How to Align Your Wheels:
Wheel alignment is less about your wheels than you might think. It has more to do, in fact, with the suspension system of your vehicle. What matters is the angle and direction your wheels are rolling.
Your Car’s Wheel Can Be Aligned in Three Different Ways:
- Toe refers to the angle between your tires. This is the most common type of misalignment. You are more likely to have a toe misalignment if your car pulls in one direction when you remove your hands from the wheel or won’t drive straight in a straight path.
- Camber refers to the angle at which your wheel would appear if viewed from the front. Camber is misaligned if your vehicle’s wheel leans in any direction. Some tuners intentionally alter their camber in order to achieve a certain look, even though it doesn’t improve tire life.
- The angle of the pivot of the steering wheel as seen on the side of the car is called Caster. If your vehicle’s alignment is off, it may be difficult to detect. The easiest way to do so is to check if one wheel is too far back or forward in the wheel well. This can cause rubbing if the vehicle is driven over a large bump.
Why Can a Wheel Become Out of Alignment?
There are several different things. The alignment can shift if you take a sharp turn and place too much pressure on the wheel or axle. A wheel can be thrown out of alignment by hitting a bump with too much force. The stress of driving every day can cause one or more wheels to fall out of alignment. Even though it’s not very common, this is a pretty normal thing to happen.
How to Balance a Wheel:
Alignment is all about the direction, angle, and position of your wheels when they are mounted on your vehicle. Your wheels must also be perfectly balanced, or else they will not roll smoothly. It’s impossible to create a tire or wheel that is perfectly balanced on all sides, even with the latest design and manufacturing technologies. Some areas will inevitably have thicker material and others thinner and lighter. The wheel vibrates when one side is heavier than the other. This vibration is more noticeable the faster you move.
This problem can be resolved by wheel balancing. This technique involves spinning each tire-wheel combination using precision machinery to determine which spots are heavier on the wheel. The technician performing the balancing will then use bonding cement to attach the small lead weights to the lighter area of the wheel. Weights can be grouped in some cases, while others may have weights at different locations. Even the four wheels of the same car are different.
Your technician should tell you to expect a wheel balance as part of your tire replacement. Unbalanced tires will cause vibrations and a poor ride. These small weights can also fall off when the bonding cement wears down or you hit a big bump. Ask about tire balancing if your technician doesn’t mention it. You should always check to make sure that balancing is included in your tire installation.
This post was written by a professional at Wheel Paradise. Wheel Paradise is a family-owned retail shop providing new aftermarket custom auto wheels clearwater fl and tires. We have on-site designers who can work with you on putting together your dream vehicle. We offer most automotive customizations such as lift kits, suspension, lighting and much more. Wheel Paradise also has skilled mechanics ready to help with most mechanical needs. Financing is available. Customer relationship and satisfaction is our ultimate goal!
