If you want your vehicle to perform at an optimum level, you should be very regular with the maintenance. Tyres need special attention and wheel alignment is a part of this service. Wheel Alignment refers to the alignment of a vehicle's suspension. It is affected by the alignment angles. There are five major Wheel Alignment angles:
Front Toe: The variation between the actual width of the track and the front to the rear of the front wheels is called Front Toe. To check this, you will need to have an upper view of the front wheels. If they point towards the centre line when seen from above, it is called toe-in or positive toe. We call it a toe-out or negative toe when the front wheels point away from the centre line.
When these angles are not adjusted properly, the steering wheel does not feel straight. Wheel Alignment Coventry angles are adjusted to reduce the tension and tyre tread wear.
Camber: The angle of the wheel and tyres in relation to a flat road is called camber. While checking this angle, one needs to view the wheels from behind. The top side of the wheels will either lean towards the centre line or away from it. Camber affects the tread wear and tyre traction of a vehicle to a great extent. Not adjusting the camber angles will lead to the vehicle being pulled to either side of the road. Excessive negative camber will lead to the inner edge of tyres wear out and too much positive camber will wear the outer edge.
Castor: Castor angles are responsible for providing the vehicle with stability while moving straight. This fault may lead to your car drifting towards left or right and is often caused due to accidental damages. You should get your vehicle's Wheel Alignment checked every 12 months or after the vehicle has covered 10,000 miles.
Thrust Angle: The angle of the centre line relative to the rear axle determines the thrust angle. The desirable angle between the centre line and rear axle should be 90 degrees.
Angles other than 90 degrees will affect the front and rear wheel relations. This will cause the vehicle to pull on one side. To repair this, the front toe values will be altered and the angles will thus be balanced.
Rear Toe: The rear toe is responsible for keeping the vehicle stable while moving in a straight line. This minimises the tyre tread. If wheels are not straight on both sides the steering wheel will end up leaning on one side.
Wheel Alignment offers various advantages to a vehicle owner. It increases fuel efficiency and provides a smooth driving experience. This further enhances vehicle performance and prolongs the life of tyres.
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