Everything about Wheel Alignment: Post your queries here

FlyingSpur · 5th August 2010, 13:56

Nice thread, Nikhil. Regarding camber, I have noticed that i20 has a negative camber, or atleast visually it appears so, especially from the rear. Can anyone confirm this, and does it need to be corrected?

Nikhilb2008 · 6th August 2010, 23:46

Flyingspur, check the specs in the car manual. I havent noticed any negative camber on the i20, but then I have never examined our i20 in so much detail.

FlyingSpur · 7th August 2010, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

Flyingspur, check the specs in the car manual. I havent noticed any negative camber on the i20, but then I have never examined our i20 in so much detail.

Cool, I'll have a look. Next time you are standing behind an i20, just observe it. It appears to have a negative camber, visually.

mooza · 10th August 2010, 11:22

Hi Nikhil, just one query.

I got my Mahindra Scorpio's leaf springs (rear) re-cambered and stiffened with an additional leaf, since they were sagging. I got this done at a leaf spring repairer's garage.

The rear height has now increased by almost one and a half inches.

What checks do I need to do?

I was particularly concerned about the thrust angle (please refer the bottom of the page on the link below, for more clarity on this point) because, after the spring cambering job, the mechanics just pushed the axle (with their legs, near each wheel !) till the end of travel of the common link rod on the axle, before re-tightening the U bolts on the leafs, and certifying "All OK"

Wheel Alignment A Short Course

Thanks in advance

blackstallion76 · 10th August 2010, 11:33

Friends,

I did wheel balancing and wheel alignment for every 5000kms. Now reached 20000kms.

I observed that my front tires have worn out more than my rear tires.
Is this due to wheel balancing/alignment?

My tire rotation is regularly done at tyre prof, Bangalore. Not sure why the front tires worned out early. And this is CPC2 bought in 2009. (Dec 2008 manufactured).

Any suggestions?

Raccoon · 10th August 2010, 16:28

^^^Is the wear very even? If yes, I would seriously doubt that the tire rotation was correctly done. Did you get it done in front of you?

guptavis · 13th August 2010, 23:37

Firstly thanks a lot for the very informative thread Nikhil. Now i wont be standing there looking hopelessly into the alignment computer!

Am planning on getting wheel alignment (and possibly balancing also) done.
Can someone guide me on what all settings are possible for alto. (front/rear toe-in, front/rear camber etc). I remember the last time the guy only put the sensors on the front wheel and left the rear as it is :(
Preferably also the recommended values and tolerances, so that i know if the guy is doing the alignment properly.

ramkris · 22nd August 2010, 13:28

Hi,
I had excessive wear on the inside of the front tires (stock jk 165) on my swift vdi. This happened after 20000 Km service and alignment done at MASS. so I went to madhus to check alignment and was told there was some mis alignment and it was corrected. The person at madhus recommended wearing out the tires and go for replacement. This was around 24k mark. Now at 30 k kms the tires are again worn out with the same pattern and had to go for tire change.

After deciding to stick with stock size later realized maybe I would go for upsize of 185/70. This was done at bridgestone select at btm. All 5 tyres where changed.

The alignment guys mentioned that the camber is out of spec and the struts on front left needs to be replaced. The camber reading is 1'38

Please advice how I should proceed. Is it possible struts get worn within 30000 kms? If so how much will I expect to spare for this? Can this be covered under extended warranty?

Also, the spare wheel retaining nuts are short so will zxi nuts work or how other people with upsize manage?

Inputs on this highly appreciated.

headers · 22nd August 2010, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

how is wheel alignment done using a Camber bolt?

The camber bolt is used to adjust the camber in the front suspension of IFS cars that have a suspension damage. Some use spacers that are welded
instead of the camber bolts!

@Nikhil: Thanks for this wonderful thread.

Now I know what you had done to your NHC to aid handling

.

Nikhilb2008 · 6th September 2010, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by headers

@Nikhil: Thanks for this wonderful thread.

Now I know what you had done to your NHC to aid handling

.

I wish I had done something! It was bone stock

guptavis · 9th September 2010, 01:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by guptavis

Firstly thanks a lot for the very informative thread Nikhil. Now i wont be standing there looking hopelessly into the alignment computer!

Am planning on getting wheel alignment (and possibly balancing also) done.
Can someone guide me on what all settings are possible for alto. (front/rear toe-in, front/rear camber etc). I remember the last time the guy only put the sensors on the front wheel and left the rear as it is :(
Preferably also the recommended values and tolerances.

Would love to hear an experts views on this

Nikhilb2008 · 9th September 2010, 16:24

Gupta, there are no rear adjustments for the Alto.

Anyway, alignment, when done for either the front or the rear has to be measured with respect to all 4 wheels. Old alignment machines dont measure the readings at the rear and so are not accurate enough. I wont blame the guy as the machine might be old and he might be doing the correct job given the machine.

gaddiwale · 11th September 2010, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingspur

Nice thread, Nikhil. Regarding camber, I have noticed that i20 has a negative camber, or atleast visually it appears so, especially from the rear. Can anyone confirm this, and does it need to be corrected?

