occurs when the wheels lean away from the vehicle at the top. Alignment Angles Explained Ride Height: ... To read a true included angle on these types of vehicles, you first have to adjust camber the same on both wheels. This shaft alignment report happens to be from a Fixturlaser NXA Professional but all alignment reports should contain similar information in an easy to understand format. Bottom line, look at the angularity and offset in both the horizontal and vertical planes to quickly determine how good the alignment is. To read about angularity check out this blog post: http://thealignmentblog.com/blog/2012/11/27/defining-angularity-shaft-alignment/. The (') or minutes symbol is used to view or represent angles, just like an actual clock. The vehicle's actual caster angles are within specifications. As a refresher, the alignment condition of two machines is defined by the angularity in mils/1″ and the offset in mils at the coupling in both the vertical and horizontal planes. Here’s how to determine whether your vehicle has too much or too little camber, caster, or toe at a glance: Many alignment reports are printed in full color to help the reader identify which angle is too positive or too negative. Camber is typically positioned with a slight angle as opposed to completely upright which helps counterbalance forces due to cornering. occurs when the wheels lean toward the center of the vehicle at the top. The Before column is the original measurement when the car came in. In addition to precision alignment, he has field experience in vibration analysis, field and shop balancing, oil analysis and ultrasonics. In this case 0.7 mils/1” of angularity and 4 mils offset.These tolerances happen to be the suggested precision alignment tolerances for an 1800 RPM machine. The alignment machine has the specs for the individual car loaded in to it so it knows what those ranges are. The front right and left tire toe should be at zero and +/- 3mm. The total toe, at 0,53, in red, indicates it is out of spec and it is the sum of left and right. Place the measuring pin in the main tread groove, and press down until the base of the gauge is resting firmly on the tread blocks on either side of the groove. All Rights Reserved. Repeat steps 1–4 for the other main tread grooves. There are 25.4 mm in one inch. A vehicle out of alignment can result in excessive tire wear. Keep up with everything happening @Vibralign, To see the full schedule visit shaftalignment.net ». Reading an alignment report will become more easy now after visiting this post! Whether positive or negative, both numbers indicate adjustments need to be made in the opposing direction. Wheel Alignment In its most basic form, a wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. Our friendly Service Advisors and Technicians are happy to answer all your questions. Red usually indicates that the alignment is off while green indicates that particular measurement is acceptable. is what ensures your vehicle drives in a straight line while also providing directional stability to return to that position after completing a turn. When your vehicle rolls off the assembly line at the manufacturer, engineers have determined and set the vehicle to the appropriate alignment specifications. I would advise anyone who has had an alignment done at Tires Plus (or anywhere else) to READ your Alignment Report. The bottom line of numbers (to the right of the machine icon with four feet) represents the angularity, offset, front foot and rear foot values in the horizontal plane. Perfectly laid out. In some cases the report will print yellow to indicate to the reader that the alignment is approaching the predetermined limit. An adjustment is needed when either of these angles fall out of their predetermined specifications. With our guide you’ll learn how to read a wheel alignment report just like the pros and the next time you’re talking with your technician, you’ll nod along with complete understanding. ... Any bump or cornering force that Is applied to the tire can exert a twisting force on the steering that Is proportional to the length of the scrub radius. Shop tires, oil & fluid exchanges, brake services, AC recharges, steering & suspension, batteries and wipers. These are printed in large letters toward the outside of the tire. He started as a field service engineer for IRD Mechanalysis. With use, the occasional bump against a curb, or new tires, the. When the alignment process begins, the technician will use an alignment machine to measure the vehicle. When the alignment process begins, the technician will use an alignment machine to measure the vehicle. I think I have the guys convinced to always put ‘1.0 inches’ in so there’s no second guessing later. The thrust angle is an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the rear axle's centerline. Terms of Use Alignment is part of the suspension system and is the geometric measurement of how the wheels fall into line and rotate at the same speed and direction. The thirty minutes reading equals one half a degree. If the limit is 0.26, total maximum may be 0.52, or maybe less. Have you ever talked to your vehicle’s auto technician and just nodded your head feigning understanding? The thirty minutes reading equals one-half degree. Now that you understand how to read an alignment report, schedule your next alignment with Sun Auto service. For each alignment check, you the customer should be presented with two printouts; ‘BEFORE’ – this printout shows the alignment readings of the vehicle straight ‘off the street’ with no adjustments. Still have questions about alignments and alignment reports? Mike and his wife and two children currently live in Peachtree City, GA. Great post, Mike. Poor toe alignment, whether positive or negative, reduces steering ability and causes tires to wear prematurely. Kingpin, Setback, and Ride Height. Thrust Angle. Our skilled technicians use only the most sophisticated alignment machines to guarantee your vehicle is aligned to the specifications set forth by your vehicle manufacturer–all in about an hour! Simply put. Notice the 45' or forty-five minute reading for the RF. They say the name brand of the company, such as Hankook, or Michelin, or Goodyear. 