What is the purpose of wheel alignment for a car?
3 Answers
Wheel alignment for a car can enhance the vehicle's stability and improve its balance. Maintaining proper wheel alignment angles ensures the vehicle's straight-line tracking, handling, and steering system responsiveness. It prevents improper bearing stress and loss of precision, ensures tight contact between the tires and the road, reduces irregular tire wear, and guarantees stability during turns. Wheel alignment is divided into front-wheel alignment and rear-wheel alignment. Front-wheel alignment includes four aspects: caster angle, kingpin inclination angle, camber angle, and toe-in. Rear-wheel alignment includes camber angle and individual rear-wheel toe-in.
I previously felt that the steering wheel was slightly off when driving my car, and after inspection, the mechanic said it was due to misaligned wheel alignment. This mainly involves adjusting four angles of the tires: toe, camber, caster, and other parameters. If the adjustment is inaccurate, the most direct sensation is an off-center steering wheel, unstable direction at high speeds, and in severe cases, tire wear issues—where the inner or outer edges of the tires wear out unusually fast, requiring replacement every two or three months, which hits the wallet hard. Long-term neglect can also affect the suspension system, making the ride feel bumpier and inexplicably increasing fuel consumption. Generally, it’s recommended to check wheel alignment every 20,000 kilometers or after replacing suspension components, and it’s especially crucial to do so promptly after any undercarriage impacts.
Actually, wheel alignment primarily addresses issues of tire deviation and abnormal wear. Once, I borrowed a friend's car and immediately felt like the steering wheel was fighting against me on the highway—I had to constantly pull it to keep straight. Later, I found out it was due to a problem with the toe angle. This parameter is like adjusting a four-legged stool; if the legs are misaligned, the seat wobbles. Alignment machines can precisely measure tire angle discrepancies and adjust the data back to the manufacturer's specified values. Especially for SUVs, their higher center of gravity makes them more prone to deviation. If the steering isn't centered, lane changes at high speeds can be dangerous, and there's a higher risk of skidding in the rain. Regular alignment not only ensures fuel efficiency and safety but can also extend tire life by thousands of kilometers.
