Why Does a Car Need Wheel Alignment?
4 Answers
The reasons for performing wheel alignment on a car include: 1. Wheel alignment is directly related to the stability of the chassis. Any abnormalities can affect the overall safety index of the vehicle; 2. Wheel alignment helps reduce wear and tear on tires, steering mechanisms, and suspensions, thereby extending their service life; 3. Performing wheel alignment can also enhance driving stability and improve road safety; 5. Wheel alignment can help reduce fuel consumption. Situations where a car requires wheel alignment include: 1. After replacing new tires or following collision damage repairs; 2. Uneven wear on the front or rear tires on one side; 3. The steering wheel feels too heavy or floats and shakes while driving; 4. The car pulls to the left or right when driving straight.
I've been running an auto repair shop for 10 years, doing wheel alignments every day. Simply put, when a car leaves the factory, all four wheels have precise angles, just like the smooth soles of new leather shoes. But after long-term use, wheels can get knocked out of alignment by curbs, and aging shock absorbers can cause uneven tire wear. If you don't get an alignment, the steering wheel will fight you, the rear end will sway during turns, and worst of all, the tires will wear into jagged patterns - a pair of new tires could be ruined in just 5,000 km. I've seen one extreme case where the steering was so off that the driver had to constantly pull the wheel, nearly hitting a guardrail on the highway. Remember: whenever you get new tires, after a collision that impacts the chassis, or when the steering feels heavier, you should visit a professional shop for instrument testing. A proper wheel alignment only takes about half an hour.
Last time I drove my SUV to Tibet, I noticed the steering wheel kept pulling to the right after returning. Initially, I didn't think much of it, but when driving on the highway, the car kept drifting toward the lane markers, requiring constant steering corrections. Three hours of driving felt more exhausting than mountain climbing. Later, a mechanic checked it and said the suspension had been deformed by the bumpy roads, causing incorrect wheel camber. After getting a wheel alignment, the steering wheel's self-centering became much sharper, and surprisingly, fuel consumption dropped by 0.5 liters. Now I get it checked every 20,000 kilometers because potholes and speed bumps in the city also gradually alter wheel angles. I recommend car owners pay attention—if you notice feathering wear on the tires or an off-center steering wheel, don't hesitate to get an alignment done.
Wheel alignment essentially involves adjusting the suspension geometry parameters. The front wheels of a car have five key angles: the caster angle determines the steering wheel's return force, the camber angle affects cornering grip, and the toe angle controls tire parallelism. The rear wheels also have camber and toe settings—if these are incorrect, the entire car may crabwalk sideways. For instance, if you modify the suspension or install adjustable control arms, the factory settings become invalid. Modern high-end alignment systems use 3D cameras to scan wheel hub positions with precision up to 0.1 degrees. Deviations in these parameters can lead to heavy steering, uneven tire wear, chassis noises, or even cause ABS sensors to misjudge vehicle speed. Therefore, regular alignment ensures all four wheels restore their optimal coordinated state.
