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Alignment & Balance
Wheel
Alignment: To find out if you need an
alignment, first check each tire and look for uneven wear patterns. The problem
with this method, however, is that if you can see a wear pattern like the ones
listed below, it may be too late to save that tire. This is why it is a good
idea to have your alignment checked periodically.
At each tire, take a coin and insert it in
the tread at the inside, center and outside.
If the tread is deeper on the edges than in the center, the tire
is over inflated.
If the tread is deeper in the center than the edges, the tire is
under inflated.
If the tread is deeper on one side than the other, have your wheel
alignment checked soon.
Run your hand back and forth across the tread, being
careful not to cut yourself on any debris or exposed steel belt wire.
If the tread is smooth in one direction, but jagged in the other you
have what is called a "saw-tooth" wear pattern which is caused by a toe-in
problem. Have the alignment checked as soon as possible as this condition causes
rapid tire wear.
The first two conditions do not call for a wheel
alignment but the second two do. If these wear patterns are pronounced, you
should replace the tires or move them to the rear before aligning the car. Ask
your alignment specialist to be sure.
Another indication of an out-of-alignment
condition is a car that continuously drifts or pulls to one side of the road
when you let go of the wheel. A car that is hard to keep in a straight line
without constant steering corrections is also a candidate. These conditions may
or may not also contribute to premature tire wear.
A wheel alignment cannot be done on a car with
loose or worn front end parts. The technician will first check for worn parts
and inform you of any problems before beginning the alignment.
The best type of wheel alignment is a four wheel
alignment. Many cars today have adjustable rear alignment settings, but even for
cars without adjustments in the rear, a four wheel alignment will allow the
technician to identify any rear tracking problems and compensate for them with
adjustments to the front.
After the wheel alignment is finished, you should
drive the car on a straight and level road and check that the car goes straight
and that the steering wheel is in the proper position with the spokes level. If
you notice a problem, take the car back and have the technician drive it and
fine-tune the alignment settings.
Wheel Balance: Out-of-balance
tires will cause a car to vibrate at certain speeds, usually between 50 and 70
mph. A tire is out of balance when one section of the tire is heavier than the
others. One ounce of imbalance on a front tire is enough to cause a vibration in
the steering wheel at about 60 mph. To balance a wheel, the technician will
mount it on a balancing machine which spins the wheel to locate the heavier
part. He will then compensate for the heavy part by attaching a lead weight on
the opposite side. Many people are pleasantly surprised at how smooth their car
drives after balancing all four wheels.
Most high quality tires will hold their balance
fairly well and go out of balance very gradually. If you notice a vibration that
wasn't there the day before, it is possible that one of the lead balancing
weights fell off. If you feel the vibration mostly in the steering wheel, the
problem is most likely in a front wheel. If the vibration is mostly in the seat,
the problem is in the rear.
For those of you who are very sensitive about
vibrations and your shop can't seem to get that last bit of vibration out, check
to see if you have locking wheel lugs. Some locking lugs are about
1.5 ounces heavier than the other lug nuts which translates to
about 1/2 ounce at the wheel rim. Try putting a 1/2 ounce weight opposite the
locking lug and see if it helps |
