Wheel alignment: wheel misalignment is expensive and dangerous

Wheel misalignment is more than just a nuisance. You can get used to the car pulling slightly to the side, though probably not as soon as the tires wear out quickly. If a vehicle is suspected of wheel misalignment, this should be dealt with quickly.

Wheel misalignment symptoms

Wheel misalignment can be detected in a variety of ways.

• If the vehicle pulls to one side even at low speed, this may indicate a misalignment . Rattling and rattling noises while steering definitely indicate damage to the ball joint or tie rod. Rack bearing knocking can cause a skid on the road. The development of noise and a change in the quality of driving occur with defects in shock absorbers and suspension.

• If the car pulls in one direction only at high speed tires are usually the cause. A slight difference in air pressure can lead to a poor driving experience.
• A stationary vehicle with wear on the inside of the tires is a clear sign of a wrong trajectory . In this case, the tires no longer spin completely straight, but are permanently set at a slight angle to the direction of travel, causing significant wear.

What causes wheel misalignment?

Wheel suspension adjustable for caster and camber . Its purpose is to align all four wheels as parallel as possible in a straight line. Only in this condition does the car really reliably drive in a straight line.

There are four main causes of wheel misalignment:

- age breakdown
- low-quality repairs
– Chassis damage
- body damage

A car with several tens of thousands of miles on the odometer may show slightly offset tracking. This is nothing serious and is easy to fix. There is no regular maintenance interval to check vehicle tracking. It is always a good idea to install new tires. If the tires are worn on one side, you should check the trace on new tires.

• A common cause of misalignment is errors made when replacing components. . For the ball joint and tie rod end in particular, accuracy is paramount: when replacing a defective ball joint or tie rod with a new one, it must be tightened with exactly the same torque value as the old one . One turn more or less can have a significant effect on tracking.
• The most common reason for the displacement of the trajectory is a collision with a curb . If the front wheel receives excessive side impact, it can change the axle geometry. With luck, this can be fixed by reconfiguring. However, to make the vehicle safe to drive, several components need to be replaced.
• In the event of body damage, track misalignment or a non-adjustable axle usually indicates a complete loss of . In most cases, a serious accident involving frame damage was not professionally repaired. These vehicles require significant investment before they are roadworthy again.

The cost and duration of the collapse

In recent years, wheel alignment costs have plummeted. Just 15 years ago, this service was not available for less than €100 (£90). It's much cheaper these days. Most car services charge a total fee of around 70 euros. In the event of a discount, wheel alignment can be done for 30 euros. Below this value should not be taken seriously .
Wheel alignment lasts approximately 1 hour . Nowadays, professional workshops use expensive laser technology to align wheels with hundredths of a millimeter accuracy. Garages equipped with these state of the art laser systems are truly state of the art. The old lighting systems are no longer used. Some fast repair providers may still use them.

Professional car dealers are always updating their equipment and you can leave your car without hesitation. On the other hand, a gas station offering adjustment services should be treated with caution. The operator may try to earn some extra money using a used system. Gas stations, especially independent ones, are not ideal workshops for such accurate diagnosis.

Be careful: despite the fact that auto repair shops calculate the indicated amount for wheel alignment, each additional minor repair will be calculated additionally. Popular argument: "The bolts were very tight and it took steps to loosen them." This can double the cost of alignment. Tip: there is nothing wrong with checking the tightness of the bolts or loosening them before driving to the garage. If everything goes smoothly, the garage has no reason to calculate extra costs.

Alignment Protocol

The wheel alignment protocol indicates the following values:

Front wheels
– Caster
– Slope
– convergence difference
– Individual convergence
– General convergence
– Wheel misalignment
– Maximum steering angle

Rear wheels
– Collapse
– Individual convergence
– General convergence

Each of these provisions has its own ideal value, which is subject to admission. For example, if the caster angle is assumed to be +7'40” and a tolerance of ±0'30” is still acceptable, the actual value of 7'10” is still within tolerance. Most devices display out-of-tolerance colors: white or green = OK, yellow = within tolerance, red = action required

However, a professional garage will always try to achieve optimal results in the case of yellow values. A yellow value usually indicates no major damage, only minor wear.

Strong toe deviations indicate for a malfunction of the ball joint or tie rod joint . If the camber angle exceeds the allowable value, connecting rod, shock absorber or thrust bearing may be defective .
In any case, wheel alignment is best done with brand new tyres. Old porous tires approaching their wear limit often give incorrect results.

Under certain circumstances, the garage has the right to refuse to release the car in case of severe deviations from the tolerance. A specialized garage can only return a car in good condition.

The need for action in the garage

Suspension is adjusted by adjusting bolts. If the bolt is already in its extreme position and cannot be adjusted further, repair is definitely required. With regard to wheel alignment, the driver is absolutely interested in his car being in good and safe condition.
Therefore, if these signs of wear appear, do not enter into a discussion and trust the experience of the workshop. Even if it costs a few pounds now, at the end of the day your car will be in perfect condition again. Compared to other repairs, suspension and steering jobs don't have to be that expensive anymore. New tie rod joint available at price 25 euros . Including installation, it may cost 50 or 60 euros . Safe driving should be worth it.

In the case of an unregulated toe, a professional auto repair shop will not try to tinker with the results. Non-adjustable axle components are usually the result of serious accidents. The entire geometry of the car is curved, and the frame " curve ».

This is usually a scam, as it is obvious that a wrecked car was sold to the buyer. In this case, the garage alignment log showing unadjusted tracking is the first indication to take a closer look at the frame. Checking the alignment is a matter for a professional car service specializing in body work. The frame will be measured using laser technology at certain points. The garage record can be used as a valid document to file a police report.