Monday, November 30, 2009

Tips for Today: Wheel Alignment and Balancing


Wheel alignment and Wheel Balancing are two totally different things.  

1) Wheel alignment - consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road.


The symptoms of a car that is out of alignment are:
  • Uneven or rapid tire wear
  • Pulling or drifting away from a straight line
  • Wandering on a straight level road
  • Spokes of the steering wheel off to one side while driving on a straight and level road.

2) Wheel Balancing - allows the tires and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations.

The symptoms of a wheel that is out of balance are:

  • Vibration in the steering wheel at certain highway speeds.
  • Vibration in the seat or floorboard at certain highway speeds.
  • Scalloped or cupped wear pattern on the tires

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