Wheel Alignment

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What is a wheel alignment?

To ensure the longest possible service life from tires, vehicles need their wheels aligned as part of regular maintenance. This keeps all four wheels perfectly aligned to each other, also ensuring the safest and best performing driving experience.

How does the wheel alignment work?

As tires are used they encounter four different paths, and typical driving patterns will being to wear the tires in different places. We rotate the tires so the wear of each wheel position is blended with the next. That helps tire wear patterns remain even, but does not prevent wear patterns that will prematurely ruin a set of tires. For this, the wheel alignment is necessary, and corrects the direction the wheels lean in and out, the direction they point, and the amount of stability they will have at high speed. The wheels are all corrected to the manufacturer's specifications, so the vehicle will feel like it did when it came from the factory if the wheel alignment is performed correctly, and the tires are not excessively worn.

An alignment may be needed if the vehicle does not drive straight, the tires are wearing unevenly, or the steering wheel is crooked.

If the vehicle is out of alignment, it may feel unsteady at highway speeds and may have a tendency to pull to one side when driving in a straight line.

What are the symptoms related to a bad wheel alignment?

When the wheels on a vehicle do not point the proper direction and at the right angle, the steering wheel is normally the first indication of an issue. The steering wheel will be slightly off center, but a light bump can dramatically affect the amount the steering wheel is turned while driving in a straight line. Also, the vehicle may feel as though it pulls to one side of the road, which can increase or decrease with braking. The vehicle may also feel unstable while driving at normal speeds, increasingly so with greater speed. Lastly, after these symptoms have existed for a few hundred miles, the tires will being to show patterns in the tread, also called uneven tread wear.

Can I drive with a wheel alignment problem?

Poorly aligned wheels do not pose much of a problem while driving. The alignment does not usually affect any other component of the vehicle, but premature tire wear is almost always the result of continued use. If the alignment issue is severe, there is more than likely a bad or broken steering or suspension component, which will require repair before the alignment is performed. In these cases the vehicle should not be driven, as collision or loss of control may be likely.

How often do wheel alignments need to be performed?

The time between wheel alignments is typically the time it takes to wear out a set of tires, or to hit a pothole that leaves the steering wheel crooked. Often, a wheel alignment is recommended the same time new tires are installed. This occurs every 25,000-60,000 miles, so correcting any minor deviation from normal use is necessary. Lastly, if rotating the tires results in a drivability issue, you may be advised to perform an alignment.

How are wheel alignment issues diagnosed?

Wheel alignments normally do not require a diagnosis. They are most often completed as scheduled maintenance, or as part of a repair necessitating removal and installation of steering and suspension components. If the alignment is being corrected because of an accident, there is a chance that the alignment cannot be fixed through adjustment, indicating frame damage has occurred.

How are wheel alignments performed?

Laser alignment machines are used to perform wheel alignments on most passenger vehicles. The machine has four alignment heads, one attached to each wheel. The heads send laser signals to a base machine, allowing the machine to calibrate the adjustments needed. The technician will follow instructional prompts from the machine and make needed adjustments.

Whenever steering or suspension components are replaced or removed during other repairs, the alignment should be checked and adjusted if necessary.

Disclaimer

Materials Included Under License from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. License Agreement TMS1008. All information contained in any materials obtained about Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles is based on the latest product information available at the time of publication, is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, and is intended for service providers and other interested parties in Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America, including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Specifications and procedures are subject to change without notice. This information is provided expressly for the purpose of use by professional automobile technicians who have special techniques and certifications. Repair or service by non-specialized or uncertified technicians using only this information, or without proper equipment or tools, may cause severe injury to the individual or other individuals and could possibly cause damage to the vehicle. Certain procedures or content elements may make reference to Toyota Warranty policy or practice – these policies or practices are only applicable to Toyota, Lexus, or Scion dealers.

Wheel Alignment

Jump to:Cost estimates by year Commonly associated repairs Cost estimates by vehicle

What is a wheel alignment?

How does the wheel alignment work?

An alignment may be needed if the vehicle does not drive straight, the tires are wearing unevenly, or the steering wheel is crooked.

If the vehicle is out of alignment, it may feel unsteady at highway speeds and may have a tendency to pull to one side when driving in a straight line.

What are the symptoms related to a bad wheel alignment?

Can I drive with a wheel alignment problem?

How often do wheel alignments need to be performed?

How are wheel alignment issues diagnosed?

How are wheel alignments performed?

Whenever steering or suspension components are replaced or removed during other repairs, the alignment should be checked and adjusted if necessary.

Wheel Alignment

What is a wheel alignment?

How does the wheel alignment work?

What are the symptoms related to a bad wheel alignment?

Can I drive with a wheel alignment problem?

How often do wheel alignments need to be performed?

How are wheel alignment issues diagnosed?

How are wheel alignments performed?

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