How to Fix a Vehicle's Alignment
Keeping your vehicle's tire alignment in proper order is not only good for your vehicle's performance, but it helps keep your vehicle safe to drive. Misaligned tires can cause your vehicle to veer from side to side, which is dangerous while driving on the road. Mechanics and professional garages offer alignment services, but checking and fixing the alignment on your vehicle's tires is something you can do at home.
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Things You'll Need
- Car jack
- Chalk or white-colored marker
- Small vice
- Measuring tape
- Level tool or angle reader
Instructions
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Park your vehicle on a flat, level surface with your tires pointing straight ahead. Your tires should run parallel to the body of your vehicle and your steering wheel should be centered. If you are aligning the tires on an ATV or another 4-wheel vehicle, center your handlebars.
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2
Jack up the front right tire at least two inches off of the ground. Make sure that the vehicle is secure on the jack.
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Place the chalk into the vice, leaving at least a half inch of the chalk protruding from the vice. Set the vice flat on the ground, with the chalk touching the tire.
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Spin your tires and mark the tire with the chalk. Make sure the tire does a full rotation and is clearly marked with a white chalk line. It is best to have a pair of helping hands, so they can hold the vice securely on the ground while you spin the tires.
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Lower the car and then repeat the process to jack up and mark all tires on the vehicle with chalk.
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Extend your measuring tape and measure the space between the white lines on the front side of your two front tires. Be sure that you are measuring from the same height on both tires to get an accurate measurement. Write down the measurement.
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Measure the space between the white lines on the back side of your front tires using the same process. The two measurements should be the same. If they are not, then you need to align your tires by adjusting the tie rods. Follow your manufacturer's instructions in the owner's manual of your vehicle to properly adjust your vehicle's tie rods.
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Repeat the measurement and adjustment process for your rear tires.
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Check the vertical alignment of your tire compared to the body of your car, also known as its camber, by placing a level tool or an angle finder onto the surface of the side of each of your tires. When the level tool is resting against your tire, the vertical reading should be completely level. If your camber is off, contact a mechanic and set up an appointment to have your camber adjusted. In some vehicles you will not be able to adjust the tire camber, so contact a professional to inspect your vehicle if your camber is not level.
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Tips & Warnings
Driving with misaligned tires is dangerous. Misaligned tires will wear unevenly and make steering more difficult. Uneven wear causes your tires to become misshapen, which weakens the rubber and increases the chance of a blowout.
Uneven wear on your tires also causes your vehicle to tilt and redistribute its weight, which can potentially cause mechanical problems, such as weakening of the tie rods. Aligning your tires helps to redistribute the weight of your car properly and makes for much safer driving.
References
- Photo Credit line of tires image by ashotoflife from Fotolia.com
