When is a chassis alignment required?
The following describes the most important characteristics which
highlight the need for a chassis alignment check:
- abnormally high tyre wear or uneven wear
- the vehicle pulls to one side, right or left
- The vehicle is difficult to steer
- Vibration is felt in the steering wheel
- removal and installation of the steering
- the steering wheel is not in the straight-ahead position
- No neutral cornering behaviour, for example, understeer or
oversteer
- after an accident or heavy impact with kerbs which could have
damaged the suspension or steering
However, deterioration in handling need not necessarily be
caused by incorrect chassis geometry. It may, for example, due
to:
- Incorrect tyre inflation pressures
- Incorrect tyres or rims
- Incorrect tyres
- Defective shock absorbers
- Defective or binding drive shafts
- Binding brakes
- Overloading the vehicle
- faulty wheel bearings
- worn or faulty suspension components, e.g. rubber mounts or
steering joints
Therefore, before carrying out a chassis alignment, a check
should be made to establish if the vehicle corresponds to the
technical specifications.
|