A wheel alignment is part of automobile maintenance.

In its most basic form, an alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are set to the car maker's specification. Most people assume they simply need to be adjusted so to be perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other, but this is not true at all. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road, as well as correct tracking when driving on turns.

While wheel alignment is often confused with wheel balancing, the two have nothing to do with each other except for the fact that they affect ride and handling. If a wheel is out of balance, it will cause a vibration at highway speeds that can be felt in the steering wheel and/or the seat. If the alignment is out, it can cause excessive tire wear and steering or tracking problems.

What is Wheel Alignment? Wheel alignment is an adjustment an auto shop can make on your vehicle to ensure the tires are calibrated to ‘point’ straight ahead. Proper wheel alignment makes a vehicle steer easily and allows tires to wear evenly. When wheels are not aligned various problems result.

There are three adjustment parameters involved on each axle in order to properly align a vehicle. These adjustments are Camber, Castor and Toe. It is important to note that on some cars, you may only have adjustability for one or two of the parameters. For instance, you may only be able to make adjustments for the Castor and Toe on a certain vehicle. Another vehicle may allow adjustments for all three parameters, Camber, Castor and Toe, it all depends on your car.

See also

• Car handling
• Auto mechanic
• Tire rotation

Here is a Short Course on Wheel Alignment. http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

Automobile maintenance | Tires