When is wheel alignment necessary?

The process leading to wheel misalignment happens silently, over a long period of time, so most car owners do not pay attention and fully realize its potential dangers.

According to expert Vuong Ha, Hunter Auto Tire Center (Cau Giay District, Hanoi), a car is only considered safe when the wheel system ensures support for the entire body of the car, optimizes road grip, creates a smooth feeling when driving as well as ensures durability for details such as tie rods, rubber, ball hubs, minimizes tire wear...

In actual use, after the vehicle has been running for a long time, due to natural mechanical wear of the steering system mechanisms (tie rods, shock absorbers, A-arms, etc.), the wheel positioning angles will deviate from the manufacturer's standards. Technical errors related to wheel positioning angles are generally called "wheel camber".

At this time, the wheels will not move in the same direction, the tires will gradually wear unevenly because of being dragged while turning, the steering wheel will be crooked when the car is running straight. When the car enters a corner, the road is bumpy, the two wheels will be pushed more in the same direction, leading to the phenomenon of steering wheel snatching. When adding the bad road factor, the tire wear process will also occur faster, unevenly, the wheel will have a conical shape.

This error process takes place silently, it is very difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Currently, we can divide the deviation angles as Camber angle (angle of the wheel plane in relation to the vertical direction seen from the front of the vehicle), Caster angle (angle of the steering axis in relation to the vertical direction seen from the vehicle next to the vehicle), Toe-in (wheel toe-in), SAI (Sterring Axis Inclination - tilt of the steering column), Thrust Angle (angle of deviation between the center axis of the vehicle and the direction of movement of the rear axle).

The process of bringing the vehicle's parameters back to the manufacturer's standards is called the 4-wheel alignment method. Previously, due to the lack of technical skills and machinery, it could lead to the situation where users brought their vehicles to the warranty centers and encountered the situation of "healthy pigs becoming lame pigs" or could not feel the obvious difference before and after the alignment.

Incorrect wheel alignment angles arise during vehicle use.

According to Mr. Ha, nowadays, with the development of science and technology and modern machinery systems from reputable centers, measuring and aligning the vehicle's angle has become more accurate and effective. Customers driving on the highway can clearly feel it without getting tired hands, and the tire's lifespan has also improved significantly.

In some cases, after performing the toe alignment but the vehicle still experiences vibration and wobble, according to experts, it is likely due to a dynamic balance error. Accordingly, when the vehicle has traveled a certain distance, the tire must be replaced but the user simply installs another tire without performing wheel alignment to achieve balance according to the manufacturer's specifications or during use on the highway, bumpy, rough roads will cause tire deformation, no longer achieving balance at all points. This is a fairly common cause but not everyone knows how to diagnose their vehicle.

Therefore, when customers bring their cars to reputable repair centers, technicians often check both the wheel alignment angle and dynamic balance with specialized equipment. Based on the parameters of weight, horizontal force, vertical force, height, and stiffness of each tire that the machine measures and the database from the manufacturer, the machine will provide appropriate solutions so that the car can go straightest and vibrate least. When necessary, to achieve optimal balance, the machine will weigh and add lead edges inside the tire. Regarding this part, if the machine is not really accurate, the car's dynamic balance error will be even more serious.

Therefore, before deciding to "take action", customers need to consult with truly reputable sources with the latest technology to entrust their car to avoid the situation of "losing money and getting sick".

According to VNN