Guideline on Buying Tires Wheel Balancing and the Performance of Your Car | Page 11

Wheel Alignment Process
The process of wheel alignment essentially involves squaring the wheels and axles together to
ensure they move in the same direction. The car’s manufacturer recommends the ideal
suspension angles—toe, camber, thrust and caster—that influence tire movement and position.
The exact type of alignment that your car needs mainly depends on the suspension and drive
type. A four-wheel alignment is done on all-wheel drive vehicles or front-wheel drive vehicles
with independent/suspended rear suspension systems. This type of alignment ensures that both
front and rear axles are parallel, rectangle and perpendicular to each other. Four-wheel
alignment machines incorporate a series of high-definition image sensors that measure multiple
alignment angles on the wheels and compare the position and orientation of the wheel
manufacturer data.
Meanwhile, front-end alignments whereby only the front axle is adjusted are done on other
types of vehicles that are not all-wheel or front-wheel drives.
Once the alignment is complete, the repair shop will provide a printout that shows the images
of the suspension before and after the alignment.