Wheel alignment
An adjustment of the suspension so all four wheels point straight and sit at the right angle to the road.
In plain English
A wheel alignment is a service, not a part: the shop puts the car on a machine that measures the angle of each wheel and then adjusts the suspension (the parts that connect the wheels to the car) to bring those angles back to the maker's settings. Three angles are checked: toe, which is whether the fronts of the tires point toward each other or away from each other; camber, which is how far the tops of the tires lean in or out; and caster, which is the forward or backward tilt of the line the front wheels pivot on when you steer. When these angles are right, the car tracks straight and each tire meets the road flat. It is different from wheel balancing, which adds small weights to a wheel so it spins without wobbling.
Why it's on your estimate
Hitting a pothole or curb, or gradual wear in suspension and steering parts, can knock the wheels out of line, so shops often recommend an alignment with new tires or after steering and suspension repairs. The usual signs are the car drifting to one side, a steering wheel that sits off-center when you drive straight, and tires wearing faster on one edge than the other. Low tire pressure can cause similar pulling, so it is worth having the pressure checked too.
How urgent is it?
Fix soon
A slightly misaligned car is usually safe to drive while you schedule the work, but every mile wears the tires unevenly and that wear cannot be undone. It becomes more serious if the car pulls hard, the steering feels loose or wanders, or a tire is worn down on one edge, because that can point to a damaged suspension part and reduces grip, especially on wet roads.
Questions to ask the shop
- Can you show me the before-and-after alignment readings, and which angles were out?
- Did you find any worn or bent steering or suspension parts that would keep the alignment from holding?
- Is the uneven wear on my tires bad enough that they need replacing, or can they stay on after the alignment?
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