The term ‘car alignment’ or ‘wheel alignment’ refers to the adjustment of the car’s suspension; the system that connects the vehicle to the wheels. All new cars have perfect alignment when they first roll out of the factory, to make sure the vehicle handles and brakes at its optimum.

In summary, the parameters are:

• Front: Caster (left & right)
• Front: Camber (left & right)
• Front: Toe (left, right & total)
• Rear: Camber (left & right)
• Rear: Toe (left, right & total)

The adjustment procedure for wheel alignment is as follows: Start at the rear, adjust Camber (optional gauge required) and adjust Toe. Move to the front wheels, adjust Castor, adjust Camber and finally front Toe.

The interval for wheel alignment can vary significantly depending on the type of vehicle you own, your driving habits, and other factors. Most mechanics recommend that you get a wheel alignment once every two or three years. However, the best thing to do is to follow the recommended interval in your owner’s manual.

How to Do a Front End Alignment

1. Raise both front wheels on jack stands.
2. Turn the car’s electrical system on but not the engine so that the steering wheel will move.
3. Look at one wheel at a time from the front of the car.
4. Loosen the nut that connects the outer and the inner tire rods.

Here are the top three reasons your vehicle may fall out of alignment: Sudden disturbance or impact from hitting something such as a pothole, bumping into a curb, going too fast over a speed bump, or an accident. Suspension components, including poor shocks or struts, become worn or loose affecting alignment.

It’s important that wheels and tires are aligned. If they aren’t, you could be damaging your tires and affecting the vehicle’s handling characteristics. If the suspension is out of alignment, there is uneven pressure on the tires that can cause your car to work harder on the tires than it needs to.