"A Beginner?s Guide To Wheel Alignment"
"Ford Wheel Alignment, Mini Wheel Alignment"
[ "A Beginners Guide To Wheel AlignmentWe often drive on patchy and poor roads without realising the damage it causes to our wheels and tyres. These components are meant to withstand extreme pressure and evils of the road, but minor damages add up over time and cause huge driving discomfort and handling issues. The patches and potholes present on the road are the prime accused in tyres and wheel damage, and they accelerate the wearing and tearing down process. Therefore, tyres must be routinely assessed so that timely repair and maintenance can be carried out.Most of the maintenance tasks can be carried out at home without the need for any professional help. But, some aspects of it require garage visits. The garages are equipped with specialised tools that are meant to carry out the maintenance process. One such process is wheel alignment to ensure linear motion on the road and prevent the vehicle from swaying. Here is a beginner's guide to wheel alignment with all the relevant information if you are new to this.What is wheel alignment?Ford Wheel Alignment is when wheels' and tyres' positions are adjusted concerning the suspension to optimise performance and ensure complete linear movement. Usually, when the car hits a pothole at high speed or covers a considerable distance, the wheels get loose on the axle, and their position is disturbed. This causes an extra left or right motion, which damages the circumferential or lateral treadsThis treadwear disturbs the corner steering stability and high-speed handling. Therefore, it is recommended that the vehicle must be taken for balancing and alignment every 10000 km. This will help improve the tyre's performance, life and overall vehicle handling.How to identify that the vehicle needs a wheel alignment?If you suspect a misalignment, take the vehicle for a spin when there are no passengers and test it for any discrepancies. It is recommended that you do this in the presence of a mechanic, if possible, to get a professional insight. Discussed below are some of the symptoms of misalignment:Vehicle pulls on one side: Move at a normal speed and take the pressure off the steering. If the vehicle moves away slightly from the traffic, it is manufacturing set up for safety. However, if the sway is unnatural and excessive, it might be due to misaligned wheelsCrooked steering wheel: The steering wheel's position is a clear indicator of alignment issues. If the steering wheel finds it difficult to set itself on a centre axis, it might be misaligned.Increased noise and vibration: Misalignment is one of the leading causes of driving discomforts. If the steering seems unnaturally heavy or vibrating too much, take your vehicle for wheel alignment. Also, if there are unnecessary floorboard squeaks or vibrations throughout the cabin, it indicates a bad alignment.What are the common alignment angles?The driving modes that your vehicle supports determine the front-wheel or all-wheel alignment requirements. There are commonly three Mini Wheel Alignment angles that are checked, which are discussed below:Camber Angle: It is determined by looking at the tyres from top to bottom. The tilt of the tyre's top is judged and adjusted accordingly. If the tyre's top is tilted towards the driver, it is a negative tilt. If the tilt is away from the driver, it is a positive tilt. Manufacturers provide a little bit of negative tilt for even tyre wear or enhanced handling at high speeds. However, if the tilt is too much, the edges will wear out quicklyToe angle: The toe angle is determined by looking at the tyre from the front concerning the road. If the tyre's front is pointed inwards, it is called toe-in, and if it is pointed outwards, it is called toe-out. The toe angle is always set to zero.Caster angle: Caster angle refers to the front suspension's position concerning the road" ]