- 01Why are wheel alignment settings changed over time even if there were no accidents or chassis repair?
Wheel alignment angles directly depend on the vehicle clearance (i.e., settling), and the clearance can change depends on the car's age. This is caused by the sagging of springs and silent blocks.
The occurrence and accumulation of microscopic gaps in suspension pivot connections cause tangible wheel alignment changes.
Natural body aging (unitized body vehicles). Permanent car body deformation in the operational process results in gradual changing of geometry and wheel alignment.
- 02The car does not pull to one side, there is no excessive tire wear, but the steering is hard.
Tight ball joints and track rods were installed while repairing, the idler arm or steering reduction gearbox (steering rack) are overtightened. It may stabilize on its own over time, excluding over-tightening, which should be adjusted to normal.
Wheel alignment out of specification.
The rim offset (ET is indicated at the rim marking) is not under the manufacturer's specification.
Low tire pressure.
- 03The car moved in a straight with excessive tire wearing. After wheel alignment adjustment, the vehicle side-pulling has occurred.
Each tire has a specific conicity, this effect causes that tire separately, and in total, all the tires of a vehicle creates a force to pull the vehicle sideways while driving.
- 04Why does the vehicle pull to one side after a proper wheel alignment?
Main known reasons for pulling a vehicle to one side: tire conicity, worn steering or suspension parts, uneven brakes wearing, tire pressure.
- 05Why is the steering wheel not centered when moving straight ahead?
Individual front toes aren't equal while steering wheel is centered. Some others issues which aren't related to the vehicle wheel alignment are known.
- 06When vehicle wheel alignment angles have to be checked?
The vehicle has excessive tire wear. The vehicle pulls to one side, or the steering wheel not centered when traveling straight ahead.
Following chassis parts have been replaced: rod, ball joint idler arm, steering reduction gearbox, suspension arm, silent block, or spring.
Vehicle ride height changed.
Erratic steering.
The vehicle pulls to one side when braking or making a U-turn on a slippery road (if the braking system works properly).
The vehicle has been collided with an obstacle with followed rim deformation, suspension breakdown even if the signs mentioned above are not observed.
The steering wheel returns to the center position slowly after making a turn.
