How to Do an Alignment Adjustment
Wheel alignment involves correcting the angle of your vehicle's wheels so they are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the ground. If you run into a curb on an icy day or you hit a pothole, you can knock your wheels out of alignment. Alignment problems can also result from wear and tear on the ball joints, bushings and other parts of your suspension system. When the wheels are not properly aligned, your tires can begin to wear out unevenly and more quickly. You can save money by doing your own wheel alignment.
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Things You'll Need
- Jack
- Jack stands
- Smooth surface material, such as Masonite
- Protractor
- Your car's manual or owner's guide
- String
- Piece of wood
- Tape measure
- Pliers
Instructions
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Decide if you need an alignment. If you notice the tread on your tires is deeper or more worn on one side or if you notice when you touch the tire surface that the tread is smooth when you move your hand in one direction and jagged if you move your hand in the other direction, you may need an alignment. When you have trouble keeping your car straight on the road or it seems to pull away from the straight line, you may need an alignment.
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Prepare your car. First, jack up your car so you can place two squares of smooth wood or Masonite under each of the tires. You need to use material with a smooth surface so the wheels can move as you work. For your safety, also use jack stands to hold the vehicle in place while you make the adjustments.
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3
Check and adjust the castor, which helps the wheel to turn into its plane of rotation. You can use a protractor to measure the angle of your car's strut. Your car's user manual should include specifications for what the factory castor setting should be. Compare the numbers. If your number is off, you should adjust the castor if possible. Not all cars have adjustable castors so check your owner's manual to see if yours does.
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Check and adjust the camber (the outward or inward tilt of the wheel). Tie a string to the back of your car so that it is at the same height as your axle's center. You want to keep the string parallel to the car; it should be the same distance from your rear tires' sidewalls on both sides of the vehicle. Place a board so it stands straight up from the ground to that piece of string. Now measure how far the bottom and top of the wheels are from that piece of wood. If the distance is the same, your camber does not need to be adjusted. You can do this by adjusting the bolts you'll find on the inner part of the control arms.
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Check and adjust the toe. Measure the distance from the back part of your front tire to your string. Repeat the measurement starting at the front of your front tire. Compare the measurements. If the difference is more than 1/16 inch, you'll need to make corrections to the vehicle's tie rods. Loosen the bolts holding the sleeves on the tie rods then use pliers to rotate the sleeves. Repeat your measurements after making the adjustments until the difference of 1/16 inch or less on each side.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure an alignment is the problem before you get started. If you feel vibrations in your car while driving on the highway, your wheels may be unbalanced not improperly aligned. If your tread is deeper on the edges or in the center then your tries are over- or under-inflated, respectively.
Check for damage while adjusting the tie rods since most cars do not lose alignment without a cause, such as hitting a curb or excessive wear on the ball joints.
References
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