530-G Southlake Blvd. That poorly done alignment caused the tire to wear out prematurely, and now they did the same thing again. Prior to that he was a wireline logger for Schlumberger Well Services. alignment checked at least once per year. If your vehicle was out of alignment, the service person can explain how the values were out of specification beforehand, and within specification afterward. For example, a negative number identifies when there is not enough angle in camber, caster, or toe while a positive number indicates when there is too much angle. In some cases, this can cause inner edge tire wear. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a … This post is a very good guide. Red often indicates that the alignment is too negative or positive while green means the measurement is right on target. Here is a quick primer on how to read a typical alignment report. Then, you’re handed a piece of paper with an illustration of a car, some red, green, and yellow colors, and a bunch of numbers that make absolutely no sense. Distinct from tire alignment, tire or wheel balancing refers to compensation for any weight imbalances in the tire/wheel combination and is often performed in conjunction with wheel alignment. Horizontal:        Angularity                               Offset             Front foot offset   Rear foot offset. With use, the occasional bump against a curb, or new tires, the vehicle falls out of alignment. I found myself last week having to verify coupling diameters so I knew we were comparing äpfel to äpfel when adding angularities (to check some target values). Toe Remember in imperial units: The alignment condition for two machines is not defined by the foot values but rather the angularity and offset values at the coupling. The Target Data column is what it should be. When the wheels aren’t lined up straight, there’s a constant scuff that works against normal tread wear. Address "reference diameter 16 inches" Hi, Could someone help me read/understand a wheel alignment report and also is the wheel alignment out by alot or a bit based on Engineers tune alignment angles for a specific ride height to maximize handling and tire wear. Worn Springs. Book … The easiest way to understand tire markings is to take an example and break it down. [Map it! Reading a Tire Sidewall. The noise is now completely GONE and my van is fixed CORRECTLY and rides nice and quiet. makes steering exceedingly sensitive at high speeds and reduces the wheel’s directional returnability once turns are completed. Too much positive camber results in tire wear on the outside of the tire. Reading Your Wheel Alignment Report. Though it doesn’t happen overnight, gradual changes affect the alignment in your vehicle eventually requiring the need for an alignment. How to read alignment sheets on all types of vehicles - Answered by a verified Auto Mechanic We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. That’s why it’s a good idea to have your alignment checked at least once per year. VibrAlign, Inc. Our skilled technicians use only the most sophisticated alignment machines to guarantee your vehicle is aligned to the specifications set forth by your vehicle manufacturer–all in about an hour! The ( ‘ ) or minutes symbol is used to view or represent angles just like an actual clock. (95) Load Index A tire's load index is a measurement of how much weight each tire is designed to support. Just like a stop light, green means go, yellow means caution, and red means stop. to give an account or representation of in words; "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner … . Occasionally, the print out will include yellow, meaning the vehicle is approaching it’s specification limit. © 2021 VibrAlign Inc. All Rights Reserved. Here is a quick primer on how to read a typical alignment report. On metric tires the first number is your width of the tire in millimeters. Following the alignment service, the report should show that the completed process was a success, the alignment specifications, including the camber angle, toe angle, and caster angle, and explain how the values were out of specification beforehand if your wheel alignment was off, and how the wheel alignment cost helped to fix the specification. Simply put, caster is what ensures your vehicle drives in a straight line while also providing directional stability to return to that position after completing a turn. The factory recommended wheel alignment specifications for the Subaru WRX is as follow. All values are in mils except for the angularity which is in mils/1”. Toe should be adjusted to guarantee all wheels roll parallel together in synchrony. Looks fine to me, I do agree the price is a bit high for the apparent effort. Inside or beside the colors, there are numbers that are measured in degrees to indicate the variances in the angle of measurement. The experts at tire-seller Tire Rack report that treadwear ratings can vary. The 0.37 is in degrees. The rear right and left tire … That is for one tire. Caster measures the angle from top to bottom of the steering axis related to the suspension components at the wheel. Notice the 45’ or forty-five minute reading for the RF. He joined VibrAlign in 1992 and supports clients in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Deciphering this report on your own could leave you feeling like you’re trying to solve a riddle, but it doesn’t have to be. Looking at the alignment information below the picture of the stationary and movable