Are Wheel Balancing and Wheel Alignment the Same?

[LaCaroline]

Wheel balancing and wheel alignment are not the same. Wheel balancing involves adjusting the tires and is considered a maintenance item, while wheel alignment involves adjusting the suspension and is classified as a repair item. When the vehicle body or steering wheel starts to vibrate at certain speeds, wheel balancing is needed. If the vehicle exhibits abnormal wear on the front or rear tires, pulls to the left or right when driving straight, or if the steering wheel feels loose, vibrates, or is too heavy during driving, a wheel alignment is required. Wheel alignment is based on the four-wheel parameters of the vehicle and involves adjustments to ensure good driving performance and reliability. Key differences between wheel alignment and wheel balancing: Different functions: Wheel alignment involves inspecting and correcting the vehicle's driving trajectory, including adjustments to the suspension, chassis, and other components. Wheel balancing, on the other hand, simply evens out the mass distribution of the wheels to make them rotate more smoothly. Wheel alignment adjusts the data of all four wheels, while wheel balancing involves adding weights to each wheel. Different definitions: Front-wheel alignment includes four aspects: caster angle, kingpin inclination, camber angle, and toe-in. Rear-wheel alignment includes camber angle and individual rear-wheel toe-in. Collectively, front and rear-wheel alignment is referred to as wheel alignment, commonly known as four-wheel alignment. Wheel balancing refers to the balance between wheels during operation, and balancing weights are added because each tire has uneven mass distribution during manufacturing.