Do I Need Wheel Alignment or Wheel Balancing When Changing Brake Pads?
2 Answers
After replacing brake pads, neither wheel alignment nor wheel balancing is required. Here are more related explanations: Wheel Alignment: The installation of a car's steering wheels, steering knuckles, and front axle has certain relative positions. This installation with specific relative positions is called steering wheel alignment, also known as front wheel alignment. Front wheel alignment includes four aspects: caster angle, kingpin inclination angle, camber angle, and toe-in. This applies to the two steering front wheels, while the rear wheels also have relative installation positions with the rear axle, known as rear wheel alignment. Rear wheel alignment includes camber angle and individual rear wheel toe-in. Collectively, front and rear wheel alignment are referred to as four-wheel alignment. Wheel Balancing: Generally, wheel balancing refers to the balance between wheels when the vehicle is in motion. This is commonly achieved by adding balancing weights. A car's wheel is an assembly consisting of a tire and a rim. However, due to manufacturing reasons, the mass distribution of this assembly cannot be perfectly uniform. When the car's wheels rotate at high speeds, dynamic imbalance can occur, leading to wheel wobble and steering wheel vibration during driving. To prevent or eliminate this phenomenon, weights are added to the wheel under dynamic conditions to correct the balance at various edges.
Last time I went to the repair shop to replace the brake pads because there was a screeching noise when braking. The technician removed the wheels and installed new brake pads, and the whole process took about half an hour. Out of curiosity, I asked if a wheel alignment or balancing was necessary. He explained that replacing brake pads is simply changing the pads in the braking system and doesn’t involve altering the wheel position or balance—unless the wheel gets knocked out of alignment during removal, which is rare. He advised not to waste money unless issues like steering pull or body vibrations occur afterward, as those might indicate alignment problems. Maintaining the braking system is most critical and can save hundreds in costs. Regularly checking brake fluid and lines can prevent further failures.
