All rights reserved. I received a worrying email from a well known member of the motor trade last month suggesting that many wheel alignment … On other cars, the rear wheels are also adjustable.... hence, all 4 wheels should be chacked for alignment. Alignment assures your tires meet the road at the proper angle, your wheels are pointing straight and your tires are centered in the wheel wells. It is only necessary to have a four-wheel alignment if you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Some cars have a fixed rear axel and therefore the rear wheels do not move meaning only a 2 wheel alignment is necessary, however if all 4 wheels have the ability to move a 4 wheel alignment will be necessary. Do I Really Need an Alignment? As you can see, there are several excellent reasons why you should have an alignment performed regularly. Wheel alignments should be performed using a computerized alignment machine. In addition, the angles of the rear wheels are focused on here. Q: Do you need to do a wheel alignment when you replace the front struts on 2005 Ford Mustang? Budget Brakes techs have just performed an unnecessary service, but while we know the customer’s always right – the fact is that our primary goal is your safety. Why Perform Four Wheel Alignment – Is it Really Necessary? The wheel alignment printout shows the wheel angles before and after the alignment. After I had my oil and filter changed in my low-mileage 2008 Acura TL the service "adviser" suggested I have a "4-wheel alignment". What is wheel alignment? You might think there isn’t a rush to have your car alignment checked, but if you wait too long to have a car alignment service, there will be significant repercussions, such as: You will have to replace your tires sooner than usual; Maintaining proper alignment is essential to preserving both your car’s safety and its tread life. I discussed this with my local service station owner, to whom I give routine business not requiring a dealer's knowledge like relining brakes, flushing the cooling system, etc., and he said "we only do 2-wheel alignments" and called the service adviser's suggestion "upselling". Performed in house, we can quickly assess your vehicle and make to required changed where necessary. So why is a wheel alignment necessary? A wheel alignment isn’t necessary when you have new tires installed, but it’s a really (like, really) good idea. The second most common symptom of an alignment issue is uneven tire wear. There is a difference in checking the alignment and having the alignment fixed. A 4-wheel alignment simply gives the tech more adjustment options to get your wheels lined-up to spec. Not all vehicles need it, usually the front wheels are adjusted to the rear (2-wheel alignments are 'thrust' alignments), but on vehicles that allow adjustment to the rear a 4-wheel alignment gives you more options for adjustments. I was told by my local shop (a shop I use regularly) that four-wheel alignment wasn't necessary on a four-wheel drive vehicle. After I had my oil and filter changed in my low-mileage 2008 Acura TL the service "adviser" suggested I have a "4-wheel alignment". Once a wheel alignment is performed, then the vehicle will be test driven to make sure that it drives straight. Angles that are marked red are out of specs. April 4, 2016 foxysteph. I discussed this with my local service station owner, to whom I give routine business not requiring a dealer's knowledge like relining brakes, flushing the cooling system, etc., and he said "we only do 2-wheel alignments" and called the service adviser's suggestion "upselling". Technical Forums. Not only does misalignment affect the handling of your vehicle, but it adds excessive wear and tear to your tires, suspension, and steering systems. The purpose of these adjustments is to reduce tire wear and to ensure that vehicle travel is straight and true (without "pulling" to one side). Mechanical/Electrical. Wheel alignment becomes necessary when steering is pointing straight forward and the car veers to the right or left and one tyre is worn more than another. Once a vehicle is aligned, it should NEVER need to be aligned again unless suspension-parts wear out or are replaced. Many companies offer 'tracking checks', which to the unsuspecting or uninformed motorist may seem to be good value. A 4-wheel alignment is always the best option, as the 2-wheel alignment involves adjustment of only two (front or rear) tires. Friday, November 19, 2010 Being honest, at Budget Brakes we’ve had to do our fair share of wheel alignments and in most cases while a two-wheel alignment is sufficient, we’ve seen on quite a few occasions just how necessary four-wheel alignments … 4-Wheel Alignment In Houston, TX. On some cars, ONLY the front wheels are adjustable.... hence a 2-wheel alignment is approprate. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons! Distinct from tire alignment, tire or wheel balancing refers to compensation for any weight imbalances in the tire/wheel combination and is often performed in conjunction with wheel alignment. After I had my oil and filter changed in my low-mileage 2008 Acura TL the service "adviser" suggested I have a "4-wheel alignment". Though the two services often get confused, wheel alignments are not the same as a wheel … I know that the alignment is off for sure, the wheels camber in 3-5 degrees. If you want to get the maximum life out of these tires, you should have a 4 wheel alignment done as soon as possible after mounting the tires. There are two basic types of tire/wheel imbalance that need correction – static (single plane) and dynamic (dual plane). Price for wheel alignment inspection and report £149 inc VAT. To ensure that your wheels are aligned and you are getting the most out of your tires, you should add a wheel alignment to your list of regular vehicle maintenance services. So to get them to all wear out at about the same time you trade them around. An alignment helps ensure that all four tires are correctly angled with each other and the road. These weights will help identify any point around the wheel’s circumference where excessive weight is being exerted. Rear wheel alignment necessary or not. Your overall driving experience is smoother and you could also benefit from increased fuel efficiency. When your wheels are aligned, there is less stress on your suspension and decreased wear and tear on your tires. It looks like you're new here. (or purchase a lot of expensive parts to make the wheels adjustable again.). 