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Wheel Alignment — adjustable angles
Wheel
alignment is the position of the wheels relative to your car. When
properly aligned, the wheels point in the right direction. Without
proper alignment, the wheels resist your steering commands, as
well as each other. Alignment also affects gas mileage and tire
wear. If your tires are pointed in different directions, they
fight against each other and can cause tread wear.
Computerized
alignment equipment is used to measure all alignment angles on
today's cars. These include both adjustable and non-adjustable
angles. (Non-adjustable angles require repair or replacement of
the suspension component.) The most common adjustable angles are:
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Toe
This refers to the tilted direction of the
wheels toward or away from one another when viewed from
the top. Toe is the most critical tire wearing angle.
Tires that "toe-in" point toward one another.
Tires that "toe-out" point away from each other.
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Camber
This refers to the tilt of the wheels toward or
away from one another when viewed from the front. Wheels
that tilt in toward the vehicle have "negative
camber." Wheels that tilt away from the vehicle have
"positive camber."
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Caster
This refers to the angle of the steering axis
in relation to an imaginary vertical line through the
center of the wheel when viewed from the side.
"Positive caster" is the term used when the
vertical line is tilted back toward the rear. If it's
tilted forward, we call it "negative caster."
The proper caster angle stabilizes your car for better
steering.
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Thrust
Angle
This refers to the relationship of all four
wheels to each other, as well as their relationship to an
imaginary center line that runs from bumper to bumper. The
term "thrust line" refers to the direction in
which the rear wheels are pointed. Thrust angle is
correctable on cars with adjustable rear suspensions. If
your car has a non-adjustable suspension, thrust angle is
compensated for by aligning the front wheels to the rear
wheels.
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