machines; the top line of numbers (to the right the machine icon with two feet) represents the angularity, offset, front foot and rear foot values in the vertical plane. Toe measures the direction that the wheels are rolling. The machine then generates a report that indicates the vehicle’s current specifications, what should wheel alignment be for your particular vehicle, and the degree of adjustment to achieve correct alignment for both front and rear wheels. The machine then generates a report that indicates the vehicle’s current specifications, what should wheel alignment be for your particular vehicle, and the degree of adjustment to achieve correct alignment for both front and rear wheels. I like how the graphic emphasizes the coupling values and not the feet values. The larger the number, the higher the load capacity. Carefully pull the tread depth gauge away from the tire, and read the measurement shown on the scale. In the above example, the green coupling icons give the reader a quick indication that everything is below the maximum allowable alignment tolerances. The front right and left tire camber should be set at zero, +/- zero degrees at three minutes. Trust your local Sun Auto Service to get your car running right with over 40+ years of complete auto-care. Richmond, VA 23236 In example "B" this reads 285mm. Excessive negative camber will result in wear on the inside of the tire. Welcome to NTB Tire and Service Centers! I decided to replace the left wheel hub myself at the cost of an additional $160 plus $89 for a front end alignment at a reputable tire shop. Following the alignment service, a report should be provided that indicates alignment specifications (camber, toe, caster) before and after. Most maintenance personnel understand that documenting a precision shaft alignment is a good idea, but don’t always understand how to interpret the data. . Most often alignment reports are printed in color that indicate whether the particular angle is in or out of alignment. The sidewall of your tires is filled with important information that tells you everything about your tire regarding the dimensions, construction, operating characteristics and manufacturer. I'm more used to seeing After in that column. Looking at the closeup photo below, the actual tolerances selected for this alignment, where you want the alignment to be at or below, are shown in the middle of the motor. Vertical:            Angularity                                Offset             Front foot offset   Rear foot offset. occurs when the load is ahead or there is pulling on the spindle. As a suspension compresses and rebounds, the alignment angles change. The alignment system is measured in three different areas including camber, caster, and toe. So, too, does the alignment report. The Actual column should be what it is after the alignment. Since it is positive, the front of the rear tire points into the center of the car. It is imperative that a vehicle’s wheels all roll in the same direction at the same time. To convert 285mm to inches you divide 285 by 25.4 to get 11.22". … ], Privacy Policy | Too much caster indicates that the vehicle’s rear is lower than the recommended vehicle height which causes the front suspension to shift to a more positive caster. Now that you understand how to read an alignment report, schedule your next alignment with Sun Auto service. Copyright © 2021 Sun Auto Service. Here’s what’s included with an alignment at Les Schwab Tires: tire inspection, test drive before, steering and suspension inspection, tire pressure check and adjustment, alignment angles measured and adjusted, test drive after, and a printed report showing before and after measurements. also known as Toe-out occurs when the wheels are turned outward. If one wheel’s caster is more positive than the other, the wheel will force the vehicle to pull in that wheel’s direction. also known as Toe-in occurs when the wheels are turned in. The camber angle is read one degree plus or minus 30 minutes. It is possible to align the vehicle with the large customer in the driver’s seat to set the correct amount of toe. Step 3. Read the manufacturer and the tire name. Understand the three main measurements in an alignment: toe, camber and caster. To save money, some tire and auto care facilities offer lifetime alignment packages in the range of $200 with scheduled alignment every 6,000 miles, … Step 2. We love questions! For an excellent discussion on tolerances as it relates to feet values, check out: http://thealignmentblog.com/blog/2012/05/04/foot-tolerances-vs-coupling-center-tolerances-for-shaft-alignment/. I wish I had looked at my printout after I had the alignment done 3 years ago. Mike holds a BSME from Michigan State University. It is equal to .75° (decimal degrees). By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. Mike Keohane has been involved in machinery reliability since 1985. "shaft alignment"| aligning machinery| "precision alignment"| Alignment tolerances| Fixturlaser NXA Pro. Caster measures the angle from top to bottom of the steering axis related to the suspension components at the wheel. There are two basic types of tire/wheel imbalance that need correction – static (single plane) and dynamic (dual plane). The camber angle is read one degree plus or minus 30 minutes. How to Interpret an Alignment Printout Step 1. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Give us a call or stop in today. Brakes Alignment Engine Repair Services Tire Repair Services Steering & Suspension Schedule Repair Services Online You can save time in the store by pre-booking … Note: Incorrect air pressure, vehicle alignment, loose or worn parts, driving conditions, load, etc, can cause rapid or uneven tire wear. The kingpin offset/scrub radius is the distance from the center of …

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