6 Symptoms of Poor Wheel Alignment
A properly aligned vehicle runs better and more efficiently. However, the wheels may move if the vehicle suddenly wobbles. B. When driving over a pothole or object, or if it is involved in an accident.
If you notice any of the following symptoms associated with poor wheel alignment, do not ignore them as they are a very serious safety issue.
6 Common Symptoms of Poor Wheel Alignment
While low tire pressure can cause problems, it can also be caused by incorrect wheel alignment. Start by checking your tire pressure. If this is within normal limits, it may be time to have your wheels realigned. The following symptoms indicate poor alignment:
1) Vehicle drifts to one side
Check your alignment when driving on a straight road with little traffic. Take your hands off the steering wheel and allow the car to steer itself on the road. If it veers or drifts to a particular side, place your fingers back on the steering wheel and take control of the steering to stay on the road.
Repeat the test once the vehicle is going straight again. If the vehicle continues to drift to one side, the wheels may need to be realigned. The further your vehicle deviates from a straight line, the worse the alignment becomes.
If the problem is not fixed, it will become even more difficult to drive in a straight line and you may even swerve into the other lane if you do not hold the steering wheel firmly at all times. If your car has this problem, take it to an auto mechanic to have it aligned immediately. Keep in mind that road curvatures can also pull your vehicle sideways because the center of the road is higher than the shoulder.
2) Uneven Steering Wheel
When driving on a perfectly flat and straight road, your car’s steering wheel should be kept straight and not deviated from the center. This can be easily verified by looking at the emblem in the center of the steering wheel. If the emblem remains horizontal when driving straight, then the steering wheel is centered.
However, if the emblem is off by a few degrees in either direction from horizontal, then the steering wheel is not flat and the vehicle should be measured immediately. Once the vehicle is realigned, the steering wheel will stay centered and the vehicle will be much easier to control.
3) Loose Steering
A sloppy or loose steering wheel can decrease your reaction time when turning, which can be very dangerous. This can be caused by misaligned wheels, so you should always have your vehicle inspected by a mechanic.
4) Steering wheel vibrations
If your steering wheel vibrates while driving, it could be because your tires are misaligned or out of balance. However, vibrations coming from the steering wheel could also indicate other, more serious issues. A professional can identify the cause of the vibrations.
5) Uneven tire wear
If you notice that the tread on certain tires on your car is wearing down faster than others, your wheels may be misaligned. This can come in the form of excessive external wear on the tire, excessive wear inside the tire, or chips on the tire.
Measure the tread depth on both sides of each tire using a tread depth gauge as accurately as possible. All properly aligned wheels will have the same depth of rubber on the tire.
6) Squealing Tires
Tires wear unevenly due to misalignment, which can cause them to squeak when accelerating or cornering. There could be other causes for the squealing noise, such as: B. Worn brake pads. So, have your vehicle inspected if you notice this symptom. Types of Wheel Alignment
Wheels can be aligned in different ways and in different directions. Here are the three most commonly performed types of wheel alignment.
Fall
Camber measures the angle of the wheel when looking directly at the car from the front. If the wheel is tilted towards the car and the bottom of the wheel is further away from the car than the top, it is negative camber. Wheels that are tilted away from the car have positive camber. Follow-up
Tow refers to the position of the front of the wheel in relation to the rear of the wheel. When the front of the wheel is pointing towards the centre of the vehicle, this is toe-in or positive toe-in. When the front of the wheel is pointing away from the centre of the vehicle, this is toe-out or negative toe-in.
Follow-up
The caster of a wheel measures the angle of the pivot point around which the wheel rotates when looking directly at the wheel from the side of the car. This pivot point is connected to the wheel at two points, the top and the bottom, and should be located one above the other. If the apex is leaning backwards, you have positive caster. If the apex is leaning forward, you have negative caster.
Misaligned caster can cause steering to be too heavy or too light. Front-wheel drive cars typically can’t adjust for this, so incorrect caster can damage the suspension on these vehicles.
Why it’s important to fix alignment problems right away
Poor alignment
These symptoms of misalignment are easily ignored, perhaps because drivers think it’s not a big deal or don’t want to spend the money on an alignment adjustment. The problem is, the longer you delay your wheel alignment, the greater the damage to your tires and your vehicle.
Poor gas mileage is prevalent on vehicles with misaligned tires because the vehicle has to work harder to go where it should and thus consumes more gasoline. Also, tires that you bought with a lifetime warranty often have fine print requiring regular alignments.
Do yourself a favor and take your vehicle to a mechanic or alignment shop if any of these symptoms are present. Wheel alignments are not very expensive when you consider the alternative of damage repair, increased fuel costs, and early tire replacement.