Understanding wheel alignment.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

2 wheel alignment.

1. Angle readings are measured at all four wheels.
2. The steering wheel is centered.
3. Front wheels are referenced to rear thrust line and set to specifications.

Result: All four wheels are parallel and the steering wheel is centered.

4 wheel alignment.

1. Angle readings are measured at all four wheels.
2. Rear wheels are set to specification. (Rear thrust line corresponds to vehicle centerline.)
3. Steering wheel is centered.
4. Front wheels are referenced to the rear thrust line and set to specification.

Result: all four wheels are positioned straight ahead and parallel, and the steering wheel is centered.

Q. What are the “symptoms” of a car that's out of alignment?

• Excessive or uneven tire wear.
• Steering wheel pulls to the left or right.
• Feeling of looseness or wandering.
• Steering wheel vibration or shimmy.
• Steering wheel is not centered when car is moving straight ahead.

Source: What Everyone Should Know About Wheel Alignment

This thread gives info on independent rear suspensions
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/28649-why-car-makers-abandoning-independent-rear-suspension.html

[IMP]

I think cars having all wheel independent suspension need/have alignment on all 4 wheels. Other cars who have other suspension types at the rear do not need or maybe do not have adjustment at the rear. My optra got all 4 wheels adjusted the last time i got the wheel alignment done.

[gemithomas]

Originally Posted by IMP

I think cars having all wheel independent suspension need/have alignment on all 4 wheels. Other cars who have other suspension types at the rear do not need or maybe do not have adjustment at the rear. My optra got all 4 wheels adjusted the last time i got the wheel alignment done.

does thAt mean that all cars with independent suspensions should get all wheels aligned. But on my adventure the guy sits towards the front of the car and does something in between the front wheels. ANd he gives me a sheet of paper with some values and colours!!!!!!!!


Oh. And a bill of around Rs.300/-

Can anyone get me the actual values. I cant find them in my manual. PLease also confirm if i need to get all four wheels aligned and how is this done exactly. I mean should he adjust anything t the rear also as he does in the front.?

[dustDevil]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

In WagonR, i was pointed out that camber and toe could be adjusted. And an incorrect value of camber is due to worn parts!

Isn't the Mcpherson Strut suspension supposed to have a varying camber (that changes with suspension travel)? It is one of the basic differences between McPherson strut and a double wishbone setup.

[rohan_fonseca]

Aren't cars with indepedent suspension suppossed to have their rear wheels aligned as well. Have never seen this happening at the tyre shops.

Are camber angles adjustable on a zen?

[ananthkamath]

Originally Posted by dustDevil

Isn't the Mcpherson Strut suspension supposed to have a varying camber (that changes with suspension travel)? It is one of the basic differences between McPherson strut and a double wishbone setup.

All types of independent suspension are designed to have some camber gain as they compress. Wheel alignment can only change the static camber and not the camber gain rate.

Mcpherson strut is a low-cost alternative to double-wishbone and does not have favorable camber gain as the latter.

[namit]

as per my checks Optra has an all wheel independent suspension so needs all 4 wheels to be alligned.

Aveo and Verna have front independent susp but torsion beam axle at rear which means allignment required only for front tyres.

Fiesta - Front suspension Independent MacPherson struts
Rear suspension Semi-independent twist-beam

Now what this semi independent suspension means dont know .......

[singharry]

Which is a good place for wheel alignment in delhi? Because i got my Xing wheels aligned twice but not satisfied with the alignment, Steering has become harder than before, even the guy adjusted the center of the steering but to no avail. The guy told me to change the front tyres as they are wornout from inside.I have bridgestone S322 & they are just 26k Kms. Please advise what to do, i am also planing to get alloys.

[iraghava]

The best place for alignment in Delhi is the petrol pump right after Ansal Plaza while coming from the South Ex side. There is a small garage at the pump which is reputed to be the best place for alignment.

[kpzen]

Ishan
You mean the HP petrol pump right.

[gemithomas]

i guess the baleno with all four mcpherson setup should be the ideal candidate that needs to have an alignment both at front and rear. Can owners confirm?

[viper]

Hi,

OHC has 4 wheel alignment or at least the Vtec does for sure as my car has it. Its is always advisable to do all 4 providing the car in question has/supports 4 wheel alignment.

Viper

Originally Posted by gbpscars

good thread indeed.

a question:
when my friend's OHC went through a suspension bush change (both front and rear), he took it to a wheel alignment centre, and only the front wheels were aligned.

please let me know if this is right practice.

[gd1418]

On the dot. Yes..it is the one

Originally Posted by kpzen

Ishan
You mean the HP petrol pump right.

[singharry]

Originally Posted by iraghava

The best place for alignment in Delhi is the petrol pump right after Ansal Plaza while coming from the South Ex side. There is a small garage at the pump which is reputed to be the best place for alignment.

Thanks man, i will surely visit there.

[gemithomas]

Is there no one who can help me with the actual values of each parameter on the FIAT Adventure!!!