Wheel Alignment
Wheel Alignment Service Is Available at Archer Volkswagen
We don't need to tell you how important it is to have the wheels on your Volkswagen aligned as they should be, especially not if you've experienced misalignment before. This problem can end up costing you money, and it can also put you in danger. That's why it's best to catch it early by bringing your vehicle in for regular alignment inspections. If the technicians find anything wrong, they'll be able to make the necessary adjustments
What Do Technicians Adjust During an Alignment Service?
There are three main ways in which the alignment of a car's wheels is described: camber, caster, and toe. Let's take a look at what each one means.
- Camber describes the angle of the wheel when you look at the car directly from the front or the back. If the wheels tip inward at the top, the wheels have negative camber. If the wheels tip outward at the top, the wheels have positive camber. Most wheels will have a slight degree of negative camber to help maintain control over the vehicle when cornering. However, too much negative camber can decrease tire grip and braking. If you've ever seen a "stanced" car, this is an example of extreme negative camber, and the downsides are also extreme. Tire grip can become close to nothing, making for a dangerous and hard-to-control drive. If one wheel has a higher degree of positive or negative camber, you might notice the vehicle pulling to one side.
- Toe refers to the distance between the front and rear of the tires when viewed from above or below the vehicle. Toe-in is when the fronts of the wheels are closer to each other than the backs, while toe-out is the opposite. Think of the wheels as feet and it's easy to remember which is which. As with camber, the toe typically isn't completely even. Front-wheel drive vehicles should have a slight toe-out at rest, while rear-wheel drive vehicles should have a slight toe-in. This is because the wheels tend to do the opposite at higher speeds, so the slight adjustment counteracts that. However, excessive toe-in or toe-out can cause tire damage and excessive wear, and the vehicle may be less stable and harder to drive.
- Caster is harder to picture, because the wheels themselves look similar either way. It refers to the slope of the steering axis. If the axis is at zero degrees, you have zero caster. If you trace an imaginary line along the steering axis and it touches the ground in front of the spot where your tires meet the road, that's positive caster. Negative caster is the opposite, where the axis would touch the ground behind the contact spot. Nearly all modern vehicles have some amount of positive caster, which improves straight-line stability.
What Are Some Signs of Misalignment?
A vehicle with the incorrect camber, caster, or toe may exhibit symptoms that include:
- Excessive or uneven tire wear
- Pulling to one side on straightaways
- Crooked steering wheel
- Steering wheel vibration
- Sloppy steering wheel
However, it's also common for a vehicle to be slightly misaligned without any of these symptoms being noticeable. If you catch an improper alignment before it shows symptoms, you might avoid the danger and cost that can be associated with driving on misaligned wheels. That's why we recommend having your alignment checked at least once a year. If you didn't see that curb or large pothole before hitting it at speed, it's a good time to have your alignment checked.
Schedule Your Next Alignment Inspection or Service
Whether you've noticed some of these bad wheel alignment symptoms or just want to check to be on the safe side, we'll be glad to help at Archer Volkswagen.To schedule your appointment, reach us by phone or use our convenient online scheduling tool. We look forward to helping you get to the bottom of the issue.