What are the disadvantages of not performing a four-wheel alignment?
2 Answers
From a professional perspective, the first step is to determine whether your vehicle requires an alignment. If it is needed but not performed, issues such as heavy steering, shaking, pulling to one side, misalignment, failure to return to center, or uneven tire wear may occur. More information about four-wheel alignment is as follows: 1. Function: Four-wheel alignment helps maintain stable straight-line driving and light steering, while reducing wear on tires and steering components during operation. 2. Whether a four-wheel alignment is necessary depends mainly on the wear condition of all four tires: Check if the tire pressures are evenly distributed. Drive on a straight section of road and steer the wheel. If the vehicle deviates left or right by about 1M over 100-200M, it is normal. If the car consistently pulls to one side, a four-wheel alignment is required. Not performing an alignment can lead to irregular wear patterns such as scalloping, cupping, or uneven wear, as well as driving sensations like floating, bumpiness, or swaying. Long-term consequences include incorrect toe angles causing tire scrubbing and incorrect camber angles leading to steering pull.
I've been driving for over a decade and have seen many people skip wheel alignment to avoid hassle, only to end up with severely worn tires. The left front tire might wear down like a sawtooth while the right rear remains fine. This not only wastes money on premature tire replacement but also compromises handling safety. The car may pull to the left or right, vibrate at high speeds, and have unstable steering - potentially dangerous during emergency braking. My old car went through tires every three months due to delayed alignment, costing me more in the long run. Suspension components could also get damaged, leading to even costlier repairs. I recommend getting alignment every 10,000 km - proper maintenance saves both headaches and money.
