Generally, after replacing or repairing the suspension, steering, and other systems, wheel alignment is essential to calibrate the angular precision among the various components of the chassis system. If the wheel alignment is not accurate, it can lead to excessive wear on the vehicle's chassis system. Wheel alignment should be considered if the vehicle tends to drift during driving, if steering precision deteriorates, if there are signs of severe tire misalignment, or if the chassis and suspension are damaged due to a collision.
If none of the above situations occur, then there's no need for wheel alignment. In general, the alignment data of our vehicle wheels won't change. If you drive normally and the road conditions are relatively good, wheel alignment is unnecessary.
How to Determine Wheel Alignment Issues?
Driving Straight:
Choose a flat and straight road, ensure all four tires have consistent tire pressure, straighten the steering wheel, then release it and press the accelerator. If the car travels straight, it indicates that the vehicle's wheel alignment is fine. A slight deviation to the left or right can be ignored. However, if there's a significant shift, it indicates a wheel alignment problem.
Check for Tire Misalignment:
Regularly inspect vehicle tires, as they are the only components in contact with the ground. If there's uneven wear, where one side wears out significantly more than the other (often referred to as "tire eating"), it indicates an abnormal wheel alignment. Normally, tire wear should be fairly even.
Lift the Vehicle and Shake the Tire:
This method is not very user-friendly and requires effort. Using a jack, lift the vehicle so that the tire is suspended in the air. Place both hands on the top and bottom or left and right of the tire, then shake it with some force. If the tire shakes, it might indicate bearing damage, which is also a sign of a wheel alignment issue.
Wheel alignment adjusts the geometric angles of the tires in relation to steering, suspension, and other components, ensuring that the tires have a firm grip on the ground. The actual operation is not as simple as imagined, as wheel alignment involves adjusting suspension parameters such as camber, caster, toe, and kingpin inclination. The content involved is extensive, and the time spent can vary since every car's wheel alignment situation is different.
