Tire and Wheel Alignments: The 4 Basic Alignment Settings

A wheel alignment involves proper adjustment of  the angles of the wheels, so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life, and a vehicle that steers straight and true along the road. This video shows what is involved in a proper 4 wheel tire alignment, and what the 4 main adjustments in a wheel alignment are: Camber, Caster, Toe-In and Thrust Angle.

• ·         Camber is the angle of the wheel, measured in degrees, when viewed from the front of the vehicle. If the top of the wheel is leaning out from the center of the car, then the camber is positive ,if it's leaning in, then the camber is negative. If the camber is out of adjustment, it will cause tire wear on one side of the tire's tread. If the camber is too far negative, then the tire will wear on the inside of the tread. Aftermarket camber bolts can be installed and properly adjusted when the OEM bolts do not have that adjustable range.

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• Caster is the angle of this steering pivot, measured in degrees, when viewed from the side of the vehicle. (Picture a shopping cart caster wheel). If the top of the pivot is leaning toward the rear of the car, then the caster is positive, if it is leaning toward the front, it is negative. If the caster is out of adjustment, it can cause problems in straight line tracking. If the caster is different from side to side, the vehicle will pull to the side with the less positive caster. If the caster is equal but too negative, the steering will be light and the vehicle will wander and be difficult to keep in a straight line. If the caster is equal but too positive, the steering will be heavy and the steering wheel may kick when you hit a bump. Caster has little affect on tire wear-and more affects steering and handling.

• The Toe-In measurement is the difference in the distance between the front of the tires and the back of the tires. It is measured in fractions of an inch, and is usually set close to zero, which means that the wheels are parallel with each other. Toe-in means that the fronts of the tires are closer to each other than the rears. Toe-out is just the opposite. An incorrect toe-in will cause rapid tire wear to both tires equally.

• Thrust Angle is the direction that the rear wheels are pointing in relation to the center line of the vehicle. If the thrust angle is not zero, then the vehicle will "dog track", and the steering wheel will not be centered. To best center the steering wheel, you adjust the rear toe to the center line and then adjust the front toe. This is normally done during a 4-wheel alignment, as long as the rear toe is adjustable. If the rear is not adjustable, then the front toe must be set to compensate for the thrust angle, allowing the steering to be centered.

While Camber, Caster, Toe-in and Thrust Angle are the main settings that are always checked when doing a wheel alignment, they are not the only settings. As alignment experts, we can show you what is needed for your car’s proper alignment.  

At Hillside Tire and Service, we are your experts for all makes and models of wheel alignments and  auto repair in Salt Lake City. Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley tire stores: Salt Lake City (Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper, and with a new set of 4 tires purchased, we will perform your computerized 4 wheel alignment at no extra charge! (see coupon). We also check your Braking System-at no charge! See us also for tires (we have tire discounts from manufacturer factory rebate specials going on right now), alignments, oil changes, inspections, emissions, and complete auto repair services.