One of the most important aspects of keeping a car in good condition is maintaining proper wheel alignment. Incorrectly aligned wheels can cause all sorts of problems with a car, from making it more difficult to steer and handle properly to causing uneven tyre wear.
Many people don’t know how to check or adjust their wheel and so they either have to pay a mechanic to do it for them or put up with the problems that come with misaligned wheels. However, checking and adjusting your wheel is not as difficult as you might think, and it’s something that every driver should know how to do.
In this article, we’ll explain what wheel alignment is and why it’s so important to pass the MOT Newbury test. We’ll also show you how to check your wheel at home and how to adjust it if necessary.
What is Wheel Alignment?
Wheel alignment is the process of making sure that all four wheels on your car are pointing in the same direction. This may seem like a small thing, but it’s very important for the proper functioning of your car.
If your wheels get misaligned, it can cause all sorts of problems with your car, from making it harder to steer and handle properly to causing uneven tyre wear. Maintaining proper wheel alignment is therefore essential for keeping your car in good condition and ensuring that it lasts for as long as possible.
There are three main types of wheel alignment: toe, camber, and caster. Toe alignment is the most common type of alignment and refers to whether your wheels are pointing straight ahead or if they’re turned inwards or outwards. Camber alignment refers to the angle of your wheels concerning the ground, while caster alignment refers to the angle of your steering axis about the ground.
What Are The Benefits Of Wheel Alignment?
There are several benefits to maintaining proper Wheel Alignment including:
1. Improving fuel economy – If your wheels become misaligned, it can cause your car to work harder than it needs to, which will use up more fuel.
2. Prolonging tyre life – By keeping your wheels aligned, you can help ensure that your tyres last as long as possible.
3. Improving handling and stability – Properly aligned wheels will make your car easier to handle and more stable on the road.
4. reducing wear and tear on other parts of your car – Keeping your wheels aligned will help your automobile last longer because misaligned wheels can lead to increased excessive wear on the steering and suspension components.
How to Check Your Alignment
The best way to check your alignment is to take your car to a mechanic or a tyre shop and have them do it for you.
However, there are also a few ways that you can check your alignment at home. One way is to use a tape measure to measure the distance between your wheels and the ground. If all four wheels are the same distance from the ground, then they’re probably properly aligned.
Another way to check your alignment at home is to park your car on a level surface and look at it from behind. If your car’s wheels are pointing straight ahead, then they’re properly aligned. However, if they’re pointing inwards or outwards, then they’re not.
If you notice that your car’s wheels have become misaligned, then you’ll need to adjust them.
How to Adjust Your Wheel Alignment
There are two main ways to adjust your wheel alignment: by adjusting the toe or by adjusting the camber. To adjust the toe, you’ll need to loosen the bolts that hold your wheels in place and then turn them either inwards or outwards until they’re pointing in the right direction.
To adjust the camber, you’ll need to adjust the suspension on your car. This is a more difficult task and one that you may want to leave to a mechanic if you’re not confident in your ability to do it yourself.
Once you’ve adjusted the toe or camber, you’ll need to have your Wheel Alignment Newbury checked again to make sure that it’s been properly done. You can either take it to a mechanic or do it yourself using one of the methods described above.
Wheel alignment is an important part of car maintenance that every driver should be aware of.
By keeping your wheels properly aligned, you can extend the life of your tyres and prevent problems with your car’s steering and handling. Regularly checking and adjusting your alignment is therefore something that you should add to your regular car maintenance routine.
If you have any further questions about alignment or car maintenance in general, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to help!
