Understanding Laser Wheel Alignment
Laser wheel alignment – that seems complicated, doesn’t it? Don’t be alarmed by this. Laser alignment is a quick and effective way to align your wheels. R&S Auto can provide you with all of the information you want regarding the laser wheel alignment procedure.
If you’ve struck a curb, you could notice that the auto body pulls slightly in one direction or that the steering wheel isn’t exactly in the center of the straight-ahead position. It’s likely that your front wheels aren’t aligned properly. It’s time to get them tested and, if necessary, laser wheel alignment fixed.
What Is Laser Wheel Alignment, And How Does It Work?
Although it may appear like a complex type of alignment, laser wheel alignment is a straightforward procedure. The laser wheel alignment method uses light beams to check that your car’s wheels are aligned correctly, ensuring that the wheels are placed to the optimal position. By ensuring the tires have as much surface area in touch with the road as possible, the alignment procedure helps to prevent your vehicle from uneven tire wear while also increasing handling and safety.
An R&S Auto technician connects brackets to your car’s wheels and beams a light from one to the other or all four using an overhead projector to examine the alignment. The technician can tell if the wheels are in or out of alignment by where the light beams fall on a scale.
A computer is used to check the location of the light in respect to the scales for increased precision. It’s a reasonably straightforward process to adjust the suspension so the wheels are set up correctly again after the degree of misalignment has been determined.
What Is The Purpose Of A Laser Wheel Alignment Check?
Camber, caster, and toe are the three angles of wheel alignment that are measured. Each has a particular angle determined by the vehicle manufacturer to improve the function of the car’s steering and suspension systems in order to make the automobile operate smoothly, responsively, and predictably.
1. Camber Angle
Camber is a measurement of a tire’s verticality. Negative camber is when the suspension is configured so that it leans significantly towards the wheel arch. Positive camber is the opposite of negative camber.
2. Caster Angle
This is a little more difficult to see, but it refers to how high the suspension sits above the wheel’s center, and therefore how central the angle of the tire’s placement on the road is on the front to rear plane. Consider a ‘chopper’ style motorbike with a sharply sloping back suspension. This is an example of a very positive caster.
3. Toe Angle
Toe-in occurs when the front wheels point inwards towards the center of the automobile, and toe-out occurs when the front wheels point outwards towards the road. Toe in is when you point your left and right big toes together to form a ‘V’ shape with your feet; toe out is when you splay the front of your feet outwards in the opposite manner. You can modify camber by rocking your feet on their inside and outside edges, while altering caster by slightly lifting your toes or heel in the air.
What Causes Misalignment Of The Wheels?
When you brush against or even slightly hit a curb or drive over a large pothole, the wheels might be thrown out of alignment. Wear on the steering and suspension components might also result in issues.
It’s also a good idea to have a new car’s wheel alignment checked after a few thousand kilometers, because the suspension may ‘bed in’ and go slightly out of alignment as the vehicle is driven. Also, if you notice that your car’s wheels need to be aligned regularly, or if the car still displays the symptoms indicated above after they’ve been examined, it’s possible that worn suspension or steering elements are in need of repair.
What’s The Difference Between Laser Alignment And Tracking?
It all depends on who you ask. Some individuals confuse the two phrases, while others believe laser wheel alignment is a more advanced method. A simple tracking check only looks at specific parts of the front wheels, whereas laser alignment measures more points and angles on all four wheels.
Day-to-day driving on poor-quality roads, driving over potholes, striking the curb, or severe wear on steering components can all create wheel alignment issues. Having your wheel alignment examined on a regular basis will assist to extend the life of your tires, enhance the safety of your vehicle, and increase fuel efficiency.
Call our team at R&S Auto team or book an appointment now for more information about any of our aligners or the services we provide!