I also visually noticed negative camber in rear wheels in lot of i20s and old Indicas. i20 owners please confirm. Is that an inherent issue with i20?

Twiny · 13th September 2010, 15:00

Do sudden Acceleration/Breaks will add to uneven tyre wear, tyre unbalance.

If so ABS also helps preventing unbalance by avoiding wheel lock?

Nikhilb2008 · 17th September 2010, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twiny

Do sudden Acceleration/Breaks will add to uneven tyre wear, tyre unbalance.

If so ABS also helps preventing unbalance by avoiding wheel lock?

Sudden acceleration and braking will definitely screw up your tyres. ABS avoids wheel lock and that way it does help the tyres but sudden and acceleration will still have a detrimental effect even if the tyres dont lock.

5th August 2010, 13:56	#91
FlyingSpur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,934 Thanked: 1,422 Times View My Garage	Nice thread, Nikhil. Regarding camber, I have noticed that i20 has a negative camber, or atleast visually it appears so, especially from the rear. Can anyone confirm this, and does it need to be corrected?
	() Thanks

6th August 2010, 23:46	#92
Nikhilb2008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,196 Thanked: 10,138 Times	Flyingspur, check the specs in the car manual. I havent noticed any negative camber on the i20, but then I have never examined our i20 in so much detail.
	() Thanks

10th August 2010, 11:22	#94
mooza Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,096 Thanked: 368 Times	Hi Nikhil, just one query. I got my Mahindra Scorpio's leaf springs (rear) re-cambered and stiffened with an additional leaf, since they were sagging. I got this done at a leaf spring repairer's garage. The rear height has now increased by almost one and a half inches. What checks do I need to do? I was particularly concerned about the thrust angle (please refer the bottom of the page on the link below, for more clarity on this point) because, after the spring cambering job, the mechanics just pushed the axle (with their legs, near each wheel !) till the end of travel of the common link rod on the axle, before re-tightening the U bolts on the leafs, and certifying "All OK" Wheel Alignment A Short Course Thanks in advance
	() Thanks

10th August 2010, 11:33	#95
blackstallion76 BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 343 Thanked: 71 Times View My Garage	Friends, I did wheel balancing and wheel alignment for every 5000kms. Now reached 20000kms. I observed that my front tires have worn out more than my rear tires. Is this due to wheel balancing/alignment? My tire rotation is regularly done at tyre prof, Bangalore. Not sure why the front tires worned out early. And this is CPC2 bought in 2009. (Dec 2008 manufactured). Any suggestions?
	() Thanks

10th August 2010, 16:28	#96
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	^^^Is the wear very even? If yes, I would seriously doubt that the tire rotation was correctly done. Did you get it done in front of you?
	() Thanks

13th August 2010, 23:37	#97
guptavis BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: chandigarh Posts: 339 Thanked: 66 Times	Firstly thanks a lot for the very informative thread Nikhil. Now i wont be standing there looking hopelessly into the alignment computer! Am planning on getting wheel alignment (and possibly balancing also) done. Can someone guide me on what all settings are possible for alto. (front/rear toe-in, front/rear camber etc). I remember the last time the guy only put the sensors on the front wheel and left the rear as it is :( Preferably also the recommended values and tolerances, so that i know if the guy is doing the alignment properly.
	() Thanks

22nd August 2010, 13:28	#98
ramkris BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 122 Thanked: 20 Times	Swift camber out of spec Hi, I had excessive wear on the inside of the front tires (stock jk 165) on my swift vdi. This happened after 20000 Km service and alignment done at MASS. so I went to madhus to check alignment and was told there was some mis alignment and it was corrected. The person at madhus recommended wearing out the tires and go for replacement. This was around 24k mark. Now at 30 k kms the tires are again worn out with the same pattern and had to go for tire change. After deciding to stick with stock size later realized maybe I would go for upsize of 185/70. This was done at bridgestone select at btm. All 5 tyres where changed. The alignment guys mentioned that the camber is out of spec and the struts on front left needs to be replaced. The camber reading is 1'38 Please advice how I should proceed. Is it possible struts get worn within 30000 kms? If so how much will I expect to spare for this? Can this be covered under extended warranty? Also, the spare wheel retaining nuts are short so will zxi nuts work or how other people with upsize manage? Inputs on this highly appreciated. Last edited by ramkris : 22nd August 2010 at 13:32.
	() Thanks

9th September 2010, 16:24	#102
Nikhilb2008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,196 Thanked: 10,138 Times	Gupta, there are no rear adjustments for the Alto. Anyway, alignment, when done for either the front or the rear has to be measured with respect to all 4 wheels. Old alignment machines dont measure the readings at the rear and so are not accurate enough. I wont blame the guy as the machine might be old and he might be doing the correct job given the machine.
	() Thanks

13th September 2010, 15:00	#104
Twiny BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cochin-Bangalore Posts: 311 Thanked: 50 Times View My Garage	Do sudden Acceleration/Breaks will add to uneven tyre wear, tyre unbalance. If so ABS also helps preventing unbalance by avoiding wheel lock?
	() Thanks