4) The four-wheel alignment uses techniques from both the thrust alignment and front-end alignment. Here in Vermont, if the alignment-adjustment points are not regularly moved (and lubed) They just rust in place and you are stuck with the alignment you have. Because of the independent rear suspension, when an alignment is done, it needs to be done on all 4 wheels. Budget Brakes provides free brake inspections and affordable automotive services. A wheel alignment is a series of measurements and adjustments made to your car to ensure all the wheels are parallel to each other (to the degree of the manufacturer’s specifications), and then a second series of adjustments to ensure the wheels are perpendicular to the ground. Your vehicle's alignment might be in great shape. On the front wheels, the adjustment includes the toe, caster, and … Any time a component of the steering or suspension is replaced, then the front end should be aligned. Wheel alignment sometimes referred to as breaking, or tracking is part of standard automobile maintenance that consists of adjusting the angles of wheels to the car manufacturer specifications. Wheel alignment problems are more damaging than most drivers know. 4-Wheel Alignment is a much-needed tire maintenance service that ensures wheel angles are at factory specifications including the camber, caster, and toe. = 4-Wheel Alignment = Why 4 wheel alignment is necessary. (I guess hitting a curb or other accident could bend things too). I recently acquired a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo which has 4-wheel drive. Where your AWD comes into play is with the necessity to regularly rotate your tires. The technician will adjust all four wheels however, the adjustment varies from front to rear. Every Ford car, truck, van, or SUV benefits from 4-Wheel Alignment at the specified maintenance schedule outlined in your Ford owners manual. @mdcatdad said: It adjusts the angles of your vehicle’s wheels to original specs for best gas mileage, proper road contact, a … When is wheel alignment necessary? Find out more about wheel balancing at ATS Euromaster *Our Computer Alignment Front & Rear can take in excess of 60 minutes and includes Toe adjustment to both the front and rear wheels where possible – some vehicles do not permit rear toe adjustment to occur due to vehicle design/manufacture. A 4-wheel alignment refers to adjusting all four wheels, which is typically required on all-wheel-drive models, with independent suspensions. The correct alignment settings are essential for handling, road holding, safety systems such as stability control and ABS and tyre wear. A Wheel Alignment Is Fast and Inexpensive. At many shops (Sears) you can get 2 alignments for the price of one because they have a warantee on their work. Yes, there is a 4-wheel alignment. In reality.... a 2- wheel alignment is called a "thrust alignment"... the rear wheels are treated as the FIXED point of reference and the front wheel are adjusted to match the rears best as possible. I also wanted a 4 wheel alignment but the shop doesn't do alignments (found out after I already had the tires installed) so I am taking it to another shop tomorrow for that. Being honest, at Budget Brakes we’ve had to do our fair share of wheel alignments and in most cases while a two-wheel alignment is sufficient, we’ve seen on quite a few occasions just how necessary four-wheel alignments can be. Small weights are placed inside the barrel of the wheel to create even weight distribution around the wheel. In driving the car today, it doesn't pull to the right or left; it rides like a champ with the new tires. A wheel alignment is inexpensive, and only take a few minutes to perform. wheel. My research tells me differently, but nothing specific on a Jeep. Alignment and balancing are sometimes confused because the symptoms of an out-of-balance wheel/tire, and the symptoms of a vehicle that's out of alignment can be similar – for example, steering wheel … This may include a front toe and caster adjustment, just like the front end alignment, while the rear wheels receive a toe and camber adjustment. Is the alignment necessary even though the car "feels" okay to me? This is also an easy DIY inspection: Crank the steering wheel so that you can easily view the tread faces of the front wheels. However, it is best to have a professional check your alignment, as he or she might be able to catch some early warning signs that you need to have a wheel alignment performed. Rear wheels wear out faster if you have rear wheel drive and like to spin them. Even though it’s proven to be value for money in terms of safety, many people think that four wheel alignment really is a waste of money. When they need to balance a wheel, a mechanic or technician will place small offsetting weights at a series of specific points around the outside of a wheel. Your vehicle manufacturer will have a recommendation on how often you should have your alignment checked, and you should always include an alignment when you purchase a new set of tires. If your front end is out of alignment, like maybe your tires point in towards each other too much you will get odd wear patterns like the outside edge of the tire scrubbing off first and your tire treads looking like saw teeth. Copyright (c) 2011 Michael Palazzolo - Co-owner, Budget Brakes of Tennessee and Alabama. After a certain running distance all the four wheelers are supposed to undergo the wheel alignment operation. Hence, just before the wararantee-time expires, take back to Sears for a 'free checkup' on the alignment rack. Why Perform Four Wheel Alignment – Is it Really Necessary? Most UK motorists do not realise that their cars need a regular wheel alignment check/service every 12 - 15,00 mile or once a year. Replacing Wheel Bearings at Budget Brakes. Though the two services often get confused, wheel alignments are not the same as a wheel balance. The above symptoms are that of a misaligned car. Michael Palazzolo - Co-owner, Budget Brakes of Tennessee and Alabama. A 4-wheel alignment is usually only performed on vehicles with four wheel independent suspension systems. Most importantly, properly aligned wheels are much safer than misaligned wheels. A year - Co-owner, Budget Brakes of Tennessee and Alabama much safer than misaligned wheels angles and. To spec and only take 4 wheel alignment necessary few minutes to Perform four wheel alignment necessary even the! 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