Things You Must Know About Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment is a common cause of excessive tyre wear on your car or van. It can be adjusted at a vehicle wheel alignment garage like Nigel Lang's Garage in Bolton which will ensure that all the wheels on your vehicle are correctly aligned. A proper wheel alignment will ensure that there are no unusual wear on your tyres and your steering will freely point straight ahead.

Wheel alignment has sometimes been known in the past by the term tracking, this however would have only adjusted the  front wheels and not aligned all 4 wheels as modern day computerised equipment can do. Nowadays wheel alignment is a standard automobile maintenance procedure and basically means adjusting the angles of the wheel to make them inline with the manufacturer`s specifications.

But what causes this misalignment in the first place? Actually misalignment can be created due to various factors including driving your car! The wheels of your car can move by several degrees by hitting a pothole or bumping into a pothole. Small accidents can also change the alignment of your vehicle by up to several degrees.

So what are the real advantages behind wheel alignment?

The ideal wheel alignment can be a deterrent to a host of problems associated with having your wheels not true or not in a straight angle. Improper tyre wear can in turn cause a range of problems in addition to that even wear on your tyre. It will lessen the life of your tyre. You will also feel that a difference in smoothness while running the vehicle. A point which may be displayed by reduced mileage of your vehicle. A properly aligned car will make your vehicle a much safer ride by far.

• In today`s skyrocketing fuel prices, wheel alignment can make your vehicle from being a gas guzzler to a vehicle which gives you great mileage. Properly aligned vehicle reduces any resistance to rolling and makes the ride much smoother. Having the correct amount of inflation can help in mileage too.
• Premature tyre wear can be reduced by proper wheel alignment. Actually a misalignment vehicle produces a drag on the wheels which is translated as uneven wear on the wheels. The tyre loses it’s grip very soon and needs frequent replacement. It can save a lot in terms of long term gains.
• Handling is another area which can be vastly improved by the proper alignment of your vehicle. If the steering wheel constantly pulls to the right or left and if it does not remain in a central position while driving straight. Vibrations or shimmies accompanied by looseness or wandering are another sign that your vehicle needs to be aligned properly. It will absorb more shocks and give you a smoother ride quality.
• Alignment surely improves your safety department. You will feel a visibly more controlled ride with better and improved vehicle responses to your controls. It can go a long way in preventing accidents.

Wheel Alignment-The Various Angles Associated With It

Wheel alignment generally performed along three primary angles known as caster, camber and toe. A misalignment in caster values can affect your steering.

Camber is the angle by which a tyre slants from the vertical line measured both from the front and back. It can generally be determined by viewing the tread markings on the tyre by looking from the back or front.

Toe is the direction or angle the wheels of the vehicle are pointed when four of them are imagined to be viewed from the top. The placement of the two axles is also very important while determining toe.

Another angle which is typically measured is the thrust angles. It basically measures whether the two axles –the front and the rear ones are parallel to each other or not.

The different angles along with their specific wheels where they are measured are summarised below:

• Front: Caster (right& left), Camber (right & left), Toe (left, right & total)
• Rear: Camber (left & right), Toe (left, right & total), Thrust angle

Wheel alignment is usually recommended for all four tyres at a single time. It is done by attaching specialist equipment to each wheel, linked to digital cameras it enables the calculation of the angles with the help of a computer. The computer matches the data of the angles of the wheels with the data it obtains from the manufacturer of the vehicle for the specific model and year of make.

Nigel Lang's Garage has invested in state of the art four wheel alignment equipment to provide a wheel alignment service in Bolton. Regular maintenance is imperative for the well being of your vehicle. The state of the art wheel alignment system will make your short work of all your wheel alignment needs no matter how small or large.