angle created between the vertical line to the steering axis when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
Caster
Toe
Camber angle
The inward angle is called positive camber and the outward is called negative camber.
Caster angle
It is the angle created between the vertical line to the steering axis when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
The caster angles are of two types
positive caster
negative caster
While the positive caster is usually used in automobiles.
It is an important angle among them because it helps to keep the steering stable and balanced during cornering.
positive caster
negative caster
While the positive caster is usually used in automobiles.
It is an important angle among them because it helps to keep the steering stable and balanced during cornering.
Toe
It is the angle created between the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the tyres when viewed from the top.
The toe angles are of two types
Toe-in (inside the axis)
Toe-out ( outside the axis)
Toe-in (inside the axis)
Toe-out ( outside the axis)
So we can only check and do the alignment with the help of an alignment machine.
Some of the reasons for losing the alignments are:
Damaged Suspension parts
Broken or damaged Bearings
Damaged Steering linkages
The steering wheel is not centred when driving through straight roads.
Uneven wear and tear of the tyre.
Vehicle pulling to right or left even on smooth roads.
Abnormal vibration in the steering wheel.
To avoid this kind of issue, it is important to do the alignment properly.
Broken or damaged Bearings
Damaged Steering linkages
How to identifies whether the alignment is correct or not?
We can identify whether the alignment is correct or not by using the below-mentioned symptoms.
Uneven wear and tear of the tyre.
Vehicle pulling to right or left even on smooth roads.
Abnormal vibration in the steering wheel.