HEAVY & LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLE

IMPROPER WHEEL ALLIGNMENT FRONT AXLE

TROUBLESHOOTING

Developed by Nanda Kumar

Technical Trainer
Problem Statement
Common Wheel Alignment Problems
• Sometimes underinflated tires can cause problems which could also be caused by misaligned wheels.
• Check the tire pressures first, and if those are within normal limits, then it may be time to have your wheels realigned.
• The following are symptoms of a bad alignment.

1. VEHICLE DRAGGING ONE SIDE 2. UNEVEN STEERING WHEEL 3. STEERING TOO LOOSE

4. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES 5. UNEVEN TIRE WEAR 6. TYRE SQUEAL (CRY NOISE)
Problem Statement
Tires and wheels - Condition

• Inspect the vehicle's tires and wheels

for damage, as shown in Figure.
• Carefully note tire conditions that
might indicate an alignment problem.
Root Cause
Tire Wear and Causes
Root Cause
Things to do before carrying out Wheel Alignment

• If the tires were recently rotated, rear tire condition will be a Wheel Rotation
sign of front- end problems, and front tire condition will indicate
rear problems.

• Check the tire size and air pressure.

• You cannot align a vehicle when the tires are at different air Tire Size
pressures, are different sizes, or when one tire on an axle is Air Pressure
worn and the other has ample tread.
• Add air or replace tires as needed.

• Spin the wheel to check for badly bent rims, dragging brakes, Damages
and loose wheel lugs.
Root Cause
Causes of Improper Front Wheel Alignment – NEED TO UNDERSTAND 6 FACTORS

1 TOE - IN / TOE - OUT HUMAN LEGS

The wheels’ oblique alignment in relation to each other (horizontal line).

STEERING WHEEL ( FRONT AXLE )

Root Cause
Causes of Improper Front Wheel Alignment – UNDERSTANDING BASICS

2 CAMBER 3 CASTER 4 KPI

Another word for wheel inclination Another word for axle inclination. (Kingpin inclination sideways)
(vertical line). Axle inclination refers to the inclination
of kingpins forwards or backwards.
Root Cause
Causes of Improper Front Wheel Alignment – UNDERSTANDING BASICS

5 TOE-OUT ON TURN (TOOT)

The difference between how much to the left

respective to the right the front wheel turns in a
cornering man oeuvre.

6 MAXIMUM TURN

The upper limit for how much a wheel can

turn during a cornering man oeuvre.
Preventive Action
Saw-Tooth Pattern Beveled Wear
1 • Irregular tread wear signals alignment Wear
problems.
• A saw-tooth pattern (left) indicates a toe
problem, and beveled wear (right) points
to camber problems.

2 • Toe is the fore-and-aft difference in tire distance.

• Most vehicles are slightly toe-in for a lighter
steering feel and to keep a slight pre-load on
wheel bearings.
Preventive Action

3 • To check the toe, park the vehicle on level ground

with the tires straight ahead and the steering wheel
centered.
• Jack up one of the front tires, secure the vehicle on
jack stands, then spray-paint a stripe on the tread
while spinning the tire.

4 • Scribe a sharp concentric line in the paint on the tread by

spinning the tire.
• We used a small nail held in a mini vise and lightly
pressed against the tread to ensure a straight line.
Preventive Action

5 • Here's a detailed shot of the scribed line.

• Try to position the line on the tread blocks to make the
line as continuous as possible for easier measuring.
• Perform the same steps on the other tire.

6 • Measure from line to line with the tape level with the
floor.
Preventive Action

• Measure again on the back sides of the tires.

7
• Make sure that the tape is level and the same
distance above the ground as it was for the
front reading.
• Compare the two measurements to reveal the
toe, accounting for measurements taken
lower than at the tires' center for actual toe.

8 • This vehicle exhibited one-eighth of an inch too much toe-in.

• The adjustment begins by loosening the tie-rod adjuster
sleeves.
• Penetrating lubricant helps break the nuts loose.
Preventive Action

9 • Assuming that the steering wheel is already centered,

adjust the tie-rods on each side the same amount.
• Roll the vehicle back and forth several feet a few times to
transfer your adjustment to the tires, then re-measure the
toe.
• Repeat this step until the toe is within spec.

10 • Torque the adjuster-sleeve nuts to

factory specs to complete the
adjustment.
Preventive Action
• Some of the tools types to Check both wheels simultaneously (All site workshops should have these tools for checking) .

Tool 1

Tool 2
Preventive Action
Why It’s Important to Fix an Alignment Problem Right Away
• The problem is that the longer you put off getting a realignment, the more damage will be done to the tires and vehicle.

• Poor fuel mileage is prevalent on vehicles with misaligned tires.

• When drivers absorb
problems during Driving,
Do yourself a favor and
take your vehicle to a
mechanic or alignment
shop if any of these
Repair Shop symptoms are present.

• Wheel alignments are

not very expensive
when you consider the
alternative of time,
damage repair,
increased fuel costs,
and early tire
Damage / Repair replacement.

• Also, tires that you bought with a lifetime warranty often have fine print requiring regular alignments.
Thank you