The Keys To A Front Wheel Alignment
by admin on Jan.27, 2010, under Car Maintenance, Car Tips
The Keys To A Front Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignments are one of many maintenance items that drivers overlook or completely ignore. Unlike an engine that overheats or a transmission that suddenly whines, alignment problems are nearly imperceptible when they originally form. Plus, they build gradually over time, making them difficult to identify. Eventually, you discover that your front-end is so poorly aligned that your car can make a right turn on its own when you release the steering wheel.
Fortunately, the problem is simple for a mechanic to resolve. It’s usually a matter of adjusting the caster, camber, and toe. In this article, I’ll explain the respective roles played by each in the proper alignment of your vehicle.
The Role Of Caster
Caster affects the directional movement (and thus, handling) of your car. It is defined as the forward or backward tilt of the steering axis when viewed from the side. If the axis tilts forward, the measurement is positive. If it tilts backward, it is negative.
Caster is influenced by the height of your vehicle. That means lowering or raising your car will affect it. Automakers typically set caster between +2 and +5. If it is not positive enough, the steering response will be highly sensitive. What’s more, uneven caster between the two front wheels will result in pulling toward the side with the lesser amount. It’s worth noting that such problems rarely impact tread wear.
The Role Of Camber
Camber reflects the tilt of your wheels when viewed from the front or the back. If the top of the wheel tilts outward, the camber is said to be positive. If it tilts inward toward the center of your vehicle, it is said to be negative. The measurement is defined by the tilt off each wheel’s vertical axis.
Automakers usually set the camber between 0 and -2. If it is too positive, you’ll notice tread wear on the outside of your tire. If it is too negative, you’ll see tread wear on the inside. Both can cause excess wear and tear on your car’s suspension.
Toe In And Toe Out
Toe reflects how much the front of your wheels are turned inward or outward when viewed from above. If they are turned inward, toe is said to be positive (or, toe-in exists). If they are turned outward, it is negative (i.e. toe-out). The former leads to an understeer while the latter causes an oversteer.
Automakers normally set the toe near zero, which means the tires point forward. Any other setting will usually cause excess tread wear and lower gas mileage.
There are additional factors that influence the alignment of your vehicle’s wheels, such as the track, wheelbase, and ride height. However, these factors are related to the design of your car and are rarely adjusted. If you suspect your car’s caster, camber, or toe is off, have an experienced mechanic perform a complete front-end alignment.