Wheel alignment — general description (Mitsubishi Colt 2)

Wheel alignment is the adjustment of the wheel alignment angles in relation to the suspension and the road. If the wheels are not aligned, it not only affects the handling of the car, but also increases the rate of tire wear. For the front wheels, the toe, camber, and caster angle are usually adjusted (See Figure). Wheel alignment is a very precise operation. High-quality wheel alignment requires the use of complex and expensive equipment. In view of this, it is recommended to contact specialists for wheel alignment. Below is a general description of wheel alignment angles in order to give you a general idea of them, so that you can better understand this issue when you contact a car repair shop.

Toe-in is the angle at which the wheels are turned inward. The purpose of adjusting the toe-in is to keep the wheels parallel. On a car with zero toe-in, the distance between the front edges of the wheels will be the same as the distance between the rear edges of the wheels. In reality, the amount of toe-in is usually a few millimeters. On the front wheels, the toe-in is adjusted by the position of the tie rod ends. On the rear wheels, it is controlled by the length of the rear tie rods (N₂). Incorrect toe-in will cause the tires to wear abnormally, causing them to rub against the road surface.

Camber is the deviation of the wheels from the vertical when viewed from the front or rear of the vehicle. If the wheel is tilted outward at the top, the camber is positive (+). If the wheel is tilted inward at the top, the camber is negative (-). The amount of deviation is measured in degrees from the vertical and this value is called the camber angle. The amount of tread contact with the road depends on the size of this angle, and this angle is also necessary to compensate for changes in suspension geometry when turning and driving on uneven roads. It is adjusted using special tools designed to adjust the camber of the wheels.

The kingpin caster angle is the deviation of the kingpin axis from the vertical. A backward deviation is called positive kingpin caster, and a forward deviation is called negative kingpin caster.