What is the operation method of wheel alignment?
2 Answers
The wheel alignment operation process is as follows: 1. Drive the vehicle onto the four-post alignment lift and check the tire pressure and vehicle height. 2. Lift all four wheels off the ground for the next step of inspection. 3. Check the tires for irregular wear, deformation, etc. If the wear reaches the acceptable minimum standard, data can be measured. 4. Inspect the upper and lower suspension, stabilizer bar, subframe, and chassis for any deformation or looseness. 5. Check the rear axle, lateral control rod, and rear tie rod for deformation and whether the rubber bushings are loose. 6. After confirming no abnormalities, lower the vehicle and shake it several times to ensure the suspension system is in normal condition. Then, remove the wheel alignment locking pins. 7. Turn on the computer and prepare for the detection process. Secure the steering wheel, install the wheel alignment sensors, connect the cables, and enter the wheel alignment detection system. Follow the computer's operating sequence to read the data. 8. Based on the deviation of the alignment angle data, determine whether adjustment or replacement of parts is necessary. 9. Adjust the alignment angles starting from the rear wheels to the front wheels. The front wheel toe angle should be adjusted last, as adjustments to other alignment angles can align the thrust angle with the vehicle centerline, which will affect the front wheel toe. 10. Rear wheel camber adjustment: Install the camber adjustment tool on the shock absorber and tighten or loosen it according to the required alignment angle. 11. Adjust the rear wheel toe: The toe can be increased or decreased by adjusting the length of the lateral control rod.
Last time I went for car repair, I witnessed the mechanic performing a four-wheel alignment. The whole process was like giving the car a full-body check-up: first, they used a lift to raise the car evenly, with all four wheels suspended in the air. Then, they attached sensor devices with infrared to the wheel hubs, which the mechanic called the 'eyes' of the alignment machine. At this point, I had to sit in the car and position the steering wheel perfectly straight, then lock it in place with clamps. The most critical part came next—the computer screen displayed streams of red and green data. If values like camber angle or toe angle showed up in red, the mechanic had to crawl under the car to adjust the suspension rods. After adjustments, a road test was mandatory, and the steering wheel had to feel light as if no force was applied to pass the test. After the alignment, the car always felt incredibly smooth to drive, even handling speed bumps with much more stability.
