Topic: Auto Tech: Wheel alignments

[Autos_Editor]

"Getting a wheel alignment should be part of your annual maintenance schedule," advises Technical Editor, Jim Kerr. "An alignment can detect problems before they become serious or unsafe. It can also increase tire life and fuel economy."
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[Snowdog]

Annual wheel alignment == Cash grab.

I only get alignments after work on related parts. As such, my 10 year old car has had one alignment and doesn't cause odd wear patterns or pull.

[blur911]

I've had more problems and frustrations with alignments than just about anything else.  The last time I tried to get one they set my car on fire and messed it up worse than when it came in.   I ended up doing it myself and haven't put my cars on a rack since.  I've had better luck using string and rulers than letting the "professionals" do it.

I couldn't imagine trying to get everything aligned every year.  That sounds pretty wacked to me.

[DP]

This is likely the first time I have ever disagreed with Jim.  I purchased my 1999 F150 new.  When I sold it in 2009, it had the second set of tires on it, they were wearing correctly, and the vehicle had 124,000km on it.  Never had a wheel alignment.  My 2004 (purchased new) Toyota Solara has 135,000km on it, and has yet to need a wheel alignment.  Perhaps a better statement would be:
Keep a close watch on your tires. Perhaps its just that we have exceptionally good roads in Saskatchewan

[ktm525]

I took my Volvo V70R in for it's first alignment after four years of driving. The old tires (rear) were wearing a little more on the inside so I figured I it may be time.  After shelling out $130 to the local Volvo dealer I was left with a car that doesn't handle as well and a torn steering rack boot.

That was totally worth it.

Car goes back on Monday to get the previous butcher work undone.

[PJungnitsch]

We had some trouble with wheel alignment specialists on the the farm Ford growing up, after tire wear problems following taking it to a shop we set it ourselves (toe-in?) with a tape measure and fixed the problem.

As a result I was always skeptical. My Mazda pickup got its first alignment last fall at 425,000 km, after the tierods wore out and had to be replaced.

No tire wear or handling problems up to that point.

[Sam-I-Am]

I agree with everyone on this.  I don't do alignments on speculation, only when it's clearly required:  uneven tire wear, parts replacement (tie rods, control arm bushings, etc) or impact damage (big curb hit, major pothole, collision, etc).  Most common has been parts replacement.  If the car's tracking straight and not wandering, the tires are wearing normally, the steering wheel is centered, then why waste the money?

I find the rack&pinion steering and "mc-struts" used in every front drive car I've owned in recent decades are light years ahead of the recirculating ball steering and coil/leaf spring and tube shock suspensions of my earlier rear-drive cars.  Those old mutts required constant alignment and were always drifting left or right and the steering wheel was always off centre... but that's the way it was back then and you just learned to live with it.

[ax89]

Sorry Jim, but you seem to have swallowed the PR BS from the alignment machine suppliers...

I have never had a problem with an alignment when it was done after a suspension component was replaced.  The problems I had were due to alignments that were done because it was "recommended maintenance".  The first time, I had to go make a total of 4 visits to the shop to get things right (I don't go there any more).  The second time I got a "free" alignment after replacing the tires, the shop broke some suspension parts (claimed they were worn out), cost me over a thousand dollars to repair, the tires were noisy and the car handled like a 5-ton truck.  Strangely, when I was exiting the highway and turned the wheel to the right the noise COMPLETELY stopped, which tells me the alignment was not done properly.

I have to say my trust in what Jim Kerr writes has been greatly diminished by this article.

[kirm]

"I have to say my trust in what Jim Kerr writes has been greatly diminished by this article."

Ha ha! I wouldn't go that far but I have to agree with most of you; wheel alignments don't need to be done once a year on modern vehicles. Only if tire wear indicates it or you just had front end work done. Other than that, save your money.

Sorry Jim but keep doing your great articles.

[ktm525]

Had my butcher job of an alignment corrected yesterday and the Volvo feels like a new car. The failing wheel bearing hum was incredible. If not addressed I would have chewed through a set of $1000 Michelins real quick. The rear toe was waaaay off. If you get an alignment you must triple check the settings with spec and trust your senses on a test drive. If it doesn't feel right, it isn't.

[Ed Bdr]

People, you're being a little harsh on Jim.
Why go to the doctor for yearly check ups if you feel fine?? You go to make sure everything is OK.
 You don't want to wait until expensive tires are worn unevenly to tell you the alignment is off. Some people can probably get away without an annual alignment, but many people will hit a few sidewalks and pot holes, throwing the alignment off slightly. I agree some alignment shops are better than other (I too had a steering boot torn because the tech turned the tie rod without loosening the boot clamp, and had some trouble convincing them it was their fault, the tech was a "pro" I was told). Since you usually get a printout of the before & after specs, you can see if the alignment was out or not.

[triuman]

Along with replacing the winter oil, I have the shop do a wheel alignment and also ensure the wheels are balanced. To me, it's good preventive maintenance. Didn't do it in the past, but in those days I just had beater cars that I really didn't want to spend the cash on 

[Wheelboy]

Not with ya on this one Jim.  I look at my tires 2x per year (winter tire switcheroo time) to see if there is any abnormal wear.  No abnormal wear = no alignment needed in my book.  I've never had an alignment done other than when Mrs Wheelboy slid into the curb in the snow and bent the subframe, control arm & wheel.  And my tires have never suffered from lack of alignment.  I think Jim drank the coolaide.

[johngenx]

I worked hard to find a good alignment shop that could do custom work on my race car, and 22 years later, trust only them to align any of my cars.  They check the suspension/steering components if I have it in for other work (they do other stuff too) and only align the car if they see something worn, or replace parts.

The local Scoob dealer had a $49.95 special on alignments, and I had some very minor odd tire wear beginning, so I figured I'd pop for it.  Had to spend another $90 to have their work undone.

[ktm525]

I worked hard to find a good alignment shop that could do custom work on my race car, and 22 years later, trust only them to align any of my cars.  They check the suspension/steering components if I have it in for other work (they do other stuff too) and only align the car if they see something worn, or replace parts.

The local Scoob dealer had a $49.95 special on alignments, and I had some very minor odd tire wear beginning, so I figured I'd pop for it.  Had to spend another $90 to have their work undone.

I'm with you. I am about to replace the steering rods on the LR3 (inner/outer) and hope by careful removal, measuring and install that I don't change any dimensions and can get away without an alignment. I really don't know of a shop I trust in Calgary?

[ktm525]

I replaced the inner and outer tie-rods on the LR3 on Monday. The shop wanted 3 hours to replace them so I got PO and did it myself. It took me about 1 1/2 hours on my garage floor with a jack. A tech with a hoist could easily do it in under an hour.

Truck went into Blaskin and Lane this morning for an alignment. I have no idea how it will go but I had a 50% off coupon. $50 for a 4 wheel alignment. If it works then it will be a steal.