Wheel Alignment Angles

To correct the Wheel alignment, a technician will adjust the angles of the wheels so they’re set exactly to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.

The ways vehicle alignment is measured  : 

There are several ways that alignment (sometimes called ‘tracking’) is measured and corrected. These angles are known as the caster, camber, Kingpin inclination, toe and thrust:


Caster : compares the steering axis to the vertical axis, when the vehicle wheel is viewed from the side.

Camber : measures the vertical tilt of the wheels, when the vehicle is viewed from the front.

Kingpin  Inclination : It is also known as Steering Axis Inclination(SAI) and is the imaginary line drawn through the kingpin as viewed from the front.

The purpose of SAI is to provide an upper suspension pivot location that causes the spindle to travel in an arc when turning, which tends to raise the vehicle

Toe : measures whether the front of a pair of wheels turns in or out, viewed from the front.

Thrust : the imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the rear axle's centreline.

Signs you need wheel alignment : 

It’s not always clear whether a problem points to wheel misalignment or another issue with a vehicle. Here are the main vehicle alignment symptoms to watch out for:

Vehicle pulls to the left or right :

This is often the first sign that drivers notice. Very slight pulling or drifting to the side is normal, as roads aren’t perfectly flat and there will be some crowning in the road surface. But driving straight should feel easy, without much need for steering.

Steering Wheel Wobbles :

If you can feel vibrations in your hands, there can be a range of reasons. It may be a symptom of bad wheel alignment, but not necessarily. Steering wheel Wobbles may also indicate worn parts or tyre imbalance.

Abnormal or rapid tyre wear :

The wear on your tyres is a good clue to the general health of your vehicle. Unusual wear, such as focused on the inside or outside, will give a trained technician a picture of how the weight is distributed through the vehicle. Perhaps there’s a tilt at the top of the tyre or excessive wear on the outside edge, showing that vehicle realignment is needed. You can see a diagram of tyre wear patterns, and probable causes.

If you’ve tuned into any of these signs, it’s time to have your vehicle alignment checked.

What causes vehicle alignment issues?

Alignment problems will occur naturally over time with the ordinary ‘wear and tear’ of vehicle parts and as a result of aging. They can also be caused by a particular event, like impact with a nasty pothole or bang up a high curb. It’s common to have an alignment problem after an accident, and if you have the suspension raised or lowered to adjust the ride height, the wheels will need the vehicle realigned to make sure it fits the vehicle maker’s specifications.


Checking out an alignment problem :

Wheel alignment issues won’t go away. If you ignore them or delay a visit to a garage, you may experience more problems and face bigger, unnecessary costs. When camber and toe (alignment) specifications drift outside the manufacturer’s limit, it can quickly lead to:

• Premature wear of tyres and steering and suspension parts – which is expensive
• Undue stress on the whole suspension system – which is damaging
• Poor handling and road holding – which is dangerous

Note : For heavy commercial vehicle, Only Toe and Thrust can be adjusted through wheel alignment service, other angles are fixed but that angles can also be adjusted by different mechanical works.

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