Wheel alignment is a routine that is at the top of the checklist for most motorists. However, there are many good reasons to regularly check the chassis of a vehicle. The wheel suspension is exposed to great stress in everyday life, which results from curbs and potholes being driven over, as well as other road damage, which in some cases pass on powerful shocks to the chassis mechanics. The resulting forces cannot always be handled by the vehicle without problems and consequences. So it can happen that the track, the camber or other important chassis parameters change independently over time. Anyone who suspects an incorrectly adjusted landing gear should not hesitate long and have the wheel alignment carried out by a specialist.
What costs can be expected for the wheel alignment?
As a rule, wheel alignment does not cause high costs. If the 3D wheel alignment is carried out, the costs are around 20 euros. A laser measurement starts at around 60 euros. Even if subsequent adjustment work is required, it is usually not more than around 150 euros. However, if you ignore chassis problems, then it can get really expensive, because this results in premature wear of tires and wheel bearings.
What exactly happens if the wheel alignment is not carried out
If the camber is adjusted in the positive or negative direction, this has an impact on the contact surfaces of the tires and consequently also on the cornering stability of the vehicle. If the car is to drive correctly in a straight line and can also be steered precisely, then it is important that the wheels are always completely vertical on the road under all driving conditions and that they are also aligned parallel to one another. In the case of the parallel running direction, the person skilled in the art speaks of the track, while the person skilled in the art describes the angle of the vertical axis as the camber. Only if the correct setting of the toe and camber values is given will the complete and maximum contact area of the tires be used and thus safe driving behavior guaranteed. If, on the other hand, the track is adjusted on one side, then the vehicle pulls either sharply to the left or right. Furthermore, the vehicle has a different driving behavior in left and right turns in this case.
A fall, on the other hand, has a negative impact on the contact surfaces of the tires. If the camber is set negative, the wheel will lean towards the vehicle at the top. In this case, the cornering forces increase in fast curves. However, both the straight-line stability and the braking distance are negatively affected. If, on the other hand, the camber has turned positive, the wheel leans away from the car and the cornering stability of the vehicle deteriorates because the contact area in fast corners is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the vehicle has a different driving behavior in left and right turns in this case. A fall, on the other hand, has a negative impact on the tire contact surfaces. If the camber is set negative, the wheel will lean towards the vehicle at the top. In this case, the cornering forces increase in fast curves. However, both the straight-line stability and the braking distance are negatively affected. If, on the other hand, the camber has turned positive, the wheel leans away from the car and the cornering stability of the vehicle deteriorates because the contact area in fast corners is greatly reduced.
Furthermore, in this case the vehicle has a different driving behavior in left and right turns. A fall, on the other hand, has a negative impact on the contact surfaces of the tires. If the camber is set negative, the wheel will lean towards the vehicle at the top. In this case, the cornering forces increase in fast curves. However, both the straight-line stability and the braking distance are negatively affected. If, on the other hand, the camber has turned positive, the wheel leans away from the car and the cornering stability of the vehicle deteriorates because the contact area in fast corners is greatly reduced. In this case, the cornering forces increase in fast curves. However, both the straight-line stability and the braking distance are negatively affected.
If, on the other hand, the camber has turned positive, the wheel leans away from the car and the cornering stability of the vehicle deteriorates because the contact area in fast corners is greatly reduced. In this case, the cornering forces increase in fast curves. However, both the straight-line stability and the braking distance are negatively affected. If, on the other hand, the camber has turned positive, the wheel leans away from the car and the cornering stability of the vehicle deteriorates because the contact area in fast corners is greatly reduced.
